TRADE IN PRODUCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 453, 7 September 1928, Page 12

TRADE IN PRODUCE

HEAVY POTATO SHIPMENTS ONIONS CAUSING CONCERN Potatoes gave merchants some concern over the week. The position in regard to onions is also far from satisfactory, and nothing has occurred during the week to contradict previous forecasts that there will be an acute shortage in this produce in the latter months of the present year. QONTRARY to expectations the spot potato market held firm over the week, despite the arrival of fairly heavy shipments from the South. Merchants are now mostly relying on consignment lots and buying ex the wharf. This week it was thought that with the bulk of the shipments coming forward on consignment that sellers would have to take more or less what merchants here liked to offer. The biggest percentage was in the hands of one shipper, however, and efforts to bear the market proved futile. In addition there was a strong demand from retailers.

Heavy shipments are expected from next week’s estimates, giving the quantity coming on two boats at well over 15,000 sacks. It is safe to predict, therefore, that slightly easier prices will rule. This week potatoes sold direct from the ship’s side to retailers in small lots at £ 8 15s, and best quality tables brought up to £9 through store. Onion Market Unsatisfactory The Ulimaroa this week brought a disappointingly small shipment of onions to a bare market. The quality of the shipment was .also well below that of previous lots from the same quarter. A further shipment of Japanese onions is due on the Marama on Tuesday next, ancl after that it is safe to estimate that the Japanese season will be finished. The first direct shipment of Canadian and „ Californian onions is due here during the following week. The position, generally, is most unsatisfactory, and it seems that retailers will not be able to quote under 20s a cwt again this year. ATaize Shows Firming Tendency The position in regard to maize shows little change. The bulk of the business is being done with the Bay of Plenty, ancl the quotations are still available from there on a wholesale basis equivalent to 5s lcl on the trucks. Weak holders are gradually being worked off, however. Already there are signs of a slight strengthening, and a little more attention has been paid to offers from Gisborne during the past week. The oatmarket is very dull and attracts little attention. On the spot B Gartons are offered through store at 4s 7d with A’s 3d dearer. There has been a decided improvement m the wheat market, quotations in the South showing an advance of from l£d to 2d over the past week. The improvement lias not yet been reflected in the spot retail market, however, and through store fowl wheat is offered at from 7s 4d to 7s 7d, according to sample. Stocks of chaff on the spot are rather low. but the position will be relieved next week by the arrival of a further shipment from Picton. Through store, good bright sample sells at £9 5s a ton! Flour from Canada

Regular deliveries of Canadian flour are made in Auckland throughout the year The business in normal times, however, is not large. The present freight war and subsequent cheap freights has given impetus to the trade and increased activity has been noted among brokers o\er the past week or so. Quotations that compare more than favourably with the local parity are available, and it is understood that quite a number of orders have been booked from merchants who m normal times do not trouble to trade in flour from overseas. The position in regard to bran and pollard is unchanged. Bran sells through at° r £lo n ss lle Spot at 10s , witll Pollard Produce Boat Movements

Kurow, with Southern produce. T l ir l ?£i r + potat ° e *v from Dunedin, Timaru, Lyttelton and Wellington, is due here on Sunday morning. . T)l , e Kartigi, from Dunedin, is completing loading- at Ljittelton and is due in Auckland about Tuesday next The Wingatui lifts cargo at Dunedin on Monday and Tuesday next, thence Oamaru, Timaru, Lyttelton, Wellington. i e . v ® ssel 18 expected to arrive here about September 17.

B ,S e Katoa, from' Port Craig, leaves iMuff this week-end for Auckland, via Wellington and Picton. The vessel .is here about the end of next week. The Kaitangata, from South Australian ports, leaves Melbourne to-day for Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington and Auckland, and is due here about. September 22. The Marama, from Sydney,/ is due on Tuesday next. / The Manuka, with a small cargo of produce for transhipment to Auckland, is due at Wellington on Sunday. The Wairuna, from the Pacific slopes, is due in Auckland about September 14. The Sussex, from Calcutta, via Fenaiier, Singapore, Samarang, is due at Auckland on September 10.

The Hatkhola, from Calcutta, via Rangoon, Singapore and Sydney, is due at Auckland on September 19.