COMMERCIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1933, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

PRODUCE REPORT

REVIEW FOR MONTH OF

JANUARY

WELLINGTON, February 9

Production has been well maintained, no less than 15,530 tons of butter being manufactured, an increase over January 1982 of 18.49 per cent, and creese similarly showy an increase for the month of ,18.71 per cent. For the six months, the increase in productions is—Putter 18.75 per cent., cheese 13.96 per cent, or a total increase. in butter-fat of 17.27 per cent. The season is now over the peak and with dry spells occurring in the heavier producing districts of the North, we must expect a decline from now on.

BUTTER. It is customary to see a fall in Lonpriees after Christmas but with the low retail .price-of lid per lb. ruling at the end of December, it was hoped that a further fall would be avoided. The heavy shipments from all sources, however, weakened holders and prices fell steadily from 83s on January 6th. to 79b quoted on February 3rd. The letail price being reduced to lOd per lb. further stimulated sales and the mouth closed with a firmer market and n-ood demand. ° Messrs W. Weddel and Co. Ltd. cable that there is a distinctly better feeling in the market, owing to health* ic.r position of afloat' stocks and the news of reduced gradings of Australian butter for export. The increase in exchange rate makes a difference of Id per lb. to the f.o.b, equivalent based on to-day’s quotations and there has been considerable speculative buying during the past fortnight, at prices ranging from 9£d to 9Hd per Jh. Latest reports are, however, that forward buyers in the TJ.K. are somewhat nervous of the position and decline to operate unless protected against further changes in currency.

CHEESE. Prices of coloured remained firm and even increased towards the end of January whilst white steadily declined throughout the month, closing quotations showing a premium of 12s pe> cwt, for coloured over white. _ It is customary to ship from N.Z. in the proportion of 66 per cent, white, .33 per cent, coloured hut the gradiro ficures for six mouths show over 73 per cent, of white cheese. Many factories discontinued the manufacture of coloured cheese, owing to adverse reports of discolouration, in last season s manufacture Messrs W. Weddel- and Co. Ltd. advise that the spot position is strong, with short supplies, and a retail price of 7d vev lb. for white and 8d for coloured hut that • there is likely to he little material change in the near future, except that the price of coloured will -probably fall to the level of white, jutet as soon -as the proportion of manufacture is corredted.

ARAHURA STOCK SALE. At yesterday’s sale at Arahura there was a fair attendance of buyers while the quality of the cattle section was by no means equal to last fixture. There was eompetiton in keeping with Addington values. The entry was comprised of too many cows. The best ox beef made to 20s per hundred, cow beef from 12s to 18s per hundred. The total yarding was 72 lambs, 16 ewes, 50 wethers and 41 cattle. The following sales were recorded by Jeffries and Co. For F. Woodham, 26 hogget wethers at 12s ; H. Busch, 28 wethers at 14,s 3d; a client, 12 fat ewes at 11s 6d; Sullivan Bros, 72 lambs passed at 12s 10s; J. H. Diedrichs 6 runners from £2 17s to £3 10s; 3 heifers from £3 5s to £3 15s, 2 cows £3 10s, 4 steers from £4 17s 6d to £5; A. Wall, 2 heifers £5 15s to £5 17s 6d, 5 cows to £4 15s ; W,. Thiele, 5 cows at £ 9s; D. H. Diedrichs, 6 steers to £6, 6 runners to £3 10s, 2 cows to £4 10s.