COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1922, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

SOUTHERN MARKETS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Though there is not a great deal doing there is a healthier tone in the market this week with the improving yields of wheat, and as they come in fowl wheat is losing the position it has held fairly steadily for some time. Some sales have been effected as low as 3s Cd f.0.b., and another unwelcome sign is that cancellations are coming from the North Island. Oats are unchanged. Local merchants have had inquiries from Australia, but the transport rates kill business. At present freight is 40s per ton (2s 6d more than the Melbourne Home freight for wheat). There is a possibility of a reduction to 355, and this may bring a margin about permitting export. Chaff is exceedingly dull and not much is offering. Some purchasing or cow grass in stock has been made. Both Italian and perennial ryegrass are in request, and special inquiry has been made for southern seed machine-dress-ed. Italian has been sold at up to ss, and perennial to 4s 9d. Quotations ■to farmers are from 3s Cd to 3s 9d for good Italian, and 3s 4d to 3s 7d for perennial. Indifferent grades are correspondingly lower. The potato market is recovering from its state of coma. At its worst point business was taking place between merchants at an equivalent price to farmers of 50s per ton at country stations, although farmers did not sell at that figure. The only shipments north so -far this month are 5500 sacks by the Wingatui and the Opihi, which left last night, and another departure is not scheduled until the 16th or 17th. This decrease in shipments should assist in clearing the decks- in Auckland, and the fact that inquiries are now being received for early deliveries would indicate that stocks in hand are rapidly lowering. The tone of the market is healthier as the result of the probabilities, and an actual sale or two has taken place at 70s at country stations. Although this is a shade more than ■what merchants are generally disposed to offer, up to £4 6s is quoted for the first week in July deliveries. The barley market shows slight signs of life, several sales taking place at up to 3s 3d to 3s 6d at country stations. The onion supply has practically fizzled out, and up to £k> 15s is available to growers for decent conditioned aorta*