COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1916, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, May 9. The Department of Agriculture, Industries and Commerce has received the following cablegram, dated London, May fi, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand. (Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices on spot):— Meat.—A good demand continues for all descriptions. Home-grown is dearer' owing to short supply. There is no cliauge in prices for New Zealand, but higher prices arc anticipated during next week, partly in order to regulate the demand. The average price to-day for Canterbury and North Island mutton is 7%d per lb; ewes, 7%d; New Zealand lamb, all descriptions, B%d, the demand being greater than the supply, and Australian supplies being nenrly exhausted. In the case of New Zealand beef there is only a small quantity of bull beef offering Hinds OVsd, fores Gd; chilled, in very limited supply; hinds 10% d, fores B%d. Butter.—The market is very firm. Danish is firmer at 168s to 1725; the market for New Zealand is stronger for both salted and unsalted; prices 163s to 106s. There is a steady market for Australian at 156s to 100s; Siberian, 12Bs to 1345; Irish creamery, 160s to 1625; Argentine, steady, 150s to 1525; unsalted, ISfis to 160s.

Cheese. —The market is v«ry firm. Canadian, per cwt., 112s to 114s; New Zealand, of which the supply falls short of the demand, is firm at highest quotation, 110s to 112s; English cheddar, 118s to 1225; United States, 106s to 108s. The estimated stocks of Canadian and United States cheese at London, Liverpool and Bristol on May 1 were 74,000 eases, against 87,000 at the same time last year; New Zealand and Australian cheese stocks on the same date, 13,000 crates, as against 19,000 last year. Hemp.—The market is very unsettled for New Zealand owing to the great uncertainty with regard to freight deliveries. Buyers show no disposition to operate, except for parcels on liand or actually afloat, and those unsold ar» very few. Prices are nominal. New Zealand, good fair, oil spot, per ton, £SO; fair, £4B. February to May quotations: For good fair, £4B 10s; for fair, £4O 10s. The market for Manila is firm, with a hardening tendency. For May to July delivery, fair i 3 quoted at £54 10s; coarse, £52. The output from Manila for the week was 20,000 bales. Wheat.—The market is steady, and holders are firm, buyers being cautious. Canadian, arrived, 59s per quarter; April to May quotation, 565; Australian afloat, o2s; Argentine afloat, 60s. Oats.—The market is quiet, and small business doing. Argentine, 33s per quarter. Hops.—The market is quiet but steady, and stock is small. English, per cwt., 130s to 150s; Californian, 100s to 120s.