Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 698, 25 June 1929, Page 10

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, June 25, 1929. Business has been fairly good during the past week, and as deliveries for July account are now being made, the wholesale grocery merchants will be very busy for the remainder of the month. As is only to be expected at this period of the year, there is a falling off in the volume of country orders; but town trade continues on a satisfactory basis. fJUIERE have been no arrivals of particular interest during the past week, but the Golden West, due from Californian ports this week, is carrying further shipments of prunes which aro rather urgently required. The Cumberland, from Liverpool, is bringing a shipment of English coarse salt, but no fine will be available until the Port Dunedin arrives early in July; meantime stocks of this grade are in short supply. CHERRIES Quotations for new season’s French cherries were withdrawn about two weeks ago, and buyers are anxiously awaiting further information on this line. Meantime prices for the new crop English whole-drained cherries for August-September shipment have been named, and as these are rather favourable, considerable business has already been placed. CLOVES

The crop of cloves in Zanzibar was a failure last year, and prices advanced to over 100 per cent, over the normal rates. The market is slightly easier at present, but little alteration is expected until quotations for new crop supplies for September-October shipment are advised. MATCHES

Various brands of English safety matches have been short locally for the past few weeks, but merchants are now in receipt of shipping papers for the orders on hand, which will arrive per Hurunui this week. ALMONDS

A falling market is again in evidence regarding P. G. Sicily almonds, latest cables from Palermo advising a reduction of £5 a ton for new season’s supplies, while present crop prices are also lower to the extent of £3 a ton. It is now some years since prices for this commodity have been on such a favourable level, but unfortunately most of the buying for prompt and forward delivery has been done at higher prices. NUTS

Xew season’s Sorrento walnuts are being quoted at attractive prices for October shipment, but as supplies of these nuts will arrive too late for the majority of the Christmas trade, only limited quantities are being - booked. Local merchants bought rather freely in New Zealand walnuts and as fair stocks of Syrian and Chinese nuts are still held, there sholud be ample supplies for the Christmas demand. Brazil nuts continue to decline in price, first grade Para quality again having been reduced £1 a ton for July shipment from London. Spanish Barcelona nuts remain very firm with higher prices expected. RICE, It would appear that Californian shippers intend to make a further bid forthe rice business of this Dominion, as cables just to hand from San Francisco notify a decline of £1 5s a ton in the quotations for fancy coated quality. Prices of this grade have been reduced several times during the past few months, and today’s rates are the lowest for many years. Quotations for long grain Mexican rice have also been reduced by 15s a ton for prompt shipment. PEPPER

Prices from Singapore have again advanced and at present are as high as they have been for some considerable time. Spot stocks in Singapore remain very scarce and prices will probably continue to advance until the end of next month, when the new crop supplies will be available for shipment. According to early forecasts a plentiful and early harvest is to he expected and quotations are bound to be more favourable before long. PINEAPPLES

Quotations for Singapore pineapples for shipment by the July-August steamer continue to decline, but although today’s rates are very attractive, only limited business is being booked at present. Most buyers covered some months ago for the majority of their requirements for shipment by the above steamer as prices were then considered to be most favourable The lower prices are expected to increase the public demand and merchants are, where possible, endeavouring to lower their average costs by further purchases at current prices. TAPIOCAS

The indent rates for both sago and medium pearl tapioca declined last week to the extent of 5s a ton. This commodity is now listed at the lowest level for over four years, but little business is passing at the moment as the greater portion of the orders for shipment by the July/August steamer have already been placed. OIL OF LEMON

After showing a considerable reduction in price, this line has once again shown a distinct inclination to advance, and today’s advices from Messina state that the market remains firm with higher prices expected. .DRIED FRUITS The early reports of the damage to the crops in California by frosts do not appear to have been exaggerated and it is anticipated that the quantities of fruits to be harvested this coming season will be much below last year’s figures. As the local market draws only very limited supplies of dried apricots and peaches from California, chief interest is being centred in the prospects of raisins and prunes at present. RAISINS An active demand for supplies of the pi*esent crop of raisins has set in in California, and this has resulted in a sharp advance in prices of unbleached grades. As all crops in California and particularly raisins, are expected to be several weeks later this year than usual, it would appear that some of the demand for the Christmas trade will have to be covered out of the present season’s carryover. Quotations for both oil and soda bleached raisins have advanced 6d a cwt. for prompt shipment, with limited quantities offering, while golden bleached remain firm at previously advised higher PRUN ES Latest cables from San Francisco shippers again show advances in most sizes of prunes for prompt shipment. Santa Clara quality are only available in 60/70, 70/80, SO/90 and 90/100 sizes, prices of which are from Is to 2s a cwt above previous quotations. The larger sizes, 30/40, 40/50 and 50/60, can -still be supplied in Californian quality, prices being about 6d to Is a cwt. above the last offers. As regards the new crop, the extent of the frost damage has apparently been somewhat more serious than previously estimated, and present indications point to a smaller crop than last year. The lower prices for both prunes and raisins which have ruled during the past two years have had the effect of a much higher consumption throughout the world, and when the opening quotations for new season's supplies are available this year, it seems certain that these will be on a much higher level than last year. GUM ARABIC This commodity has been firming on the London market ever since the naming of the new crop prices some months ago. The rates have consistently advanced, until today the market is at a record figure, being over 100 per cent, above the new crop prices. London shippers state that the present high rates are due to an extreme shortage of supplies, and this position cannot be relieved until the next new crop is ready for shipment approximately in JanuaryFebruary next. TURPS Quotations for pinetree turps are a little firmer this week, latest cables advising an advance of ltd a gallon for prompt shipment. CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET j (Australian and X.Z. Press Association J | Reed. 9.40 a.m. CHICAGO, Monday. I Wheat. —July. 1 dollar 14 7-8 cents a J bushel: September, 1 dollar 191 cents ; J December, 1 dollar 24 7-S cents a bush/l!

