COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1919, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

WOOL MARKET HARDENING. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 25, 5.5 p.m. .London, June 24. At the wool Bales the market showed a hardening tendency. There was keen competition for fine crossbreds and merinos. French and Belgian buyers are operating freely.—United Service. RECORD PRICE FOR COW HIDES. At the New Plymouth hide sale on Tuesday by Messrs L. Nolan and Co. a line of 26 light cowhides, averaging 37 ibs each, realised the record price of 14% d per lb at auction. Under the Government restrictions, all hides over this weight were taken by local tanners at schedule prices from lid to Is per lb.

LONDON MARKETS. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The Department of Agriculture, Industries and Commerce has received the following cablegram, dated June 23, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London:

"Meat market and prices are without change. Butter.—Danish importations again commenced. Generally reported that Government have purchased 30,000 casks about £l3 10s, but all butter being sold at former price £l2 12s per cwt. "Cheese.—Maximum fixed prices have not changed: Wholesale, Is 3id; retail, Is 6d. Some Canadian imported privajte account quoted.at £7 18s to £3 2s per cwt., but must be sold retail at not more than Is 6d per lb. "Hemp.—Market stronger owing to better demand from America. Manila has increased in value. Government has advanced prices £5 'J' grade, shipment to be in June, July, or August, £54. New Zealand, markets firmer. Business has been done, shipment to be in June, July, or August. High points, £49 10s., fair £4B 10s. Limited demand for poorer grade."

CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKET. Christchurch, June 24. The sou'-west gale that set in on Sunday here was accompanied by more rain than fell during the broken weather at the end of May. If the winter has now really set in it is likely to be the cause of the firming in the tone of the market for feed lines. Oats and oatsheaf chaff have been offering more freely lately as the result of the three weeks of exceptionally fine mild weather, and prices have consequently weakened. It is too soon to say yet that any appreciable change has taken place in the opposite direction as the result of the wet, cold change. Rain is much wanted for the soil, but stock will feel the effects badly in consequence if there is mucn shortage of winter feed. The price of Gartons has steadily declined during the last fortnight, and the top price for any variety is now 4s per bushel at country stations. Oatsheaf chaff is also weaker, and £6 to £6 6s per ton is being offered at country stations. There is still a keen demand for cowgrass and sales have been made up to Is 4d per lb. at country stations. The crop is not yielding up to the average this season. White clover is also firm at Is to Is 2d per lb. Most of the heavyweight cocksfoot seed is now in the hands of merchants, and growers who have still stocks are firm holders. It is now worth 9d to lOd per lb for growers' parcels. Peas are in good demand at 5s 3d to 5s fid per bushel for partridge and 8s for blues, at country stations.