POTATO MARKET QUIET

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 164, 1 October 1927, Page 5

POTATO MARKET QUIET

POSITION IN THE SOUTH SHIPMENTS FOR NORTH (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The potato, grain and seed market has been quiet during the past week with more interest evinced in fodder than in any other produce. The potato market has been particularly quiet, with a drop in prices and very few orders have been received from the North Island. Most business done recently has been on paper. Prices have dropped, and now range from 87s 6d to 90s a ton f.o.b. s.i. for prompt shipment, and 95s to 97s 6d for October delivery. Two vessels are due to load for Auckland. The Waipori, leaving to-morrow, will clean up most September orders, and th€> "Waipiata will take all surplus lots which cannot be shipped in time to catch the first boat. The Waipori was put on rather unexpectedly, merchants not being given the best of opportunities to bring in potatoes from the country. It is expected that these two steamers will take away a considerable quantity which should supply the Auckland market until near the middle of October.

Most merchants are showing a slackened interest in October shipments owing to the approaching end of the potato season. A few traders think there still may be a scramble at the close, and others are of the opinion that the market is due to fizzle out without incident.

With three months to go before new potatoes come in, the price to farmers on trucks at country stations ranges from 67s 6d to 70s a ton. A little business is being done at this figure. On Wednesday, farmers’ day, none could be induced to talk potatoes. The merchant points to the change in the average consumer’s method of buying by the sugar bag where a sack once prevailed as being at the root of the trouble. In the potato business a lack of money from the householder up has contributed to an over-cautious cramping of market-