THE MARKETS

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17168, 26 March 1927, Page 5

THE MARKETS

Press AssociaiiOA ]

CHRISTCHURCH QUOTATIONS

[Per

CHRISTCHURCH, March 25. Business in wheat has riackenc-d off in the meantime. This is heeause growers are anxious to see whai the result of the conference with tne. Prime Minister on Wednesda;-, will be. Some farmers are putting their stuff into store in the hope thai heiter prices will he cbtained IaL r. but bujrers state that as receni quotations from abroad show a weakening tendency, there is little inceutive fcr them to huy seed. Busines ; is quiet and rherchants state ih«G tliey are doing only about half whai they should he at this time of the year. The market is affected by lack of orders from the North Island. due to scarcity of money. It is reported that there are fair crops of partridge peas this season, but liol a great deal of business is being done with them. They are worfh from 6s 6d to 6s 9d on trucks tc farmers. A few years ago Scotcb tares were difficult to get, conscquently farmers to nieet the demaiui. produced some heavy crops witf the result that they slumped. This year the crops have turned out a faiiure, and there is very litle to be had. The figure at which tares are quoted is 2s on trucks to farmers. Oats are still too Iow in price to result in uhsiness, although there are some first class oats about. Gartons are quoted at 2s 3d on trucks, while good Duns are worth 2s 6d. and lower quality stuff at 2s. Chaff is worth from £3 to £3 og on trucks, but verv little of it is changing hands. Conflicting reports are comj ing to hand regarding the potato I crops, some of which are stated to ; be poor, while in other instances | the crops are said to be very sat- ; town to-day stated that he would | isfactory. One grower who was in ' get a return of eight or nine tons to ! the acre and only one bag of seed i to twelve of tahle potatoes. The ! Auckland market is quiet at pre- ; sent, most of the business eventuat- ' ing being of a hand to mouth va- | riety. Merchants in the northern i centre are preferring to handle poi tatoes as they arrive by; various ! boats, rather than going in for for- | ward business, no doubt expecting j the market to become weaker as the i season progresses. Digging will start j iu earnest next montn when poi tatoes are expected -to come in well. 'if there should be an export later to Sydney, potatoes should advance, but if the Australian market remains closed as it is at present, it j is probable that there will he am;ple supplies on hand to meet all demands. Onions are worth 50s per ton to farmers, and crops of these are turning out satisfactory. The Auckland market has so far proved i disappointing in this connection | owing to local supplies being sufficient for requirements. Last yeaf onions were worth as much as £l§ per ton in a few instances and it can be -readily understood that the present figures are iii consequence consiaered unsatisfactory; in fact a number of growers are tallcing oi putting'"their producls in the cool store. The disaavantage of such 5 procedure, however, is that . soos after the onions are removed fron: the cool- store they are inclined tc sprout quickly.