ON QUIET MARKETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 752, 27 August 1929, Page 10

ON QUIET MARKETS

APPLES, TALLOW AND HEMP WOOL IMPROVED Generally quiet trading, especially in tallow, apples and hemp, is reported from London in the Department of Agriculture’s cablegram of August 24 Wool, however, has an improved market. The High Commissioner’s advice to the department states: Wool. —On the Bradford market the general tone is a little better, with more inquiries, but mostly for small lots. More interest was shown in Merino tops. Fine crossbred are quiet and medium crossbred in moderate demand, lower sorts moving.fairly freely at firm prices. Present quotations for tops are: 64’s, warp, 3s ljd to 3s 2d a lb; average, 3s Old to 3s Id; 56’s 2s 4d; 50’s prepared, 2s Old; 40’s, prepared, Is 9d. Tallow.—The spot market is quiet, with a moderate demand at auction at unchanged prices. Apples.—The market continues very dull at lower prices still. A fair quantity of the Port Nicholson’s consignment was not sold. Its condition was poor. Current prices for New Zealand are 7s to 13s for all sorts. Hemp.—The Manila market is quiet and values unchanged. The sisal market is quiet but steady, with no material change in values. New Zealand shows a better inquiry, but shippers are still not able to meet the demand. Closing values were the same as last quotations.

POTATOES POOR

SHORTAGE IS KEEPING PRICES UP AUCKLAND POSITION The Auckland City Markets have not large supplies of better quality potatoes this week, but no abrupt change is likely to take place in the ruling rates. Remembering the extraordinary low values which remained on the market some months ago, owing to the prolonging erf the producing season in the Auckland Province largely, the present prices are considered fair, especially in view of the presence of potatoes of moderate quality. Many of the offerings have had brown rust on the outside, and one merchant today estimated that there was a loss of a fifth on each sack. The general opinion is that the potatoes brought forward in the City for some weeks past have been much inferior in quality to those last season. Auckland’s payment for potatoes is apparently upheld in Wellington According to a message to The Sun, summing up the market position during last week, the price paid a ton for Oamaru potatoes was probably up to £ 3 more than demanded by the apparent supply and inquiry. SOUTHERN OPTIMISM ‘‘Evidently Southern holders still believe there is a prospect of doing business at good prices with Sydney,” the message said. The Southern optimism seems needless, in view of the statement from Sydney of Sir Neville House, the Federal Minister of Health. He said, commenting on the continued embargo on New Zealand potatoes, that experience had shown a tendency to use potatoes from the Dominion for seed purposes, when they were available. The system of certification of consignments, he contended, had not eliminated the danger of introducing tubers affected with corky scab. „ Auckland is not gaining a particularly frequent service from the South with potato supplies. If this continues, there will, of course, be no drop in rates in view of a shortage which is not affecting Wellington. The Waipiata is bringing a shipment on Friday, and this may ease the position. Since Auckland new potatoes have appeared on the markets, there has not been a big supply. The new potatoes are being sold in two grades, and today’s highest price is 6d a lb.