PRODUCE REVIEW

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 305, 16 March 1928, Page 12

PRODUCE REVIEW

HEAVY TRADE IN SEEDS POTATO VALUES FIRM Interest in grain, seed and produce circles continues confined chiefly to seeds and manures. Both products meet with a strong demand, merchants reporting difficulty at times in coping with the steady flow of orders for immediate delivery. Prices remain fairly steady, though certain fluctuations in merchants’ prices have taken place where temporary shortages on the spot have forced short holders to exceed the outside parity to cover immediate requirements. Ample stocks of New Zealand seeds for the season’s demands are reported to be held in the South. Steady trading is reported in manures. Stocks of slag are short on the spot following a heavy seasonal demand, and the next shipment is eagerly awaited. Potatoes remain in short supply owing to the inability of the two most reliable sources of supply (Canterbury and the Manawatu) to meet the Northern demands. Best quality tubers have been selling through store around 14s a cwt., though as high as 15s has been asked in some instances. No hope of relief is looked for until the bulk of the Southern crop is available. The Niagara this week lifted 7,540 crates of onions on account of overseas buyers. This has tended to keep the market for the Pukekohe product above the Southern parity. As a result, Auckland merchants confine most of their attention to the South when covering forward commitments. Canterbury onions are quoted through store at 10s 6d to 11s, while Is to 2s more is asked for Pukekohe onions. A healthy tone is registered in the market for oats, the possibility of trade witji England developing following the hope that the end of the wool selling season will bring about a drop in frieghts holding the market in good heart. Through store, Auckland, A gartons sell at 4s Bd, with Bs at 4s sd. Chaff meets with a steady sale at £9 5s to £9 10s, through store, Auckland. Bran and pollard moves freely, with ample stocks on the spot. Merchants’ prices hold around 8s 8d for bran and 10s 3d for pollard. Millers’ quotations are 8s and 9s 6d respectively. With the harvest in the South exceeding all expectations, the future of the wheat market is hard to forecast. At the moment sellers are holding for firm values in the hope of an improvement in the near future. Northern buyers are inclined to take the opposite view, however, and are mostly trading from hand to mouth. To say the least about it the market is very sensitive and sellers at the moment are not prepared to reduce their demands. Through store Auckland quotations remain unchanged at from 7s 6d to 7s 9d. Maize meets with a dull sale and, though extra prime quality samples have moved off the Auckland Wharf at slightly more than 6s, other inferior parcels have sold for as low as 5s lOd. The price, generally, can be considered to be fairly steady at 6s, with only a limited amount of business doing. A brighter tone is expected in this market with the arrival of the colder weather, though the easier values for wheat will not. allow it to go too high.