COMMERCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 138, 23 March 1935, Page 7

COMMERCIAL NEWS

FRUIT AND PRODUCE. THE ASHBURTON MARKET. A large number of peaches were forwarded to the Ashburton fruit and produce market during the week, with the result that prices declined a little from those ruling last week. There was also a decline in the price of tomatoes and Jonathan apples, but onions brought a slightly better price. Values for other fruits and vegetables remained unchanged. Values are as follow: Potatoes—ld a lb. Bacon —9d and lOd a lb. Wheat 10s to 12s a sack. Honey—7d to 7Jd a lb. Onions—ld to lid. Lettuces—4d. to 5d each. Cabbages—6d and 8d each. Tomatoes—-2s to 3s a. case. '\Peaches —3s to 4s a case (freestone). 1 Cucumbers —Hothouse 2s to 3s a case. ' Apples —Cox’s Orange Pippin 7s to Bs, Jonathan 5s 6d to 6s 6d. Pears—Cooking 2s 6d to 3s 6tl a case. Marrows —4s to 5s a dozen. Chaff—2s 3d and 2s 6d a sack. Rhubarb—sd and 6d a bundle. Pumpkins—ld a lb. Quinces —2d and 2id a lb. Walnuts—6d to 7d a lb. GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS. (Special to the- “ Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A further rise in the price of onions was the only marked change on the grjain and produce markets at Christchurch this week. Quotations for prompt delivery are now up to £lO a ton, coinpared with £9 10s earlier in the week. . The market generally has been, quiet, with prices at last week’s level. There is still a little wheat coming forward, but millers have mostly filled their requirements. Foy/1 wheat remains firm. Partridge peas continue to bring sales at 5s 10d, and extra good lines of ryegrass are quoted at 3s 3d. Pollard dropped 10s on Wednesday, and is now quoted at £5 5s and £5 15s a ton. ... Potato prices are firm. A little business has been done in prompts at £4 10s, consignments being shipped to Auckland. The main crop is not yet ready for lifting, and trading is not expected to reach its peak until next month. Following are nominal prices quoted to be paid to farmers on trucks at country stations, sacks extra unless otherwise mentioned:—

Milling wheat (new season’s) —March delivery, Tuscan 4s, Hunters 4s 2d, Pearl and Velvet 4s 4d, f.o.b. Fowl Wheat—3s 9d to 3s lOd a bushel. Oats—Gartons, 2s to 2s sd; Algerians 2s to 2s 4d; Duns, 2s to 2s 6d, according to quality.

Chaff—£3 to £3 ss. Barley—2s 6d to 3s 6d, according to quality. Partridge Peas—ss 3d to 5s lOd. Linseed—£l3 to £l3 10s a ton. Cocksfoot —Altaroa, 9Jd to lid. Ryegrass—Perennial, Italian and Western Wolths, 2s 9d to 3s 3d. Clovers— White 6d to 9d, red 9d to lid.

Potatoes (April, May, June delivery) —£4 to £4 ss; prompt, £4 10s. Onions—Prompt, £lO a ton. Bran—Local £5 15s, shipping £5 ss. Pollard—£s 5s large size, £5 15s small size.

Flour—Local £l2 12s, shipping £ll 17s, with the usual increments for smaller packings.

DUNEDIN. (Per Pres» Association.) DUNEDIN, March 22. The volume of samples of _ milling wheat on offer is diminishing, as threshing is about completed in ;tliis district. The quality of the wheat offering in the South Island shows a variation. Northern samples are not nearly so good as in previous years, but on the other hand southern-grown wheat is in most instances of good quality. The advanced prices to farmers for wheat in Otago for the month of March and April are still on the basis of 4s f.0.b., for Tuscan. Locally there is little fowl wheat available. The value in Dunedin is round about 4s 6d a bushel, sacks extra, ex store. Merchants are finding it difficult to secure stocks, as most of the wheat is being passed for milling. The oats market continues him. There are few orders coming from tne North Island, and at present the shipping offers are 3s Id, f.0.b.5.i., for A Gallons, and 2s lOd for B’s. Merchants are unable to buy in the country at a price which will enable them to sell at above parity, as farmers are holding off for higher values. This has resulted in few oats changing hands. Some exceptionally heavy oats, are being purchased by millers on shipping parity. The price of A Gartons to farmers at country sidings is 2s 9d, sacks extra, with B's ruling at 2s 6d. Most growers, however, are holding out for 3s on trucks, but in view of the limited: outlet for shipment merchants are neglecting the market, as they are not prepared to pay the prices asked. The chaff market continues firm. With stocks in store on the light side, the hulk of the chaff is still being procured from Canterbury. Best quality is worth £5 a ton, sacks extra, ex truck, and for lots ex the store another os a ton is obtainable. A quiet period is being experienced in the potato market. Local distributors report that there is a very poor trade, and that more potatoes are arriving on the market than can be absorbed at this time of the year. It is difficult to maintain prices, which are £5 10s to £6 a ton, according to quality. Most of the growers in this district are still holding out for high prices for delivery ahead, hut merchants are not prepared to do business at the figures asked. During the week there has been a fair trade in wholesale lines of seeds in the North Island. Merchants have been again inquiring for seeds for sowing out. The market generally continues unchanged with ryegrass remaining steady, and also other seeds. The exception is in Brown Top and Fescue markets, both of which are weak, with merchants reducing their buying limits. It now appears that the quantity of Brown Top saved

