COMMERCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10168, 25 July 1924, Page 8

COMMERCIAL NEWS

WHEAT SUPPLY

SPRING SOWING GOOD

WELLINGTON, July 24. A question from Mr Maopherson regarding the extent of whrat importations to meet the present shortage, and the steps to be taken to encourage extended sowing of wheat m the spring, was answered by the Mmistei of 6 11C Mr U Nosworthy stated that the wheat import embargo ceases on Febimary 28 and then the duty on wheat, appio«i mately Is 2d a bushel, would be retained. It was proposed, subject to Par liamentary approval to increase duty on flour from £2 10s to £3 a. ton The probable shortage would be met by importations. The Minister added that trices "during the last month or so had Improved a«d would encourage.the planting of a larger area m spring wheat He looked to farmers to provide ■sufficient wheat for New Zealand s supbut if they failed the onus was on the Government to import sufficient to make up the deficiency.

grain and produce. AUCKLAND MARKETS. AUCKLAND, July 24. The potato market is now fairly well stocked as the result of the arrival of the Koromiko and two steamers from the south. This has enabled the price to fall to a parity with lower quotations now offering from Chnstchurch and the market is weak at 8s 6d per cwt ex store. A slightly better demand for seed potatoes has jj’ as the weather is not now sufficiently Jlvere to interfere with planting operaSS Good stocks are held kero in anticipation of tile extra quanti y will he required next month. Rather good stocks of onions are held here, hut the demand is keeping up well in anticipation of an early use. L the meantime full quantities are procurable from Victoria, and there are selling well at 23s per cwt ex store. A heavy shipment of oats IS , arl \ incr from Canada next week by the Norabo, and this will supply all requirements. The .price in the south is ve 7 firm, but merchants are not interested in their quotations, as they are well above Canadian costs. A good steady demand for chaff con of wheat in first hands ' are light, but most of the larger buyers secured full stocks when they had the opportunity, so that the scarcity is Sg fit much yet. Merchants were disappointed at not getting the quantity expected, and they will not ie■ceiVe any more until about the middle of August. This will cost 2d per bushel more, in accordance with the worldwide advance in wheat. The advance of 30s per ton on nou in Australia was quite expected, as i -conformed to the firmer tone in British and American markets. Stocks of maize in store are mostly of old grain, but limited quantities ot new now arriving meet a fairly good demand for immediate use, so that latest consignments have sold rather well at 6s 3d per bushel on the wharf in wholesale lines, while old gram has realised 6s 6d per bushel.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. sSnEY, July 24. Oats— Tasmanian, Algerian, 4s to 4s 3d: white,, 4s 6d to 4s 9d per bushel. Maize —Yellow and white, 4s per ■bushel. . „ Q Potatoes —Tasmanian, £7 to £8 Victorian, £6 10s per ton „ Onions —Victorian, £l/ to £l7 10s per ton. ADELAIDE, July 24. .Oats—Algerian feed, 3s per bushel. GERALDINE STOCK SALE.

At tliis week’s sale the yarding was small, but the attendance good gheep—Fat ewes sold at 21s 6d to 22s Ud, and fat wethers up to 335; store «wes brought from 18s 9d to 26s 9d, and old ewes ss; two-tooth ewes sold at •up to 40s 3d, one pen realising 38s bd per head; halfbred ewes sold at 2os, and threequarter-bred ewes at 255; fullmouth ewes realis’ed 19s 6d to 24s 6d. Cattle—Steers brought 755; cow •with third calf, £8; oow in profit, £6 ; cows to calve September, 20s. Pigs—Stores, 13s to 19s.

METHVEN STOCK SALE. There was only a small yarding at the Methven stock sale yesterday. Some •snow still lay on the ground. Taken all round, the sale was a good one. A few breeding ewes were forward. Full and failing-mouth ewes made 25s to 82s 6d, • fat and forward wethers 32s 7d, and store wethers 295. The list of prices available in Ashburton to-day is as follows; Stores^ —Ewes: 183 s. and f.m. i-bred '23s, 22 f. and f.m. 30s, 34 at 30s 7d, 181. merino at 16s 9d. Wethers: 30 2, 4 and 6-tooth at 30s. 1 Pigs—Sows £3 10s, £2 2s 6d; stores £L2s, 3 at 20s, 6 at 14s. __ Produce—Feed oats lis 6d, table potatoes 13s 6d per sack.