COMMERCIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 18840, 5 June 1920, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

SOUTHLAND STOCK AND PRODUCE MARKET. Times Office, June 4. During the week fat cattle have shown a decline with the exception of prime wellfinished bullocks, which have been in keen demand by butchers. Fat sheep aie back in values to the extent of from 1/- to 1/0 per head, excepting prime wethers. Practicality all the fat stock offering has been of an inferior quality, showing need of finishing off. Store cattle have Ijeen very dead. There has been a lot of young stuff offering, but buyers are scarce and chary' of operating. Very few three and four-year-old bullocks have been offering, but prices are not inflated, there being absolutely no inquiries for this class. There has been a fair number of 4, G, and 8-tooth wethers on offer, and these are being keenly sought after. Lambs have also been coming forward pretty freely, and although prices are not quite up to late rates, they have sold well. The ewe market is dead. Horses are still selling well, and the prospects of the market are bright. Oats. —The market is quiet, and there is not much buying or selling going on. A largo proportion of the oats is now in merchants’ hands, and they cannot afford to sell at under 5/11 to 6/- f.0.b., s.i. On trucks oats are worth about 5/-, sacks extra. Chaff. —There is a good demand for shipment, but no shipping opportunity. The local market is sufficient to absorb ail chaff offering locally, and, in consequence, the market is firm.

Hemp.—The market is very quiet, the only business being in the higher grades for conversion into twine in New Zealand. The London market is very quiet, consequently the outlet for lower grades is not very hopeful. Potatoes. —Digging is now fairly general. Purchases have been made at £5 15/-, on trucks, in the country, and the market docs not look too firm even at that price. Ryegrass.—The market is quiet, but there is rather more inquiry in view of the approach of spring. THE CANTERBURY MARKETS.

(Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 4. Most of this year’s wheat crop is marketed and very little fresh business has been transacted this week. Deliveries have been delayed on account of the shortage of trucks, and lines are now steadily coming into stores. Generally speaking the samples are well up to the quality of the autumn deliveries, but in some instances wheat is affected by the weather. A fair amount of oats has changed hands during the week, prices remaining on the same level us previous quotations. The trading has, however, been mostly among merchants, and farmers arc not offering supplies. The opinion among local merchants is that Canterbury prices are too high to allow of trade to any extent being done with Australia.

Business in chaff has been quiet. There are large quantities of chaff which have been sold still in the country awaiting delivery, but as there is now a bettor supply of railway trucks consignments are steadily coming into the stores. The lack of coastal shipping .still continues to delay the completion of transactions with the North Island.

Owing to the wet weather delaying digging, there has not been much business effected in potatoes this week, and there has been pract.ie.ally no shipping to the North Island. The ruling rate remains at £4 per ton at country' stations, but a few lines have been purchased at £3 15/-.

Onions are freely purchaseable at country' stations at. from £G lo £G 10/- per ton. It is reported that this year’s crop, generally speaking, is not keeping sound, and except for odd lines merchants are not inclined to buy' for export business. A cablegram received from Sydney stated that onions shipped to Sydney by the Tarawcra were landerl in good condition and sold at £l3 to £l4 per ton. It is considered locally that the price quoted does not leave any margin of profit. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. DECLINE IN HIDES. (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association). (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) MELBOURNE, June 4. The hide market is very restricted and shows a decline of from twopence to threepence all round. Barley, English, 7/S to S/- per bushel; Gape, 6/8 to 7/-. Oats, Algerian, 6/2 to 6/4. Potatoes, £l2 10/- to £l3 per ton. Onions, £l3 10/- to £l4. THE COTTON MARKET. AMERICAN OPERATIONS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED. NEW YORK, June 2. The New Orleans and New York cotton exchanges have re-opened after being closed for two days owing to Congressional legislation inadvertently invalidating contracts. Huge deals at Liverpool occurred in the interval. LONDON METAL MARKET. LONDON, June 3. (Received .June 4, 11.2 p.ni.i Copper, on spot, £62 12/6, forward £O4 7/6. Electrolytic, on spot, £306, forward £llO. Lead, on spot, £37. forward £3B. Speller, on spot, £4l 10/-, forward £43 10/-. Tin, on spot. £264, forward £271 10/-. Silver, 56Jd per ounce.