TRADE IN PRODUCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1069, 5 September 1930, Page 11

TRADE IN PRODUCE

POTATO MARKET FIRMER FARMERS NOT SELLING The Sun Office, 9 u.m. A decidedly firmer tone has been recorded in the potato market over the past 24 hours. * Indications are that Southern farmers arc at last tirins of the low r.o.b. prices which can have allowed them little profit when costs of bag-gins', railing and commissions are taken into consideration, and are not bothering to remove them from the pits. When all costs are taken into consideration—planting, cultivation digging seed and interest—the Southern farmer must he showing a substantial debit on lnsi season’s operations in the great majority of instances! Southern mer<'llii:nls ,lave apparently experienced difficulty in getting hold of supplies during the past two or three days and ! here lias been appreciable hardening in the market. The turn lias come too late to be much good, however for from the end of this month the demand from tlie North will start lo slacken off with the coming on the market of increasing Quantities of new season’s tubers. On tlie spot, the price for sound tables through merchants’ stores ranges from £5 15s to £6 5s at the' moment, tmt indications are that these prices will be advanced at least 10s a ton next week. Only light shipments are expected on the next boat. Light Stocks of Onions Stocks of onions held on the spot are light. The Pukekohe crop is practically exhausted. It is worth noting in regard to the Pukekohe onions which have been coming forward during the past month or so that thev are the product of a special seed which is claimed to produce a good keeping onion. This year’s experiments with the seed have been most successful and, if greater Quantities are grown in the future, there is every possibility that Pukekohe growers will toe able to carry the New Zealand market right through the year, doing away witli the need for importing high-priced onions during the last five or six months of the season. The last shipment of Melbourne Brown Spanish onions is due here next week. A small parcel of Canadians is also expected on the Niagara. At the moment Californian onions are selling through store on the spot at around 20s a cwt; locals are making from 16s to 18s, according to quality. The Niagara’s Canadians can be expected to cost around 17s Gd a cwt Grain Market Quiet Little movement is recorded in the cereal market. Oats are a little weaker in the South, but B Cartons are still selling quietly at 4s lOd a bushel through Auckland stoves. ™ere * s a slightly better demand for chaff at the moment, but recent quotaions are unchanged, with Southern selling through Auckland stores at £lO 10s a ton and Tasmanian at £lO a ton. Wheat continues very firm at 8s a buxeel through Auckland stores. Maize sells steadily with a through store, Auckland. price of 6s 3d a bushel: f.o.b. Gisborne, and f.o.r. Bay of Plenty stations, the price ranges from 4s lid to 5s a bushel. Ample stocks of bran and pollard are held on the spot and late rates ara unchanged. Pollard sells cat £9 a cwt through store and bran at Ss 9d a cwt through store.