TRADE IN PRODUCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 429, 10 August 1928, Page 12

TRADE IN PRODUCE

SPOT POTATOES EASIER FIRST AMERICAN ONIONS More life has been shown in grain, seed, and produce circles over the past week, although the market for Southern cereals is still very dead. The spot potato market is inclined to be weaker by at least os a ton, following 1 the fairly heavy shipments early in the week. A decided strengthening can be looked for within the next few days, however, as only light shipments are expected next week. Through store, best quality tubers are selling around £8 10s, with poorer lines at lower figLires, according to grade. The low market across the Tasman has temporarily killed all chances of trade in tubers between Auckland and Fiji, and where until recently the Tofua lifted up to 100 tons a trip out of this port, she now takes none. All trade in potatoes with the Islands is being* done with Melbourne. Merchants appear satisfied to work from hand to mouth at the moment, confident that there will be sufficient tubers in the South to meet all normal demands for some time to come. Trade in seed potatoes is not very brisk, and ample stocks are held. Ample Onion Stocks The shortage of onions experienced last week was relieved on Tuesday by the arrival of a heavy shipment of approximately 4,000 cases of Japanese on the Ulimaroa. The Marama, on Tuesday next, brings further parcels. Merchants have now been able to supply all orders, and a rather quiet time can be expected in the wholesale trade for this line over the few days. Through store, merchants are asking up to 17s 6d a case. A few Canterbury onions are still floating around, but are not very popular, and sales through store are made at 10s to 12s. The first of this season’s Californian onions arrived in Wellington on the Maunganui, and a small shipment sent up the coast to Auckland is now held on the wharf. The Department of Agriculture is refusing to grant a clearance, as the line is reported to comprise a large percentage of green and miniatured, while the onions are also affected with smut. Efforts are being made to have the shipment released, as it was bought on the grader’s certificate at port of shipment, and merchants here would be saddled with a dead loss should the onions not be allowed to go into consumption. Maize Market Easier While there is a good retail demand for maize, the wholesale market over the week has registered a slightly weaker tone. Last week’s set quotation of 5s Id on rail down the Bay of Plenty has been broken in a number of instances in endeavours to quit small parcels. One of the principal factors in bringing about an easing of the wholesale demand was the spreading of the information that one firm operating in a big way in the Bay of Plenty had approximately 10,000 sacks available for prompt or spread delivery over the next few months. This, in addition to the fact that there are a number of weak holders indicating that they would not be above cutting prices to effect a quick sale, has had the effect of causing merchants to limit operations and adopt a more or less wait-and-see policy, buying mostly from hand to mouth meantime. Auckland merchants are looking to Gisborne for most of their store requirements, and though nominally the market there might appear to be holding at a better level than the Bay of Plenty one, it would be difficult to bring off sales of sizeable parcels at much over 5s 9d on the Auckland wharf. Cereals Market Remains Dull The cereal market, as far as oats and wheat are concerned, is dull, and a further weakening has taken place in the South. Caught with the falling market a number of Auckland merchants are now holding fairly big stocks of oats and. endeavouring to unload, are cutting prices very fine, for big contracts totalling eliminating profits. Thus, trade is difficult for the profit-seeking trader. The export trade in oats in the South is now over for the time being. Through store, Auckland, merchants are asking around 4s 8d for B Gartons and 4s lid for A’s. Wheat is finding a fairly steady retail demand at 7s 6d a bushel, although the wholesale trade is depressed. Chaff is also inclined to be weaker in the South, but, on the spot, quotations are unchanged at £9 10s for good bright sample. Fair business is being done in bran and pollard, with merchants’ through store quotations fairly steady around £8 15s for bran and £lO 5s for pollard. A fairly good demand is being experienced for manures, principally superphosphates. Grass and clover seeds are meeting with a limited inquiry. Quotations for such lines as cocksfoot, ryegrasses and white clover show an advance on autumn prices. Produce Boat Movements The Marama is due from Sydney on Tuesday. The vessel will carry a fair quantitv of Japanese onions. The Waipiata left Auckland early yesterday morning for Dunedin, where she will commence loading on her return trip on Wednesday or Thursday next. The Katoa, from Bluff, Dunedin, Timaru. Lyttelton and Wellington, is due here early next week.

TRADE WITHIN EMPIRE (United. P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) LONDON, Thursday. An article in the Board of Trade Journal shows that the Empire goods imported into the United Kingdom in the first six months of the year were over 2 per cent, above those of 1927, and that the exports of British products to the other parts of the Empire are lower by 1.5 per cent. The relative decline in British exports to the other parts of the Empire is more than accounted for by the reduction in the percentage of British exports to Australia from 9.51 per cent, in 1927 to 7.50 in 1928. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE (United P.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) SYDNEY, Thursday. The following are to-day’s Quotations on the Sydney produce market: — Wheat. —Growers’ lots, 4s Std at country stations; 4s lid, ex-truck, at Sydney. Flour. —Export trade dull. Local, £l2 10s. Bran.— £6 10s. Pollard.— £7 10s. Maize. —3s 9d to 4s. Potatoes.—Tasmanian, £6 10s to £7. Onions. —Victorian £l3; Japanese, £l6. Adelaide prices are:— Wheat. —Growers’ lots, 4s lUd to 5s Id. Flour.—Bakers’ lots, £l2 15s. Bran. — £5 17s 6d. Pollard. — £7 2s 6d. Heed. Noon. MELBOURNE, To-day. To-day’s market values: — Wheat.—Nominal, 4s lid to ss. Flour.— £l2 7s 6d. Pollard. — £7 10s. Oats. —Quiet, 3s 6d to 3s Sd. Barley.—English, steady, £5 10s. Potatoes. —Steady, £2 15s to £3 10s. Butter. —Market weak, Is Sd. Cheese. —Market quiet, lid.