TRADE IN PRODUCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 351, 11 May 1928, Page 12

TRADE IN PRODUCE

BRIGHTER TONE MAIZE POLLARD STILL SCARCE Friday, 9 a.m. Pollard is the only produce giving much concern in grain, seed and produce circles at the moment Supplies are not sufficient for the demand. The oat market remains firm. Maize values have hardened over the week. The potato market is steady, with regular supplies in sight, but care is being taken at the moment not to glut the market with consignment lots. Indications from the South are that supplies will be a little lighter than was at first anticipated, and there is a decided tendency at the moment to ask higher money for later deliveries. Arrangements are now being made to bring forward earlier varieties of seed potatoes, arid, with the short supplies held at Pukekohe, it is expected that Auckland will have to draw fairly heavily on the South this season. Table potatoes are quoted through store at up to £7 10s a ton. Ample supplies of onions are coming forward, but the quality of the Southern onions is apparently not coming up to expectations, and difficulty is experienced in many instances in obtaining a grader’s certificate. There appears at least another month’s supply in the South. The spot market for oats has advanced appreciably over the past week and traders, in sympathy with an earlier movement in the South, now ask os and 5s 6d for B and A Gartons respectively. The English market, which has had such an influence on New Zealand values this season, closed with a firm tone last week and New Zealand parcels sold for May delivery at 38s were being offered at 395. Wheat remains firm, merchants here asking 7s 9d through store. Wet weather in the South is reported to have delayed deliveries to a certain extent and tended to make holders of available stocks ask higher prices. Pollard remains in short supply on the spot, merchants asking 11s Gd through store for the South Island product. Bran is meeting with a good demand, and supplies here also tend to be insufficient to meet the demand. Movements of the maize market over the week indicate that at last strong holders in Poverty Bay are to be warded. Good quality maize has realised up to 6s 3d on the Auckland wharf without difficulty. The market has the most buoyant tone registered for many weeks. Through store in small lots traders ask up to 7s a bushel for choice prime quality. The seed marekt on the spot is practically dead at the moment with little business passing. The autumn season for fertilisers is now practically at an end, and, after a rush period of heavy deliveries, trade in this section has fallen to a period of comparative quiet.