CITY TRADING

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 3

CITY TRADING

EASIER MARKET FOR RYEGRASS ISLAND TOMATOES ARRIVE By OUR COMMERCIAL EDITOR The ryegrass market has been easier during the last week and prices have dropped by about 6d from the scale on which previous purchases were made by merchants. The overseas demand for white clover has fallen recently, but prices remain unchanged. In the local fruit markets supplies of South Australian navel oranges and Island tomatoes arrived during the week. The orange shipment included a fair percentage of waste fruit, but after repacking the 1 quality was about the best for any period of the season. The last shipment of Australian lemons reached Bluff during the week and after a prolonged period in which supplies have been available from Australia Southland customers will shortly have to depend entirely on New Zealand lemons. Oats.—Business in oats between farmers and merchants is practically at an end. Almost no samples are coming forward. Values remain nominally at 3/7 a bushel for milling quality. Seed oats are now going out freely and it is expected that this demand and local feed requirements will account for all the local stocks within the next two or three months.

Wheat.—Spring-threshed wheat is now being received at merchants’ stores. It is expected that the greater part will pass milling grade, although there is some doubt about lines from coastal areas through the berry being slightly shrivelled. Good whole fowl wheat is still finding a market at east coast North Island ports at prices enabling merchants to pay growers 4/4 a bushel o.t.c.s. sacks extra.

Chaff.—The demand for chaff is very small and is limited to local requirements. The market is fully supplied with the value to growers for good bright quality at £4/10/- a ton o.t.c.s.

Ryegrass.—The market is showing a weaker tendency because of a lack of demand. This position is causing a reduction in the price available to growers for machine-dressed seed of about 6d a bushel. Values range from 5/- a bushel for seed of 70 per cent, germination to 7/6 for 90 per cent. seed. Seed with a lower germination is difficult to quit, anything below 50 per cent, being practically unsaleable. For seed ranging from 50 to 60 per cent, values range from 2/6 to 4/3 a bushel.

Browntop.—Some overseas inquiries for browntop are being received. The local crop is now exhausted, however, and there is nothing to offer.

White Clover.—The overseas market is quiet, but values for machine-dress-ed seed of high purity and germination remains firm at 3/- pel- lb for certified seed and 2/6 for uncertified. Potatoes.—The potato market is still in a hopeless position. In the absence of demand from other centres in New Zealand shipping merchants are showing no interest in the market. Business is confined to the supply of local requirements. LAST AUSTRALIAN LEMONS The main features of the week in the fruit markets have been the arrival of a shipment of South Australian navel oranges, a small quantity of Australian lemons and a fair consignment of island tomatoes. The oranges were, on the whole, in sound condition, but there was a sufficient number of waste fruit to warrant repacking. The shipment was, therefore, repacked before being issued to the trade. The quality of the oranges is excellent, the shipment being easily the best for the season. Supplies of Australian lemons ceased with the last arrival and New Zealand lemons will be on the market within the next fortnight. The island tomatoes were generally much better in quality than in past years, although waste conditions were present as usual and the consignment was immediately taken up by the trade.

Stocks of bananas are still sufficient for immediate requirements, but as the next shipment is not due for two more weeks a shortage will be inevitable before the next shipment has been ripened. Smaller supplies of apples have beeii received and the end of the season may not be far away. Ample stocks of Sturmers and Delicious are offering in the marts, but cookers are unobtainable. Pears have been less plentiful in the last week and supplies may finish at any time. Cauliflowers and cabbage were in over-supply this week. Other vegetables were also on offer at low rates. Wholesale prices are as follows: — Apples, from 7/- to 9/6 a case. Pears, to 6/6 a half-case. Island tomatoes, to 14/6 a box. New Zealand grapefruit, 8/- to 10/a case.

Cauliflowers, to 8/- a sack. Cabbages, to 3/6 a sack. Lettuce, 2/6 to 4/- a dozen. Carrots, Id per lb. Parsnips, to IJd per lb. Swedes, 1/6 a sugar bag. Potatoes, 4/6 to 7/6 a bag, according to quality. RANGE OF PRICES Wholesale Bran: £6 a ton. Butter: First grade, 1/4J.

Oatmeal. 25’s £29/14/- a ton; 200’s £27/14/-. Pollard: 100’s £7/10/- a ton; 150 s £7/5/- a ton. Flour: x 2oo’s £l3/15/6 a ton; 100 s £l4/12/6 a ton; 50’s £l4/17/6 a ton; 25’s £l5/17/6 a ton. Retail Butter: 1/6. Bran: 7/6 per 1001 b. Oatmeal: s’s 2/-; 25’s 8/9. Flour: 25’s 4/6; 50’s 8/6; 100 s 16/-. Pollard: 9/- per 1001 b. EGG PRICES Eggs were quoted yesterday at 1/1 to 1/2 wholesale and 1/4 to 1/5 retail. SEPARATOR BUTTER Separator butter was quoted yesterday at 1/- to 1/1 per lb wholesale and 1/2 to 1/3 per lb retail. The prices of eggs and separator butter are subject to constant variation and those quoted were the prices ruling yesterday.

SMALL OFFERING AT WOODLANDS SALE

The monthly Woodlands stock sale was held yesterday, there being a yarding of 13 head of cattle and one horse. The prices realized for the cattle were on a par with those at recent sales. There was no offer for the horse. The sales were:—

The Southland Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd. sold.—Empty cow at £5/12/-, 1 fat cow at £ll/2/6. The National Mortgage and Agency Co. Ltd. sold.—l fat cow at £lO/10/-, 1 at £B/12/6, 1 at £ll/7/6, 1 at £B/10/-, 1 at £ll/5/-, 2 dairy heifers at £7/10/-, 1 empty cow at £6. J. E. Watson and Co. Ltd. sold.—l dairy cow at £4/7/6, 1 empty cow at £5, 1 dairy cow at £l3.