Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 633, 9 April 1929, Page 10

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, April 9, 1929. The wholesale warehouses opened after the Easter holidays to a very busy period, but now that the accumulated orders have been dispatched, trade generally is much quieter. With stocktaking and bank balance now over, depleted stocks are being renewed and many lines from overseas are anxiously awaited. The Huntingdon from Liverpool, Port Napier from London, Golden Cloud from San Francisco, Raranga from Capetown, and the Kaiapoi from Australian ports, have already landed their cargoes of general grocery lines, and distribution of forward orders to the retail trade has been made direct from the wharf. The list of goods just landed includes borax, boracic acid, saltpetre, Sicily almonds, ginger, jams, canned apricots and red herrings. SICILY ALMONDS The 1928 crop of P.G. Sicily almonds was very limited, being only about onethird ol the previous years, and the growers, believing that Sicily would be called upon to supply the world's consumption, began by asking exorbitant prices. In this they were aided by a few speculators who forced up the prices daily in the hopes of the expected orders. The result has been that the demand was lacking, that the exports were very small, and that a great part of the production still remains unsold. This is given as the chief reason for the falling in prices during the past few weeks, and cables received during this week indicate that still lower quotations are to be expected. As regards the new crop supplies for September-October shipment, c.i.f. prices have again been reduced, and represent good buying to those who have not yet booked their requirements. Some doubts have been expressed as to the shipments of the new crop almonds arriving in time for the Christmas trade, but records show tha tduring the last two years, shipments from direct suppliers have arrived about, the end of November or early in December, in ample time for distribution to the retail traders. JORDAN ALMONDS The market for new season’s Jordan almonds for September shipment has declined a further £5 a ton, and is now almost back to the lowest rates ruling at this period last year. SOFT SHELL ALMONDS Quotations for Iviza soft shell almonds for August shipment were reduced £1 10s a ton last week. Compared with last season’s ruling prices, present offers are about 10s a ton cheaper. NUTS Cables from London shippers advise a reduction of. £4 a ton in quotations for Spanish Barcelona nuts, while kernals have also eased to the extent of £3 10s> a ton for either prompt or forward shipment. Syrian walnuts are being offered for July shipment at an increase of £H» a ton on prices previously ruling for immediate delivery. FILBERTS There was an exceptionally heavy crop of Sieiilan filberts last year, and reports just to hand state that about half the crop sill remains unsold. This has had the effect of weakening considerably the market, and it is stated that still lower prices are to be expected. No information is yet to hand regarding the prospects of the 1929 crop, but it must be taken into consideration that even should the new crop be small, or even a failure, there still remains sufficient filberts to cover the requirements of the consumption of an entire season. BEANS Prices for Madagascar butter beans have been steadily advancing for some months, but it would appear that the demand at Home is slackening off, as cables from London shippers advise a reduction of £3 a ton for prompt shipment. Present quotations are, however, still about 50 per cent, higher than last season. DRIED APRICOTS The first of the new season’s supplies of South African evaporated apricots have just landed from the Raranga direct from Capetown. The quality of the fruit is excellent, and as stocks of old crop were light, distribution to the retail trade has been made direct from the wharf. CURRANTS After numerous delays on the way, the Kaiapoi has arrived with the first shipment of Australian currants, and. as the local market was practically bare of supplies, a good portion of the shipment will go into immediate consumption. Both Australian currants and sultanas have op.ened up very attractively, being well up to the standard of previous years. CHERRIES Quotations for the present crop of French crystallised and drained cherries remain on a very firm level, and as supplies are now getting short, it is not expected that lower offers will be available. Prices for the new season’s cherries (which are not ..ready for shipment from France until September) are slightly lower this week, whole drained having declined a farthing a lb. and crystallised a halfpenny a lb. SAFETY MATCHES

It is reported that foreign brands of safety matches have all been advanced in price, bringing thenj into line with the well-known English makes. With the elimination of some of these foreign matches, which, in the past, have not always been too reliable in quality, renewed interest is being shown in English manufactures. MUTTON BIRDS Prices for the new season’s Tasmanian mutton birds have just been named, these being practically the same as last year. Reports from Launceston state that the catch is not a heavy one, and supplies are likely to be limited. As the suppliers are prepared to quote subject to a fall clause, and spread delivery extending over six months can be given, considerable business has already been booked EASTERN GOODS Further slight reductions are again listed in Singapore canned pineapples, most sizes having declined three farthings a dozen. Nutmegs are also slightly easier, with mace remaining unchanged. Contrary to expectations, prices for Singapore pepper, both white and black, advanced about one penny a lb., and business cabled at a shade under the cabled quotations could not be accepted, except at the prices originally quoted. The market has since eased again fractionally. and as this is the last week in which business can be done for shipment by the direct steamer due to leave on April 11. further information is now anxiously awaited. BLUESTON E Cables from London shippers of Macclesfield bluestone advise a sharp advance in the price for prompt shipment, the market now being £2 5s a ton higher than previous quotations. 1 BIG GOLD IMPORTS TWO DAYS’ GAIN OF £830,000 British Official Wireless RUGBY, Sunday. In view of the monetary situation special interest attaches to the fact announced in the “London Gazette’’ that between noon on April 2 and noon on April 4, gold to the value of £838,847 was imported into Britain. The exports of gold amounted to only £S.S7S. That was despatched to Australia. CHICAGO WHEAT (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10.27 a.m. CHICAGO, Monday. Wheat.—May. 1 dollar 21 cents a bushel; July, 1 dollar 245 cents; September, 1 dollar 27£ cents.