COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1919, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

LONDON MARKETS. By Telegraph.—'Press Aasn.—Copyright. London, Dec. 15. At the Wool sales there was a limited selection of merinos, for which Yorkshiremen were competing more keenly than the Continent. There was a poor select-loin of crossbreds and prices were frequent?}' against tho buyer. Bradford.—Firm, but quiet; buyers are awaiting the result of (he Government auction of tops on Wednesday. Foreign exchange rates —London, on Paris 40.015; Stockholm 17 80; Christlanla 18 66, Calcutta 28% d, Montreal 400 cents, New York 473 cents. Sltaros.—Waihi Junction 13s 0d and 14s Gd. London, Dec. 15. The majority report of the Royal Commission on Apiculture proposes to continue the principle of guaranteeing a minimum price for cereals, based on a sliding scale estimated on the average cost of cereal production hi coming years.

The minority report opposed guaranteed prices, and alleges that there have been Instances of farmers profiteering.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. N.Z. LOAN AND MERCANTILE REPORT. The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., Stratford, report as follows: On Tuesday, 9th inst., we held our Stratford sa'.e. Gattle showed n drop of l«s a hepd, except stores and forward cows, which made ruling values. Springing heifers, nice quality and close to proflt, £9 5s to £ll ss, others not so cclose up £7 10s to £9. A very nice quality pair of Jersey heifers yarded by Mr. H. K. Phillips realised £l6 each. Shorn wethers and ewes 23s Cd, 4 and 6-tooth maiden ewes (shorn) 25s 6d, store cows, fresh conditioned and forward, £9 12s 6d to £ll lis, otherß, ordinary sorts, £7 to £8 19s; bulls, heavy and good conditioned, £l3 2s Cd to £l7; 10-month heifers £3 8s Cd to £4 Is, On Wednesday, 10th Inst, we held our usual monthly sale In our Kohuratah! yards Bidding was alack and settlors were not willing to reduce values. Wo quitted the following lines afterwards at prices in favor of purchasers:— Three-year bullocks £9 10s, 2>4-year steers £7 ss, £7 10s. On Friday, 12th Inst., we held-our Usual monthly sale la our Matau yards. There was a fair attendance and nearly all tho sheep and a large portion of the cattle Were sold at prices in favor of purchasers compared with recent ruling values. We quoteFifteonmonth heifers £3 6s, £4 10s, 2-year steer 3 £6 10s, £6 17s 6d, 2-tooth shorn wethers 23s Id, 23s 3d, 24s lOd, 4-year shorn ewes 23s lid. Private sales —Owing to the dryness of the season and feed being scarce the demand for stock is limited, with a falling tendency for all classes of storo cattle and sheep. Mixed woolly hoggets 295, eweß and lambs £2, shorn forward ewes and wethers 28s, 2-tooth wethers (shorn) 265, 2Gs lod, 2-year steers £7.

WAXEATO STOCK MARKETS. Beet.—The settlement of the strike and simultaneous opening of tho' freetltif works have given a very welcome Impetus to the fat stock market. Competition has been remarkably brisk and all stock offering has been eagerly seized. Mutton —Mutton is not offering In any quantity, and Is mostly of plain quality. Competition for this Is also good. Fat lambs ore being keenly sought after both by butchers and exporters, already considerable numbers have found their way to the works, but the general opinion Is that the quality is not equal to last season. _ Store Cattle.—Stores of all descriptions are increasingly dilll and sellers are showing anxiety to unload. This must continue until weather conditions alter. Dairy CatM.—Dairy cattle cannot be reported as steady. At some sales high values are recorded, others produce a contfary result Store sheep ore generally declining, the drop in the last week or so being very marked. However, unless tho dry weather Is to continue & very much better tone is anticipated after the New Year. Pijs.—Bacou pigs still demand good competition, but weaners have shown a marked falling away. We quoto a sfollows: Bullocks, heavy prime. £lB t 0£22 14s, medium £l4 10s to £l7 10s; cows, prime fat £l3 to £l6, medium fat £ll to £l2 10s; heifers fat, £ll to £l3 losbullocks, 4 year-old, £ll to £l2 10s, 3-year-oid, £9 to £10; cows, fresh conditioned, £8 10s to £9 109, good £7 5s to £8 109, old and low £3 to £5 10s; steers, 2%-year-old £6 to £7 59, yearlings best £4 to £5, medium £2 10s to £3, small £1 10s to £2 ss; heifers, 2-year-old empty Shorthorn £6 to £7, yearlings best £4 108 to £5, medium, £3 153 to £4 ss; dairy cows, best, £ls to £2O, ordinary, £9 to £l2 10s, backward and o?d, £6 £l2" S ' l ' alry ,lelfer3 be9t - 3-year-old, £9 to Wethers—Prime, shorn 32s to 365, medium 29s to 31s; ewes, prime shorn, 28s to 31s; shorn ettes with lambs, young, 25s to 30s, fullmouthed, 22s 6d to 355; shorn wethers, 4-tooth, 2iS Gd to 30S, 2-tooth, 21s to 2Ss. Pigs.—Baconers £4 to £5 10s, slips £2 10s to £3 10s, weaners £1 5s to £1 15s. Horses.—Heavy draught £4O to £SO, medium draught £32 to £4O, light draught £24 to £3O. harness £ls to £23, hacks £lO to £lB.