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSN. CONFERENCE AT WHANGAREI COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA All sections of Xew Zealand dairving interests will be represented at the 35th annual conference of the National Dairv Association, which opens at Whangarei tomorrow. The conference will be opened at 9.30 o’clock in the morning by the Mayor of Whangarei, Mr. W. Jones, and Mr. A. J. Murdoch, M.P. for Marsden. The business of the annual meeting will occupy the greater part of the day, and in the afternoon Professor W. Riddet, director of the Dairy Research Institute, will speak on the work of that body. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Cooperative Rennet Company, Limited, will be held in the evening. On Thursday morning Mr. W. E. Gwillim, acting-director of the Dairy Division, will discuss its work during the past season, and Mr. W. A. lorns, chairman of the Dairy Produce Board, will deliver an address. In the afternoon Mr. P. O. Veale, scientist to the Federation of Taranaki Dairy Factories, will speak on “Cheese Yields,” and Colonel C. R. Spragg will read a paper on “The Port ot Liverpool and Its Relation to New Zealand Dairy Produce.” A smoke concert will be held in the evening, the Civic League having arranged entertainment for the visiting women. Friday and Saturday will be devoted to trips to points of interest about Whangarei. The remits for discussion cover a wide field of daii'ying interests. They include suggestions that the association should take steps to form a dairy companies’ mutual accident insurance company, that the “finest” grade for export cheese should be abolished, that the Dairy Produce Control Board’s annual meeting should take the place of the association’s conferences, and that the board should reinstate the levy on exported dairy produce to raise further funds for advertising. There will also be discussed a remit suggesting that the Dairy Produce Control Board alone should publish details of dairy production statistics. LONDON PRODUCE MARKET HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT Press Association WELLINGTON, Monday. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated June 22, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London: Tallow. —No auction this week owing to quiet state of market. Quotations unchanged. Honey.—Market very quiet. Present quotations for Jamaican new crops are 43s to 52s 6d; Santo Domingo, 42s 6d to 50s; Haitian, 45s to 52s 6d; Californian light amber, 45s to 555; Canadian light amber, 48s; New Zealand, 50s to 57s 6d. Fruit. —Supplies on hand not too plentiful and market very firm, in spite of increasing arrivals of soft fruits. The apples by the R.angitiki generally are satisfactory. Pears are variable and some wasty. Apples: Statesman, Dougherty and Sturmer, 17s 6d to 20s a case; Otago, Cleopatra, 18s to 225; Statesman, Delicious, Lord Wolsey and Jonathan, 17s to 20s; Scarlet, Nonpareil, 16s to 18s. Pears: P. Barry, 5s 6d to 6s single trays, Ss 6d to 9s double trays; Winter Nelis, 3s to 8s single, in accordance with condition; Otago Winter Nelis, 6s 6d to 10s single trays, 12s to 15s double trays. Plemp.—Manila: Market dull and barely steady. “J” grad© for JuneAugust shipment quoted at £3B sellers. Sisal: Market firmer on Russian demand and good business has been done. Tanganyika No. 1 afloat sold up to £39 10s; No. 2, up to £3B, with easier feeling at the close. New Zealand: Market dull and business confined to small spot lots. Nominal comparative values for June-August shipment: Highpoints, £33; No. 3 tow, £l7; others unchanged at last quotations. Stocks in London on May 31 were 55 tons, against 63 tons at the same time last year. Wool.—The Bradford market is dull and the turnover still restricted. Following the recent reduction the tone is more steady. Forty’s prepared are quoted at Is 9£d, and others are unchanged.

LONDON LANCASHIRE INSURANCE Net premiums in its fire department amounting to £3,447,447 are recorded in the 67th annual report of the London and Lancashire Insurance Company, for the year 1928. A conservative policy of management over a long period of years makes possible the payment of a total dividend for the year of 16s a share paid up to £l. AUCTION NOTES J. J. Kelliher will sell by auction at his salerooms. Karangahape Road, opposite Newton Post Office, tomorrow, Wednesday, at 1.30 p.m., a large selection. of good used furnishings, sundries, and new clothing of every description.