BRITISH TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1928, Page 7

BRITISH TRADE

FOKTN ffj ITTL V R EVJ FAY

STOCK EXCHANGE MAItKETS DULL.

Dili ted Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

LONDON, Doe. 1. Several causes have contributed to make most of the Stock Markets dull during flic last ton days. In the first place the Kings illness has had a somewhat unsettling effect, and there has boon considerable realisation of some of the more speculative shares by weak holders. Industrials, generally, have not been active, the exception being the Marconi group, in which there has been a mild boom, following the American’s lead. The one bright spot has been the gilt-edged market, where firmness and cheerfulness reign, the Government conversion scheme having boon favourably received, as its terms seem likely to appeal strongly to the finance houses, which are understood to be large holders of maturing loans.

NEW CAPITAL ISSUES. November was not a particular active month for new issues. This is not surprising, considering the great flood of fresh capital appeals witnessed in October, hut, according to the “Financial News,” during the eleven months, January to November, there were 849 issues of all descriptions amounting to no less than £341,245,000, compared with £205,661,000 in the corresponding period of 1927. A satisfactory feature of I hose issues lias been that no fewer than IK7 are reported to have been over-subscribed, and only thirtv-nine undersubscribed. WOOL TRADE.

Commenting on the progress of the '.vool sales, the eorresoondeni of I lie “Fcouoniist” says: “'Pile best feature in connection with the series is the general improvement of competition, this being clearly indicative' of devefooments in the consuming centres. Movers do not wish to see any further advance in values. The great essential is a stabilised market, for the basis in which wool is now selling is quite high enough to enable adequate trade developments to take place. With limits around current values selling brokers are not finding much difficulty in moving the wool into users’ hands. On the whole the Australian new clip is most creditable, and tliis. along with the improvement in manufacturing conditions, is helping to give it a very encouraging recention.” C MINTAGE OF FOOD. A report of the Food Investigation Hoard contains interesting descriptions of numerous experiments regarding the transport and carriage of food. Deference is made to chilled beef experiments from Australia, which, the report states, leave little doubt that slightly frozen beef from Australia can be landed in Britain in good condition. but much experimental investigation is necessary before an opinion ran be expressed as to the possibility of carrying ice-free chilled beef over such a long journey.

Other experiments indicated that certain coarse joints of meat and inferior quality carcases, for example aged cow beef, can lie greatly improved by hanging the meat. Hung for seventeen days in 41 degrees Fahrenheit. it is still perfectly sweet. EXR ERIATEXTS WITH FRUIT.

A number of experiments were carried out in regard to forecasting the life of an apple. Detailed study was made of' 120 apple*, selected from representative orchard samples, ft was found that the trees with the largest fruit hear tipples with the shortest life. It was also discovered that apples grown in heavy soil would keep twice as long tit 34 degrees 1< ahrenheit as those off the lightest soil. Chemical analysis of the soils indicated that a, generally eorehition existed between Ibo keeping quality of (he fruit and (he available potash and phosphoric acid in the soil.