COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1917, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

THE .BUTTER MAXIMA. REDUCTION OF MARGE? URGED. „ u . „ London, July 0. Butter ,s firmer as the result'of an ail-round shortage. Australian is very scarce. Finest Australian and New Zeao i c l u °te<l at the maximum of VH4s and 200s respectively. The trade believes that an increased maximum is unlikely m the immediate future. Tomorrow's price will be unaltered, but as there is every prospect of the shortage continuing, it is fully expected an upward revision is inevitable in the next TVM ?i e S enCTal opinion in iooley Street is thai i misapprehension exists in Australia regarding the six shillings margin between the Australian and New Zealand maxima. (Prior to the imposition of the maxima the difference in value sometimes amounted to 12s, due partly to accidental circumstances. The finest) Xew Zealand then arriving in considerable quantities wae of even quality and faultless grading, and thus replaced Danish, the supplies whereof temporarily ceased. On the other hand the finest Australian, comparatively, traders considered was graded equal to New Zealand. This difference was taken into account in fixing the maximum. Tooley street agents .insist that the 6s margin equally represents the difference in the market valueis[. Australian ropresenatives consider the question of prestige should not be overlooked, urging that the time has come to press for a narrower margin when the maxima arc next altered. They point out that while neither Australian nor New Zealand is sold at the maximum price the margiiji was a matter of less consequence, Ibut as both have now reached the maximum the margin should be reduced, and thev hope to secure a reduction to 4s or less. Hie position of eheesa is unaltered.

LOAN AND MERCANTILE REPORT. The N.Z. Tjoan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., Stratford, report as follows: On June 26 at Stratford yards prices were as follows:—-Store -cow's, light £3 17s to £6, good £7 Is to ,-69, old in-calf cows £5, £6 10s to £S 14s for better sorts, weanier heifers, small. £2 Is, weaner steers, small. £2 4s, bulls £7 to £S. Pigs—Sows 255, 40s, to 60s, stores 9s to 14s. On June 29 at Tarata we had a good yarding of sheep and cattle, most of which were disposed of at the following prices:—Fat wethers 375, old ewes 20s Oil to 24s 4d, a nice line of young ewes were passed in at 38s, dairy cows £ll, in-calf heifers £8 10s to £9 2s 6d. 20-month empty heifers £5 8s Cd, weaners, small, 35s to 42s fld, £3 is to £3 7s Gd for medium. On July 2, we held a clearing sale on account of Mrs. L. Holland, of Pukengahu road, Xgaerc. The cows were mostly second calvers, of a small type. Prices for the herd were as follows: Small and backward cows £6 2s 6d to £B, £lO, £'l ; f to £l6 10s for good sorts. The fine average of £ll l'7s was obtained for the herd. One mare £36. one mare £ls), weaners £3 ss, 'bull £5. Sundries sold as follows:—Spike and link harrows £4 18s, milk cans 295, .discs £5, 3-horse bar 14s, plough £9, one set 2-horse bars 235, horse cover 20s. On acdount of 'clients:—One 5-year-old mare £24 ss, one 4-year-old gelding £l2, rake £7 10s, mower £l4 ss. weaner bull £4 10s. We also disposed of the following at private sales:—Fat eiwes 38s 10(1 to 345, ewes, 2 and 4-tooth 27s 6d, 30s, 32s <sd, 335,. 3os, 365, 37s Cd, 38s, lambs 20s, 20s fld, 21s Gd, 235, old ewes 10s, 19s, store cows £5 ss, £7 10s, £B, £8 10s, 3-year bullock £l2, £l3 108, good £W 10s, weaner heifers £3, weaner : steers £4 12s Cd, £-3 10s. to £C 10s for very' good cattle, in-calf heifers £9 10s, £lO, 21-year empty heifers £7, dairy cows £8 10s, £9 -10s, pedigree Jerscv bull £l7.