Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 272, 7 February 1928, Page 12

Grocery Review

WHOLESALE TRADE STEADY PEPPER AND SPICES FIRMER HARICOT BEANS ADVANCED The Sun Office, February 7, 1928. The general improvement in trade has continued throughout the past week and merchants seem quite satisfied with returns so far this year. The primary schools opened last week and some cf the secondary schools this week, consequently with the return of children from their holidays, considerable purchasing has been necessary. Some Queen Street shops advise having been busier last Friday than has besn the case since Christmas time, and trade should now return to normal conditions. THERE is a distinct firmness in many overseas lines, several increases being advised this week, although in a number of instances information was received by merchants in time to cover for part of their requirements at the lower levels previously ruling. CANNED FRUITS Considerable business has now been done for delivery throughout the year on Australian and Californian packs. Some attractive offers for both New Zealand and Canadian pears would make it appear that the majority of the orders for this fruit will be in these directions. As regards peaches, it is announced that the pack of Australian is expected to be very heavy and as quotations for sliced and halves are most favourable, the majority of the local trade will, it is anticipated, be done with Australian packers. Apricots are reported to be only a moderate crop in Australia, and as the prices for South African are slightly cheaper, a fair amount of business is being booked in this country’s pack. Owing to the keen competition which exists among the various canners in Australia, it is stated that the domestic value of all fruits may be lower than the export price. Definite a iT vic ? °* the exact position regarding the above values is anxiously awaited, as the rate of import duty is based on the home consumption value, consequently local merchants are unable to correctly gauge their landed costs until this point is settle#!. TAPIOCAS

Cable advice this week advises a further advance of 5s per ton in both seed and pearl, for shipment by the MarchApril direct steamer. The market is V f£, y hl / h at P resen t, and as there are still a few weeks before the vessel sails, buyers are likely to hold off meantime, TiJl.fn in a reduction may take Place, Like all other Eastern markets, this is a3so one that it seems impossible to folkapok The market for prime Samara no1 n Ver n quiet at the moment, with selling being done to these parts. Latest advices advise an advance of 2d America. th normal busineas passing from HARICOT BEANS Since quotations for new cron were named some weeks ago, two separate advances, each of 20s a ton, hSve bten advised. Most local buyers covered for their requirements early, as it was recognised that the offerings were most favourable and as the market was reported firm, this proved to be good business. It is stated that there is a very keen demand from Europe, hence the higher rates npw ruling. Shipments are not to be made until the March-April direct steamer, which is due here early in May. BREAKFAST FOODS Owing to the hot weather, demand is not heavy in most lines. Fresh shipment of Kornies and Cornflakes are just to hand and are selling freely. There has been a small advance in the prices of both Oto and Oatina this week, with other lines unchanged. MUSSELS A new line just being offered on the local market is deep sea mussels, packed in attractive cartons. These are smoked and dried the same day as picked and are guaranteed to be only the best procurable. Considerable business has been done locally and it is anticipated that there will be a good demand for this pack, as they can be served fried or stewed, and are very tasty in soups, pies, etc. PEAS AND BARLEY Supplies of new season’s split peas and pearl barley are expected to be available about the end of March should the weather continue favourable for harvesting. Prices remain unchanged. SILP Although quotations for Norwegian summer pack sild in all sizes have been slightly lower this past month than has been the case for some time, advices just to hand state that the market is now firming, consequently higher prices • can be expected before long. Stocks are not heavy locally and there has been a good demand, but most buyers have now booked their requirements for the next few months. CHERRIES Both drained and crystallised French cherries are advancing, present offerings for. shipment up to next August being about Id a lb. above the prices ruling at this period last year. London advices state that the crop was not a particularly short one, but there has been such an enormous demand for raw cherries, i.e., cherries in brine, that it has paid the Frenchman better to sell in that form rather than to sugar the goods. Although Epglish cherries were offered at more favourable rates, the general opinion is that the English article is of inferior quality to French, as it does not possess the same keeping qualities, having a tendency to become hard. NUTS Barcelona nuts have advanced a further 20s a ton for shipment up to August next, but most merchants bought early at the low quotations on offer. The market for Brazils is still somewhat uncertain, as prices named so far have only been for March-April shipment, whereas August shipment is the most sought after. It is understood some speculative business has been taken for August shipment, but this does not give a genuine indication of the position, so that further reliable information is now awaited. ALMONDS Prices for Sicily almonds are slightly firmer this week, although offers vary somewhat. One London shipper reports that the market is strong and lower rates are not to be expected. DATES Some attractive offers of Kliiidrawi quality for June-July-August shipment were made this week and as these are popular months for shipment as far as merchants are concerned, some fair sized parcels have been booked. Spot sales are quiet at the moment, as there is never a heavy demand until about April, owing to

