TRADE IN PRODUCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 411, 20 July 1928, Page 12

TRADE IN PRODUCE

THE WEEK REVIEWED July 20, 9 a.m. Potatoes, which have firmed 10s a ton, have attracted most interest in grain, seed and produce circles over the week. Normal business has been transacted in other lines, with little movement in the market. The Katoa to-morrow brings only a small shipment of little more than 4.000 sacks of table potatoes. Merchants here, probably following the heavy shipments of the previous fort- : night, evidently relied to a large extent on consignment lots and have been ; left lamenting at the last moment.The Southern market has improved . slightly over the week and, on the spot, ! values are well up to the South t.o.b. parity. Through store spot quotations to-day range around £S 15s, though even as high as £9 is asked for special lots in some quarters. Indications are that stocks on the spot will be at a very low ebb before the end of next week. The demand for seed potatoes has improved considerably over the past few days, and supplies are mostly being drawn from the South. Onions Drug on the Market New Zealand-grown onions are prac- i tically a drug on the market and values j have not recovered from last week’s set- j back, when considerable quantities were placed on the market at over 25 per cent, j below the then ruling rate. Canterbury onions continue to come forward and have difficulty in finding an outlet on a through store parity of 14s a cwt. The few Pukekohe growers still holding stocks have been left lamenting, as it is not likely that they will see high prices again this season. Advices from Japan report heavy crops over there and indications are that big consignment lots will find their way to Australia. Quotations from Sydney during the week for Japanese consignments show a reduction of 30s a ton below the parity at which merchants here have already bought in at. Through store on the spot Japanese onions at the moment are selling at 17s Od a cwt. The quality is good. Good Retail Demand for Maize Merchants report a good demand for maize. The spot market is practically unchanged at last week’s rates. Only limited lots have come to hand from down the coast. Nominally the market is steady at 6s on the Auckland wharf. In a few isolated instances this figure was broken over the week to even as low as 5s lOd, but for god quality maize the market can be considered firm at 6s to 6s Id or even in isolated case to 6s 2d for special lots of the old season’s cereal. The quality of the new crop coming on to the market generaly is good and jn excellent order for storing. Grain Market Weak The oat market can best be described as sick. There is only a nominal inquiry and values are practically unchanged on the spot at 4s 9d for B Gartons, up to 5s 2d for A’s. The chaff market is slightly easier -in Canterbury, although no change has been noted in Blenheim quotations over the week. Normal business is being done on the spot at up to £9 10s a ton. Wheat now seems to have reached almost bedrock at 5s 6d in the South following a further decline over the week. A large quantity of low-grade milling wheat, rejected by the millers, appears to be offering, and this is keeping the market down. Quotations here through store range from 7s 6d to 7s 8d a bushel. A healthy demand is registered for bran and pollard and prices remain unaltered with most merchants asking IDs 6d for pollard and 8s 9d for bran. TJp to £lO 15s is asked for pollard in some quarters. Produce Boat Movements The Kartigi from South Australian ports via New Zealand coast ports, is due here this evening. The Wingatui is scheduled to leave Dunedin this evening for Auckland, via Oamaru, Timaru and Lyttelton. The vessel is due here on Monday week. The Katoa with Southern produce is due here to-morrow.