TRADE IN PRODUCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 423, 3 August 1928, Page 12

TRADE IN PRODUCE

HEAVY POTATO SHIPMENTS LITTLE STRENGTH SHOWN August 3, 9 a.m. A very quiet time has been experienced in grain, seed and produce circles over the week, and little strength has been shown in in the market for any line. The spot potato market is well supplied, and ruling quotations are, if anything, slightly below' the Southern f.o'b. parity. That is, of course, if allowance is made fox* the usual selling margin. Large quantities of ungraded potatoes are still being offered around the city, and are mostly finding their way to hawkers, whose activities have a detrimental effect on storekeepers’ operations. Thus trade in prime quality tubers through the usual channels is depressed. The Waipiata, due on Monday, isrepo.rted to have lifted 1,000 sacks at Oamaru, approximately 4,000 sacks at Timaru, and a further 5,000 at Lyttelton. The Katofga, a day or so behind, was expected to “clear the accumulation,” so it appears that heavy supplies can be expected on the market next week. Forward Position Sound The Waipiata’s big shipment has a slight depressing effect on the prompt market but, though it would be unwise to attempt to forecast the future., it does not seem that any noteworthy movement either way can be expected. Although ample supplies seem to be available, sellers are not prepared to take any price to quit. It must also be remembered that forward buyers would fight any tendency to bear the market. It is interesting to note that the weak position of potatoes on the Melbourne market continues, and prime grade tubers there are quoted at from 40s to 70s a ton, according to quality. No hope is held out for any business with New Zealand, liow'ever, as it is recognised that vested interests here would be too strong. Not only would the Southern growers be antagonistic, but forward buyers would also be among the loudest voiced in making complaints. Onions Short on the Spot Owing no doubt to the fact that the Maheno missed connecting with the Eastern boat at Sydney last week, only a very small shipment of Japanese onions came to hand, leaving the spot market very short. Merchants have been thrown back on Southern, and the few Pukekohe onions still available, and these have r#at with a decidedly better sale. The Ulimaroa, on Tuesday, is reported to be brinigng a fairly heavy shipment, and the market should be back to normal again within the next four days. Japanese onions set the market, and are offered through store at up to 17s 6d a crate. In isolated instances up to 18s is asked. Maize Position Weaker There has been a decided weakening in the maize market over the week, this new business of consigning direct by rail throwing the market out of focus, and control, and it has largely been taken out of tjie hands of Auckland merchants. Bay of Plenty sellers are now- offering prime quality maize down to 5s Id f.o.r. Bay of Plenty stations. This gives it an Auckland parity of 5s 8d to 5s 9d. Gisborne sellers have also had to break 6s on the Auckland wharf over the week for prompt, to a price more on a line with the Bay market. There is not a great deal of maize coming out of Poverty Bay at the moment, however. The market for bran and pollard is stationary, with merchants continuing to draw most of their supplies from the South. Merchants’ through-store quotations from bran range around 8s 9d, and around 10f 3d fo.r pollard. Cereal Market Lifeless The market for both wheat and oats can best be described as lifeless. Quotations on the spot, generally, are unchanged, although a certain amount of price-cutting* is reported, adding to the factors contributing to a general weakness in the market. Reports from the South indicate an unexpected weakness in the chaff market due largely to the heavy supplies offering. In the North there is only a nominal inquiry for this product, the market not being capable of absorbing the large parcels of a few years ago. Wheat on the spot is still quoted through store at from 7s 6d to 7s 8d a bushel for the best quality grain. Oats are steady at ujd to 4s 9d for B’s and up to 5s for A’s. Chaff keeps at a steady price of up to £9 10s a ton through store. Produce Boats’ Movements The Wiapiata, from Dunedin and way ports, is scheduled to leave "Wellington to-night, and is expected here over the week-end. The Kaponga, from Dunedin and Lyttelton, is due her on Tuesday next. The Katoa starts loading at the Bluff to-day, thence Dunedin and Lyttelton, and is due at this port about August 13. The Wingatui is scheduled to leave Dunedin to-day, loading at way ports for the North, and is due here about August 13. The "Ulimaroa, bringing fruit and onions, leaves Sydney to-day, and is due here on Tuesday next.