the hot weather, and also to the plentiful supplies of fresh fruit which are available at this period of the year. PEPPER Still higher rates have been reached this week in all grades, with the future position still very uncertain. Nutmegs and mace have both firmed considerably. PIN EAPPLES A slight all round advance is Indicated for the March-April steamer, but most of the business for this shipment has now been placed. Local stocks are moving off. very freely, as there is always a heavy demand in the summer time. It is not anticipated that prices will go any lower as they are now over Is a dozen below the rates ruling at this time last year. CREAM OF TARTAR A very strong market continues, and indications point to higher rates ruling, as it is almost impossible to get a firm offer for 24 hours from one of the largest English manufacturers. An advance of id a lb. is notified in tartaric acid, with the future very uncertain, while it is very hard to obtain any offerings of citric acid meantime, as the market is very excited and has already advanced considerably, with still higher rates expected. OLIVE OIL Cable advice from London indicates that prices for French in all sizes are expected to advance shortly and advise buyers to book for their requirements for forward shipment. Good socks are held locally and further orders are on the water, but most of these shipments were booked at higher figures than those at present ruling. As the above information is from a very reliable source, no doubt an early advance can be looked for. PRODUCE Pukekohe potatoes are very firm and it is not expected that supplies will last for more than a fortnight. Stocks coming to hand are only of medium qualiy as owing to the lack of moisture they have' matured before reaching any size. At present it is uncertain what the Auckland merchants will do for supplies, as the local market will probably be bare about a month before shipments are due to arrive from the South. The onion crops are also not developing, but what sup-, plies are available should keep well, and it is anticipated that there will be a big percentage of picklers. Reports from Gisborne regarding maize advise a firm market with an advance in price probable. The new season’s crops are looking particularly well and as a large amount of country has been planted in maize this season the general opinion is that the district will produce twice the quantity of last season. It is expected that the supply will be equal to the demand until the new crop (which will be early this season) comes in during June- July. TUAKAU SHEEP FAIR KEEN DEMAND FOR EWES FIRM VALUES REALISED Thorughout the province store sheep are meeting with a strong demand. Breeding ewes, especially, are selling freely and, at the sheep fairs now being held m various "parts of the district, values are well in advance of those ruling at this time * a At Tuakau and Clevedon last week, where Dalgetys and the Loan and Meicantile respectively held their annual fairs, heavy entries and most satisfac- 1 tory clearances were reported. At Tuakau yesterday Alfred. Buckland and Sons yarded well over 18,000 store sheep to a large attendance of buyers from all parts of the district. The long spell of dry weather has apparently had little effect on the seasonal demand for ewes, and yesterday anything at all fit to rear a lamb met with keen competition. One buyer in particular from the Hauraki Plains helped to maintain a good market for any badly conditioned and cull lines offered, apparently having ample feed to bring them on before the winter sets in. Competition from breeders for the better sorts was general. Wethers met with rather a limited demand, graziers short of feed for the most part preferring not to handle them for the small margin offering. Compared with Westfield values, however, and considering the shortage of feed, although the bulk of the offering was passed in, prices were fairly firm. One big line, for instance, at the start of the sale, which was sold subject to the owner’s approval at 245, certainly comprised a fairly large percentage of sheep that would make 29s in the Westfield yards. There was also quite a noticeable percentage again, however, which would make little over 21s in Westfield. Some were certaiyfly prime, but others again were not, and the line, while comprising mostly big-framed sheep, contained a large number of small wethers. Thus, viewed from the point of view of the dealer out for a reasonable profit, there could be little in the line at 245. This line was typical of the whole wether offering. Full to broken-mouthed ewes comprised the greatest portion of the ewe offering, with only a very small percentage of the latter sorts. Considering the fact that it was an open fair, the quality of the yarding left little room for complaint, many quite profitable sorts of breeding ewes coming forward. Top price for four-year-old ewes was secured for a line of 608 on account W. A. McCutchan, which sold in two drafts, one at 27s 3d and the other at 275. Four and five-year-old ewes not quite the same quality, on account Murray and Mulloney, made 25s 9d. Ewes with decent mouths and showing fair condition, made from 23s 9d upwards. Poor conditioned sorts, yet showing fair mouths and giving every appearance that on a change of feed they would pick up and rear a healthy lamb, sold from about 19s 6d. Absolute culls with little more than their skin to commend them and sheep that would need special handling if they were to go through the winter, made from 7s 6d. Only a very small percentage of fofir and six-tooth sheep were offered. A good even line of 306 6-tooth to full-mouthed ewes on account Alma Baker made 27s 9d. The pride of the market in the 2-tooths was a line of 500 on account Henry Ayres, Onewhero, which met with keen competition and sold up to 32s 6d. A very even line of fine woolled sheep, it was certainly well ajiove. the average standard of saleyard offerings. It was a very inferior quality pen of 2-tooths that did not bring over 20s. A line of small Southdowns hiade 21s 6d. Hoggets met with a good demand and sold mostly at late rates. The offering comprised mostly good healthy sorts which should winter well. Healthy Romney ewe lambs sold to 17s 9d. COMPANY REGISTRATIONS Following are the details of two private companies recently registered in Auckland:— Goodwin and Moorcraft, Limited.—*Objects: To carry on business as manufacturers, buyers and sellers of motor-cars, motor-cycles, cycles and accessories. Capital: £3,000. in £1 shares. Subscribers: W. C. Goodwin, 700 shares; R. M. Moorcraft 1,050 shares; \V. Moorcraft, 1,250 shares. J. S. Donovan and A. G. Chubb, Limited.—Objects: To make and manufacture furniture. Capital: £I,OOO, divided into £1 shares. Subscribers: A. G. Chubb and J. S. Donovan, 500 shares each. CHICAGO WHEAT By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. Reed. 9.42 a.m. CHICAGO, Monday. Wheat. —March, 1 dollar 284 cents a bushel; May, 1 dollar 28 5-8 cents: July, 1 dollar 26 3-8 cents. —A. and N.Z.