COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 205, 9 May 1912, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

LONDON WOOL SALES. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.. Ltd.. have received the following cablegram from their London house under date .May 4: The wool sales closed with good competition; 230.0(H) bales were sold, of which 100,(100 were taken for the Continent, and 10,000 for America. 20,000 bales of wool being held over. There was a decreased American demand for crossbred wool. As compared with last sales' closing rates prices are lower by about par to 5 per cent, for medium and fine greasy for merino scoured, greasy crossbred lambs, greasy merino and scoured crossbred ; higher by about par to 5 per cent, for lambs, coarse greasy crossbred and crossbred slipes.

DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs E. Griffiths and Co. have received the following market report from their London principals, Messrs Mills and Sparrow, dated London, Mach 29: — Butter. —We regret to report that there has been no improvement in tha position, and that the strike still continues. The Government delayed their Bill in the hopes that the two sides would come to an agreement, hut as this was found impossible, the Bill has now gone through, A ballot is now being taken by the miners' representatives as to whether they are agreeable to return to work. This must necessarily take a few days, and even if they decide to go back, a resumption cannot take place until after the Easter holidays. This week the full force of the strike has been felt, and the spending power of the masses has been considerably reduced, and trade has suffered thereby. Danish: The quotation has been reduced four kroner, but even at this reduction there is difficulty in clearing. Siberian: Although arrivals are small, they are quite sufficient to meet the demand, which is very slow indeed. Australian: The arrival per s.s. Macedonia this week amounted to only 17,000 boxes, but with the trade reduced to ■almost stagnation, it has been more than sufficient to meet the demand. Buyers all over the country report reduced sales, and their purchases made during the last week or so are quite sufficient to carry them on over the holidays. Prices 'have fallen 4s to (is during the week, and it seems they will yet have to go lower in order to tempt buyers to operate. New Zealand: Sales of this butter have been verv slow indeed, which is to be accounted for by the conditions reported above. The quality of the s.s. Ruapelui's butter seems on the whole to be very good, and although prices are lower are very nervous, and are only taking about haif their usual quantity.

■ChceMv—The s.s. Ruapelm's choose was oil the market early this week, but we regret to report that some of it landed in bad condition, having been heated, and the quality has suffered in consequence. dust where this took place, it is difficult at the moment to say. The insurance companies have met the matter in a fair spirit. The market is a little easier than when we last wrote.