BUTTER AND CHEESE Merchants report receipt of London cables reading as follow: Norden and Company, from their London principals, Andrew Clement and Sons, under date August 2: —“New Zealand butter, unsalted, 188 s (equivalent to Is 6.34 d f.0.b.); salted, 183 s (equivalent to Is 5.83 d f.0.b.); market quiet. Cheese, white, 112 s (equivalent to 10.25 d f.0.b.); coloured, 110 s (equivalent to 10.05 d); market firm.” Amalgamated Dairies, from their London house under date August 2:—“Butter: Our prices unchanged at 186 s for Anchor; market quiet; other quotations range from ISOs to lS4s; Danish, 170 s f.o.b. Cheese: Quietly firm at 112 s for white, Ills for coloured.” Dalgety and Company, Ltd., from their London house under date August 2:— “Butter: The market is quiet; prices are difficult to maintain. New Zealand finest salted, 180 s to lS4s; Danish, 180 s to 182 s; Australian, finest salted, 168 sto l<4s: G.A.Q.. 15Ss to 1625. Cheese: The market is quiet but steady. New Zealand, white, 110 s to 112 s; coloured, 109 s to Ills; Canadian. white and coloured, 109 s to 110 s; c.i.f., 1095.” MINING NEWS MAORI LAND.—The manager reports: “Since the last report we have put in two sets of timbei' where the ground had fallen. We have broken down some stone showing nice patches of gold; we are taking out what we can see, and the rest will go as general dirt.”

APPLES SELL WELL KEEN DEMAND FOR ORANGES VEGETABLES PLENTIFUL Apples, including good cookers, are still selling well on the city markets, and prices have not changed. Island oranges are slightly dearer to-day, and are selling freely. The fruit market is much the same at about last week’s rates, and in vegetable lines demand and supplies are good. Lemons are plentiful, and are easier. £ Many lines of pears are coming out of the cooler in a shrivelled condition. Citrus fruit came from Sydney by the Ulimaroa. Sydney navels are fetching from 10s to 12s, but Boorman oranges are easier. The Government vessel Maui Pomare brought a small quantity of oranges, selling at 7s to 9s, beans and tomatoes. The tomatoes were few, and were very green. Poultry pens were full to-day, and the demand was keen. Values were decidedly firmer in most lines, but the demand for ducks has slackened. Quo tations; FRUIT Oranges: Island. 14s Gd to 15s 6d; navels, 13s to 14s; Sydney navels, 10s to 12s; Sydney commons, 9s to 10s; Poorraan, 6s to 9s. Mandarins. 10s to 14s. Passion fruit, 23s to 27s 6d. Pines, 15s to 235. Apples: Stunners, 7s 6d to Ss; Delicious, 6s to 9s; Ballarats, 6s to 7s 6d; Doughertys, 4s to 6s; Granny Smith, 9s to 11s; Munroes, 6s to Ss 6d. Pears: Nelis and Coles, 6s to 10s; P. Barrys, 6 s to 9s. Tomatoes: Island, 5s to 6s 6d. Tree tomatoes, 6s to 10s. Lemons, 8s to 16s. Bananas, repacks, 20s to 255. FIELD PRODUCE Potatoes, Southern, 7s 9d to Ss 3d cwt; new, 2d to 41d a lb. Onions: Japanese, 16s to 17s crate; Southern, 10s to 12s cwt. Kumaras, 17s to ISs cwt. Cabbages, 5s to 16s sack. Cauliflowers, 4s to 14s sack. Swedes, 2s to 3s bag. Pumpkins, first-class Triumble, 10s to 12s cwt; othei's, 4s to 6s sack. Citron melons, 5s to 6s sack. Beans: Is 2d to Is 7d lb. Lettuce, Is to 5s case. Vegetable marrows, Is each. Cabbages, on benches, 2s to 7s dozen. Cauliflowers, on benches, 3s to 12s. Celery, best quality, Is 6d to Gs 6d bundle. Rhubarb, 2s 6d to 5s dozen. Spinach, 6d to 9d dozen. Pumpkins, on benches. 6d to Is 6d each. Spring onions, 2d to 8d bundle. Radish, 3d to 6d dozen. Carrots, parsnips, beet, and turnips, 6d to Is 4d. Leeks, 3d to 6d bundle. POULTRY Day-old chickens, 5d to 10d. Cock chickens, 2s to 2s 9d. Prime heavy cockerels, 5s to 6s. Prime lighter cockerels, 4s to 4s 6d. Light cockerels, 2s 9d to 3s 7d. Heavy hens, 3s 9d to 4s 9d. Lighter hens, 3s to 3s lOd. Roosters, 3s to 3s 9d. Ducks, old 2s 4d to 3s; young, 3s 6d to 4s 6d. Drakes, 2s 9d to 3s Gd. Muscovy ducks, 3s to 4s 4d; drakes, 4s hens, 6s Gd to 8s; gobblers, 12s forward 5s 6d to 7s 6d; smaller, 3s to 4s 6d.

