COMMERCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 298, 30 September 1935, Page 7

COMMERCIAL NEWS

FROZEN MEAT TRADE. PRODUCERS’ BOARD REPORT. The New Zealand Meat Producers Board has received the following cable from the London office, dated Sept. 28, advising that the following are the approximate average prices realised for the week, based on actual transactions of wholesale quantities of the descriptions of meat mentioned, and are for representative parcels of the goods offering during the week, being for. business done on the basis of delivered to Smithfield market and/or ex London stores: — Mutton. Canterbury and North Island selected crossbred wethers and maiden ewes: 4Slb and under sd, 48 to 561 b 4gd, 57 to 641 b sd, 65 to 721 b 4£d. North Island: 48 to 561 b 7|d, 57 to 641 b sd, 65 to 721 b 4£d. Elves: 431 b and under 3Jd, 48 to 641 b 3d, 65 to 721 b 2£d. Lamb. Canterbury—36lb and under 7£d, 37 to 421 b 7id, 43 to 501 b 6£d; second quality, average about 311 b 6Jd. Othei South Island brands: 361 b and under 7Jd, 37 to 42ib 7fd, 43 to 501 b 6|d, North Island Downs: 361 b and under 7|d, 37 to 421 b 7|d, 43 to 501 b 6£d; second quality, average about 30lb 6|d. North Island—First' quality, 361 b and under 7£d, 37 to 421 b 7ld; second quality, average about 311 b 6£d. Argentine—First quality, new season’s: 361 b arid under 6Jd, 37 to 421 b o£d. Beef. N.Z. Frozen—Ox hinds, 145 to 2101 b 3L fores 145 to 2101 b 2Jd. N.Z. chilled—Ox hinds 145 to 2101 b 4£d, fores 145 to 2101 b 2Jd. Argentine chilled — Ox hinds 145 to 2101 b s|d, fores 145 to 2101 b 2£d. Uruguayan chilled—Ox hinds 145 to 2101 b 5Jd, fores 145 to 2101 b 2|d. Australian frozen —Ox hinds 145 to 2101 b 3|d, crops weights corresponding 2|d. Australian chilled— Ox hinds 4|d, crops weights corresponding 2£d. Union of South Africa chilled —Ox hinds 145 to 2101 b 4|d, fores 145 to 2101 b 2Jd. Southern Rhodesian chilled—Ox hinds 145 to 2101 b 4£d, fores 145 to 2101 b 2§d. Pigs. N.Z. Porker—First quality, 60 to 801 b 6d, 81 to 1001 b sfd, 101 to 1201 b sfd. N.Z. Prime Bat-oner—l2l to 1601 b s|d Lamb market—Consumption continues good for the time of year, and with reducing spot stocks values are slightly firmer. Mutton market—Wethers and ewes steady with prices unchanged. Frozen beef—Market dull owing to plentiful supplies of chilled beef. New Zealand porker pigs—Larger supplies of home-killed have weakened prices. New Zealand baconer pigs—Market steady and unchanged.

OVERSEAS TRADE.

INCREASE IN IMPORTS.

WELLINGTON, September 28

The figures for the oyerseas trade of New Zealaaid (excluding specie) for August, 1935, compared with the same month in 1934 were:—

Figures for the eight months ended August were as follow:

The value of specie excluded for August, 1935, is as follows: Exports £16,800, imports £37,865. For the eight-monthly period ended August, 1935, exports were £521,000, imports £188,937.

MOUNT HUTT DAIRY COMPANY.

ZONLN'G SYSTEM APPROVED. The annual meeting of shareholders of tfye Mount Hutt Co-operative Dairy Company was held in the Methven Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s rooms on Friday evening. The chairman of directors (Mr James Carr) presided over a good attendance. The report and balance-sheet (as published on September 21) were adopted. The chairman drew attention to the abnormally low prices prevailing during the last season. The considered report of the Dairy Commission had shown that where prices were less than 9cl per lb, the producer was unable to meet his liabilities after paying ordinary costs of production. Although there had been a rise, the price was still low. Due to the lower prices of butter on the Home market, the figure for the consumption of margarine in 1924-25 was 12.351 b a head, while 10 years later this had dropped to 7.91 b, consequently the consumption of butter had increased very considerably. Mr Carr referred to the low cost of production in the factory and said that if the producers would give added support to the factory which was capable of catering for all cream collected in the Mount Hutt district, their cost would still be cut by a further 50 per cent.

The chairman asked for an expression of opinion from shareholders regarding the future of the factory, and the following motion was submitted by Mr J. R. Dalton: “That this meeting of suppliers and shareholders of the Mount Hutt Co-op-erative Dairy Company are of the opinion that the institution of a zoning or regional system of cream collection is an absolute necessity for the welfare of the industry and views with satisfaction the decision of the Commission to meet factories representatives in Christchurch at an early date.” This was seconded by Mr John Watson and. carried unanimously. Messrs G. A. Travers and J. T. Mangin were elected directors. The chairman moved a vote of thanks to the staff for their efficient work during the year, and Mr J. F.

Stone (secretary) duly acknowledged the vote.

Mr J. Watson moved 1 a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors, which was carried by acclamation. Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon was reappointed auditor.

DEAR POTATOES. PRICES IN DUNEDIN. (Special to the “Guardian.”)' DUNEDIN, September 29. “The most acute in years,” commented a man closely connected with the potato trade, yesterday morning. “Quotations at £l6 a ton f.o.b. are on a par with the price in Christchurch, which is being supplied in large quantities from the Dunedin market.” The shortage, be said, was due to the setback early crops had received in the north, especially in Auckland and Pukekohe. Auckland took a large percentage of potatoes from Canterbury, and consequently difficulty was being experienced in supplying the urgent requirements .of Auckland. No local stocks, are being held. Supplies are being disposed of as quickly as they are placed on the market either to Canterbury or to local retailers.

DAIRY PRODUCE.

BUTTER MARKET FIRM.

The South Island Dairy Association, Ltd., has received the following market report from the New Zealand Produce Association, Ltd., London:— Butter—Firm. Finest 115 s to 116 s, firsts 113 s; Danish, 130 s. Cheese—Firm. White and coloured 58s to 58s 6d'.

PRICES FIXED. WELLINGTON, September 29. Dairy prices have been fixed on the following basis :—Butter 11 Id, cheese 5 jd, equivalent to 94s lOd and 47s lOd, c.i.f.e.

THE SHARE MARKET,

The following sales were made on the Christchurch Stock Exchange on Saturday:— LISTED STOCKS.

1935. 1934. £ £ Exports 2,876,000 3,080,000 Imports 3,662,000 3,219,000 Excess imports 746,000 139,000

1935. ' 1934. £ £ Exports 33,203,000 37,430,000 Imports 23,287,000 19,343,000 Excess exports 9,910,000 17,587,000

Sales on ’Change. £ s. d. 25 E., S., and A. Bank 5 5 0 15 Bank of N.S.W. (3) 32 0 0 100 N.Z. Newspapers 2 1 0 300 Maori Gully 0 1 0 150 Mount Morgan (cum div.) (3) 1 17 0 1500 Skippers (2) 0 0 3 Sates Reported. £ s. d. 10 Bank of N.S.W. 32 2 6 200 N.Z Breweries (2) 2 11 4