COMMERCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 82, 17 January 1930, Page 7

COMMERCIAL NEWS

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

THE ASHBURtON MARKET. There is nothing further of interest with regard to the grain and produce market. The season generally, is later than was at first expected and it will take a week to a fortnight of warm weather before crops are threshed. Odd lines of grass-seed haye been offered, but the recent stormy weather has stopped any further threshing. The general opinion is that the recent rains haye not done very much damage, but it is rather early yet to prove this. Merchants are not showing any further desire to quote any forward lines and it is quite possible that with a proportion of the circulation cut out, the market will become more stable. Odd lines of Pool Tuscan wheat are selling at lis Id on trucks, but millers are buying very sparingly and are only taking sufficient supplies to carry them over "till- the new season's crop comes in. So far, new wheat has not been harvested and it will be at least three weeks before any is on the market. Fowlwheat is in keen demand at 5s 6d on" trucks, and seconds at 4s 6d. Practically all supplies of oats are now cleaned up and only occasional orders are being received. There are a few inquiries for forward Cartons, but merchants are showing very little inclination to quote. Nominal values are: "A" grade Gartons 3s to 3s 3d, on trucks, and "B's" 2s lOd to 3s. There is a good inquiry for old season's Algerian oats, but there does not appear to be a great deal on hand. The demand for chaff is not so keen but odd sales are being made at £5 on trucks for good bright quality. Farmers report that the pea, crops are looking yery well, but so far it is hard to get an "idea of value. Farmers would, be well advised not to expect too high a price for this commodity as the London market is over-stocked and large supplies are still held in the Dominion.

Practically nothing has been done in potatoes. The general impression is that the yields will be better this season, and this, combined with the increase in acreage, tends tp make merchants cautious. It is reported that ot}d sales have been made at £3 10s on trucks, but orders are yery hard' to obtain. It is quite possible that the price may. even come lower. Two or three lines of new season's grass-seeds Avere offered during the week, and Italians and Western Woltlis were purchased at 4s 3d on trucks and Perennials at 5s 3d. A spell of hot weather is now required. It is said that'there is quite a bit of rust in grass-seeds but not sufficient to cause any worry at present.

The following are quotations for produce to be paid to farmers, on trucks free of commission, sacks extra, except where otherwise stated:— Wheat—Tuscan, good milling (free), 6s Id, f.a.q. ss.Gd to 5s 7d, fowl-wheat 5s Gd, seconds 4s 6d to 4s 9d. Oats—A Gartons 3s to 3s 3d, B Garlons 3s, seed Algerians 3s to 3s 6d, feed 2s 9d, good heavy dark Duns 3s to 3s 6d, feed 2s 4d to 2s 6d. Grass Seed —Perennial 5s to 5s 6d, Western Wolths 4s to 4s 6d, Italians 4s to 4s 6d, red clover sd, white 8d to lOd per lb. according to quality; cocksfoot 7d to Bd.

Chaff— Good bright oatsheaf £5, f.a.q. £4 ss. No. 1 Peas.—3s 9d for prompt delivery, f.a.q.'s 3s 3d on trucks. Potatoes—Whites £3 ss, Dakotas £3 10s.

WOOL SALES.

THE THIRD AT NAPIER

ANPIER, January 16

The third wool sale of the season was commenced at Napier to-night, when out of a total catalogue of 25,085 bales 15,282 were offered. The remainder will lie auctioned to-morrow.

Prices show a decline of a halfpenny on Wellington, and up to a penny on the last sale, in Napier early in December. Special lots of fleece wools were the only lots to tempt buyers, and even these did not realise prices anything approaching those they would have commanded 12 months ago. Bellies and pieces also sold comparatively well. The wool was by no means of good quality, as the result of the wet season experienced, being dirty for the most part and presenting an unattractive appearance. There was a full bench of buyers, and Bradford was operating fairly freelv.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. (United Prest Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, January 16. Flour—£l3 a ton. Pollard—£9, bran £7 a ton. Potatoes—Tasmanian £B, Victorian £7 a ton. Onions—Globes £8 a ton. Oats—White ss, Algerian 4s 9d a bushel. Maize—7s Gd a bushel.

SYDNEY WHEAT QUOTATION.

SYDNEY; January 1.6. Wheat.—At country stations 4s 8d Ex trucks Svdneyi 5s 3d a, bushel.

TRIAL SHIPMENTS.

LAMB AND CHEESE. NAPIER, January 16. An experimental shipment of about 500 carcases of lambs from various parts of the North Island is to leave Napier by the Ruahine to-morrow lor England. . The carcases have been studied by a party of experts, at the head of whom is Dr. E, Griffiths, F. 8.5., of the National Physical Laboratories, England. , . , From the time the lambs are taken from the pastures until placed on the boat in the form of carcases, they, will be subject to biological examinations. They will be further studied in unloading and sorting operations in England. . ... The obiect of the exnenment is to endeavour to ascertain, the cause of the \ T e\v Zealand product losing its fresh bloom by the time it roaches the English market, the loss having a prejudicial effect on the selling. Included in the Ruahine's cargo is a hold of cheese, which will be under observation.

Two further similar shipments are to follow later from New Zealand.