WELLINGTON WOOLLEN COMPANY PROFIT OF £33,206 BEST YEAR SINCE 1920 Net profits amounting to £33,206 compared with £29,487 for the previous year are shown in the balance-sheet of the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company for the year ended June 30. Payment of the interim dividend required £14,914 and £2,000 was placed to reserve. The gross profits earned by the company were £63,906, as compared with £65,378 in the previous year. Rent and transfer fees amounted to £3,694, making the gross income £67,60.0, as against £69,139 for the 1927 period. Rates, taxes, interest, salaries ana other expenses, maintenance, insurance, directors’ and auditors’ fees and other incidentals absorbed £29,394, compared with £34,651. Again £5,000 is written off for depreciation. The directors describe the results as gratifying, as the year was a difficult and most unusual one. The high wool values of the season 1926-27 funner advanced in 1927-28 to figures quite unexpected, while, strangely, a general depression in business existed throughout the Dominion, making sales difficult, as wholesale prices were keenly competitive. The directors are, therefore, pleased to be able to recommend maintenance of last year’s dividend, the placing of £2,000 to reserve and the carrying forward of the balance, £2,474 11s. The net profit announced is the highest since 1919-20, when the amount was £36,526. The company’s net profitiTwei-e £29,454 in 1925-26 and £29,487 in 192627. In each of those years £2,000 was added to the reserve and, with the present addition, it will be £54,000. The dividend, which has been 10 per cent, since 1925, will absorb nearly £30,000. NEW ZEALAND HARDWOODS NEWSPRINT CAN BE MADE (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) NEW YORK, Wednesday. Experiments carried out on behalf of the New Zealand Government have been conducted at the United States Forest Product Laboratory at Madison, Wisconsin. They have resulted in the discovery that New Zealand hard woods are capable of producing a quality of newsprint comparable to the American standard. The Department of Agriculture, in which the Forestry Department is included, has issued a statement expressing the conviction that New Zealand now unquestionably will be able to hold her own in any price-cutting competition which may arise. Particular gratification is expressed in Washington that the Forestry Department, which undertook the experiments on the proviso that the United States should be able to benefit in the event of the tests being successful, will now be enabled to utilise American hard woods for making newsprint, which in the past has not been possible. The Forestry Department says the production of newsprint from hard woods is profoundly significant to the United States. STOP FIDGETING! Take Marshall’s Fospherine Why can’t you sit still? Why do you always fidget about, tiring yourself, and annoying other people? For goodness sake, stop it! All you need is a short course of Marshall’s Fosphex'ine, in order to give your nerves phosphorus, so lacking in ordinary food. A wonderful nerve soother, re-creat-ing your nervous system and renewing lost energy. Keeps you fit, always! Ask fo.r the six-sided carton, 100 doses 2s 6d, at any chemist or store. Smaller sizes Is 6d and Is. If unable to procure easily, write proprietors. A. and W. Baxter, of Baxter’s Lung Preserver, Christchurch. —1,

LONDON BUTTER MARKET QUIET AND STEADY (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 10.10 a.m. LONDON, Thursday. The butter market is quiet and steady. Danish: 180 s. Choicest New Zealand salted: 180 s to 184 s; unsalted, 186 s to 190 s. Austrailan Salted, 168 s to 1725; unsalted, 176 s to 178 s. The cheese market is firm. New Zealand, 110 s to 112 s.

HOUSEWIVES’ GUIDE TN the city markets, large-sized -* hen eggs bring Is 3d to 1s 4d a dozen; intermediate, Is 2d to 1s 3d; and duck eggs, Is 2d to Is 3d. There are plentiful supplies. In the shops prices are around 3d a dozen dearer. Farmers’ butter is in moderate supply in the city marts and sells at 1s 3d to 1s 5d a lb. Finest factory butter for cash in the shops sells at 1s lOd a lb; second grade, Is 9d a lb. There are short supplies of farmers’ butter, and the demand is keen. Mutton leg chops in the shops for cash over the counter fetch 8d a lb; a neck and breast costs 6d; loin chops, 11d a lb; hindquarter, 9d a lb; beefsteak, 6d a lb; gravy beef, 4d a lb; corned round, 7d a lb; leg of pork, 10d a lb. Vegetable marrows in the marts sell at 1s each; cabbage. 2s to 7s a dozen; cauliflower, 3d to Is each; celery, 1s 6d to 6s 6d a bundle; rhubarb, 2s 6d to 5s a dozen; spinach, 6d to 9d a dozen bundles; pumpkins, 6d to 1s 6d each; spring onions, 2d to 8d a bundle; radish, 3d to 6d a dozen bundles; car- ' rots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 6d to 1s 4d a dozen bundles; leeks, 3d to 6d a bundle; beans, 1s 2d to Is 7d a lb. The above-mentioned Kit-bag la Incomplete without a packet of “No Rubbing Laundry Help,” the scientific clothes-washer. 2 Your meals are more thoroughly enjoyed when MAZAWATTEE tea graces the table. Save the white ticket in each packet and get a canister of tea FREE.