IN THE MARKET PLACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 178, 18 October 1927, Page 12

IN THE MARKET PLACE

CHEAPER BANANAS AUSTRALIAN STONE FRUIT Bananas are cheaper in the marts to-day. Repacked and ripening quickly, they have to be quitted. Vegetables, in ample supply, meet with a ready sale at unchanged . values. Bananas held on the spot are ripening feeely and have to be placed into immediate consumption. The flush season for this fruit commences next month when two regular boats will bring approximately 30,000 cases a month. Cherries should make their appearance shortly, ex Sydney. Other stone fruit is not expected till December. In the field and garden produce section celery, in heavy supply, is of poorer quality. New season’s potatoes continue well supplied, but of inferior quality. Prices under the hammer at to-day’s auctions ranged as follows: FRUIT Apples: Delicious, 9s to 12s a case: Stunners, 11s to 13s; Granny Smith, 11s to 13s: Doughertys, 7s 6d to 9s. Pears: Nellis and Coles, repacked, 12s 6d to 14s a case; P. Barrys, 8s to 9s 6d. Oranges: Repacked, 21s a case; Poorman, 10s a case. Demons: Local, 6s to 12s a case. Tomatoes: Cook Island, 10s to 12s a Tree Tomatoes: 6s to 9s a case. Grapes: Californian, 32s a keg. Bananas: Repacked, 16s to 22s 6d a case. VEGETABLES Potatoes: Southern, 6s 6d to 7s 3d a cwt: new, 2id to 33d a lb. Kumeras: Tauranga, 12s to 14s a cwt. Pumpkins: Ordinary, 14s to 21s a cwt. Swedes: Is 6d to 2s 6d a bag. Onions: Canadian, 19s a 1001 b crate; 18s 6d a 1001 b bag; Australian, 14s a cwt. Cabbage: 3s to 8s 6d a sack. Cauliflower: 4s to 12s a sack. Green Peas: 6d to 9d a lb. Lettuce: 3s to 9s a case. Rhubarb: 3s to 4s 6d doz. Smaller parcelled vegetables will be found in the Kit Bag column on another page. TRADE IN KAURI GUM YEAR REVIEWED Business in kauri gum circles remains dull with inquiry strong for no special grade. London and the Continent, according to overseas advices, are willing to pay more for chips than Canada and U.S.A., but varnish makers, generally, are mostly buying only from hand to mouth. White swamp, in a dry condition, has been scarce of late, and been subjected to a comparatively strong demand. Increasing supplies are now coming in from the fields, however. The annual report on the industry submitted in pursuance of the Kauri Gum Industries Act, 1914, for the year ended March 31, 1927, has just been issued. Gum on hand at March 31, 1927, is shown valued at £53,152 17s. Net loss for the year is shown in the profit and loss account at £5,759, 3s Id. Accumulated loss to March 31, 1927, is given as £23,237 12s Id. Apart from the losses mentioned on sales of accumulated stocks, administration expenses for the year shown in the profits and loss account are comparatively low, salaries at £536 7s lOd, and rent at £SOO, being the only substantial items. According to the report, accumulated stocks are gradually being worked off, exports being over 600 tons in excess of the amount of gum received from the fields for the year. The following comparative figures for the past 11 years are of interest:—

MANUKAU COUNTY HALF-YEARLY FINANCE A statement submitted to the Manukas County Council at its meeting to-dav j showed receipts for the half-year ending I September 30, 1927, amounting to £2,011 ! 4s 3d, compared with £4,344 Is 9d for : the same period last year. The expenditure for the half-year ending September 30, 1927, amounted to £7,148 12s lid, compared with £6,471 0s 7d for the half-year ending September 30, 1926. The engineer reported that now the weather was improving it was proposed to put in hand the completion of drainage and other work on the ManurewaPapakura length of the Great South Road. It was also proposed to carry out the remaining short length of paving at the Wiri Bridge approach. The installation of the Tamaki electricpower plant had been completed and was In the Mangere Riding footpath construction, repairing of sealed road surfaces, patching of metal and scoriacoated roads, laying of culverts and routine and new work had been continued. The inspector reported that 25 applications for the erection of dwellings and other* buildings had been made to a total value of £7,703.

Year ended Tonnage Value Average March 31. Exported. £ per ton. 1917 .. . 4,862 300,271 £62 1918 .. . 4,636 304,852 £ 66 1919 .. . 2,33S 152,299 £66 1920 .. . 4,726 310,614 £66 1921 .. . 6,131 524,701 £85 1922 .. . 3,968 391,304 £98 1923 .. . 6,080 520,409 £85 1924 .. . 6,923 640,712 £92 1925 .. . 5,432 446,019 £82 1926 .. . 5,495 414,420 £75 1927 .. . 4,529 301,335 £66