Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 486, 16 October 1928, Page 12

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, October 16. j A LTHOUGH this is usually the quietest period of the month, trade has been fairly good during the past week. Orders from country districts are now coming to hand in good volume and as deliveries for November account can be made next week, town and suburban business is expected to be very heavy. The manufacturers of Slickshine advise that this line is now being packed in a much larger tin at a slightly increased price. Sliced peaches have been short for some time but fresh supplies are expected by the next Melbourne steamer, definite date of arrival being uncertain on account of the strike. Creamota has also been in short supply, but further stocks are now due. Among the list of goods arriving, in many instances to an almost bare market, may be mentioned Californian rice, Bovril, sugar corn, Cerebos salt, and a further shipment of new season’s salmon. The first of the new season’s soft shell almonds and Barcelona nuts just to hand have opened up well, and are meeting with a strong demand. An _ advance of 3-8 d a lb. in candles is announced this week. SALMON The acute shortage in soekeye grade this season is now causing concern to the wholesale trade, and efforts’are being made by agents to cover’for further supplies in the Alaska pack. Some offers have just been made in Siberian sockeye, and a fair-sized parcel has been booked, although the preference is for British Columbian. Very little soekeye was brought down by the Niagara last week, and it will be a month or two yet before the extreme shortage is realised. The market for all grades of salmon is reported by recent cables to be stiffening. PEANUTS The market for Chinese peanuts in shell has now definitely firmed, as business submitted at slightly lower than prevailing prices was not accepted, shippers asking an advance of 15s a ton. The parcels originally offered have all been sold for October shipment, and the earliest deliveries that can now be obtained are for November shipment. KERNELS Latest information on Java peanut kernels is to the effect that the price is unchanged in the meantime, but the market is still exceedingly strong, with supplies in first hands limited. Local stocks are still very short and the position cannot be relieved until the arrival of the Sydney steamer next week. WALNUTS Prices for all kinds of walnuts continue on a very firm level. French Sorrento and Syrian crops are reported to be much below those of last year, while the supplies of Manchurian are stated to be smaller with prices steadily increasing. The extremely high quotations for all grades of walnut halves and pieces have greatly restricted buying, but with the unfavourable reports from all sources of supply, it would appear that there will be little prospect of lower offers for this season. CHERRIES The first shipments of the new crop of crystallised and drained cherries are due to arrive next week, and meantime local stocks are short. Prices have been steadily advancing for some months and as the crops were only about one-third of last year, there is no prospect of any lower offers being made until next season’s supplies are ready for shipment in August, 1929. CREAM OF TARTAR Although the market for English Cream of Tartar has been declining for some weeks, the general firming in the prices of acids was considered a good indication that higher prices could be expected before long. This has been borne out by the increased offer of one well-known British manufacturer whose price has advanced 30s a ton for prompt shipment. ACIDS Tartaric acid has again advanced, quotations being Id a lb. higher for spread shipment up to next March, with still higher rates probable. AI-MONDS The first shipment of the new season's Jordan almonds are due in Sydney this week and unless these are held up on account of the strike, will arrive here about the end of October. Prices for October anrl November shipment from. London have declined a further 5s a cwt., but even at the reduction, to-day’s rates are still higher than those, ruling at the time most of this season’s business was placed. SARDINES

Considerable business has been done in Canadian’ sardines, but agents advise the withdrawal of their quotations as there are no further supplies available. The fishing in Norwegian waters is reported to have been very poor, consequently higher prices are expected to rule for both smoked sild and brisling in all sizes. PEPPERS As further evidence of the fluctuation in Singapore, prices for peppers, after showing an easier tendency, have again firmed this week, an advance of a lb. being asked for November-December shipment. PINEAPPLES Quotations remain at a low level, today’s rates being the lowest for over three years. Although good stocks are held locally to meet the summer demand, a fair amount of business has been booked for the December steamer. PRUNES The lower offers for new season’s prunes made last week by one of the outside packers resulted in some orders being placed, but the business was not accepted. Further cables from the regular suppliers state that the market generally remains firm with slight reductions available in a few of the smaller sizes. Shipment at these prices cannot be extended beyond January next. RAISINS Prices for all grades .of unbleached raisins are now firm and the increases recently advised for most lines of bleached raisins have been maintained. A slight weakness in the market for golden bleached is, however, advised, this representing a reduction of Is 3d a cwt., for shipment up to January. CINNAMON Colombo advices state that for some time past local values ruled well above foreign equivalents, with little business'' being done. An improvement is now noticeable and as the offerings are small, it is anticipated that higher prices will rule before long. SALT Supplies of English salt in cwts., and nib. bags have again been short locally, but the arrival of the Port Darwin with a further shipment has relieved the position. Rock salt has also been short and further supplies will not .be available until the Matakana arrives next month. BIG PRICES FOR JERSEYS (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON. Monday. Fifty three-year-old Jersey heifers from one herd were recently sold at £2O a head by a Tatuanui breeder, who selected them two years ago as heifers. For their first season their production averaged 3101 b of butter-fat for a herd of 58 cows on 100 acres. The price for a herd of this size is regarded as a record for the Auckland Province.