throughout the South Island is much greater than was, anticipated. The high prices that were ruling for this seed caused many shippers to operate throughout the country and save all the seed 1 possible. MARKETS IN BRITAIN. LONDON, March 21. Wheat —Cargoes have a steadier tone, with advance at closing. Parcels are 3d to 6d dearer. Spot trade is quiet. Futures are quoted: London, April 21s 7d per quarter, June 22s Id. Liverpool, March 4s 11^d per cental, May 5s lid, July 5s 3d, October 5s ojd. Flour —Market firm. Oats are about 3d lower. Peas—Blues are slightly easier. Maples unchanged. Beans —Prices unchanged. Beet Sugar—April delivery 4s 72d. AMERICAN WHEAT QUOTATIONS. * (United Press Association—Copyright). NEW YORK, March 21. Wheat quotations are:— Chicago: May 84 cents a bushel, July 94 5-8, September 91£,. New York: Cash 112| cents a bushel.

CANTERBURY ROLLER FLOUR MILLS. A dividend of 8 per cent per annum on 10s shares has been declared by the directors of the Canterbury Roller Flour Mills, Ashburton. The balance sheet shows that the profit carried forward from last year amounted to £691, making a total, with this year’s profit of £IB6B. The payment of the dividend will absorb £1368 and £SOO will be transferred to reserve. * The capital consists of 17,000 allotted shares. Last year the £1 shares were reduced to 10s. THE WHITE STAR LINE. COMPULSORY LIQUIDATION.

LONDON, March 21. At a meeting of the White Star Line, shareholders voted in favour or compulsory liquidation. The directors will immediately petition the Court tor winding up compulsorarily.

The company showed a debit balance of £12,177 for'its last year’s operations disclosed in the balance sheet published last July, the deficiency account then standing ait £2,’ii6'ft,7l4. A meeting

j held on March 7, adjourned for a fortnight following repeated demands from the shareholders for compulsory rather than voluntary liquidation. THE SHARE MARKET. The following sales were made on the Christchurch Stock Exchange yesterday : LISTED STOCKS.

100 Upper Watut (2s pd.) 0 5 7 DAIRY PRODUCE IN LONDON. The National Mortgage and Agency Company, Lto’., are in receipt of the following cablegram from their principals Messrs A.- J. Mills and Company, Ltd.: — Butter —Market slow. New Zealand finest 725, Newi Zealand first 71s. Danish 98s, f.o.b. 78s. Cheese —Market steady. New Zealand white 455, New Zealand coloured 465, Canadian white 625, 645, Canadian coloured 58s 60s.

Sales on ’Change. £ S. d. 200 Com. Bank of Aust. 0 15 10 0 15 11 50 Tooth’s Brewery! 2 7 0 400 Dunlop Perdriau R.ubher 0 16 i • 0 16 8 0 16 9 0 16 10 500 Electro. Zinc. (ord.) 1 1 8 (2) 1 1 7 (2) 1 1 8 100 Henry Jones Co-op. ... 1 14 0 1250 Charleston 0 0 Si0 0 32 500 King Solomon (2) 0 3 10 800 .Maori Gully (3) 0 1 5} 50 Okarito ... 0 7 0 500 Worksop Extended ... 0 2 6J Sales Reported. £ s. d. 200 Stockton Coal (pf.)... 0 4 0 50 Tooth’s Brewery 2 7 6 100 Claude Neon (N.Z.)... 2 6 0 100 N.Z. Farmers’ F'ei't. (late sale March 21) 0 19 0 100 King Solomon 0 3 11 150 Mount Lye 11 (late sale March 21) 0 17 10} 500 Skippers ... 0 UNLISTED STOCKS. 0 42 Sales on ’Change. £ s. d.