COMMERCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 80, 16 January 1936, Page 9

COMMERCIAL NEWS

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. THE ASHBURTON MARKET. Owing to a delay in the wheat harvest because of recent rain, prices to- be paid on the Ashburton grain and produce markets have not yet been determined. Very little forward business has been reported, but the prospects of good yields are bright. The anticipated announcement of prices by the Wheat Committee at its recent meeting was not made. The committee will announce prices at its meeting in February. As wheat harvesting will commence shortly, some prices will be available next week. THE SALES. ADDINGTON. CHRISTCHURCH, January 15. Much smaller entries in the fat sections of stock at to-day's Addington market met with .an improved sale and a recovery in prices. Store Sheep—About 6000 head of the entry were store lambs. These sold very briskly, ewe lambs making up to 20s and wether lambs to 18s 9d. Adult wethers soldi slightly better than a week ago, and there were too few ewes forward to indicate any difference in values. Fat Lambs—The 1850 penned met a good sale at export values. Fat Sheep—3lso were penned, as against 7000 last week. Good ewes improved by Is 6d to 2s a head, best wethers by Is, with other sorts showing little change. The export trade bought freely in the lighter classes. Best wethers made to 265, good 22s to 23s 6d, and ordinary down to 18s. Best ewes made from 19s to 245, medium 15s to 18s, and inferior lis to 13s ,6d. Fat Cattle—44s were penned, as against 535 last week. Values for good beef were up by 20s a head, and for cow by 10s in cases. Young beef made up to 30s per 1001 b, but the general range for the better quality was from 25s tp 28s 6d. Top price was £l3 7s 6d for steers, £9 2s 6d for heifers, and £9 12s 6d for* cows. Fat Pigs—There was a good sale for baconers at slightly improved values, porkers being unchanged. The average price for porkers was to 6Jd per lb, and for baconers 4id to 5Jd. BURNSIDE. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, January 15. There was a heavier yarding than usual in the beef section at Burnside sales to-day, the entry totalling 312 head. The offering was an unattractive one, there being only a small percentage of prime heavy bullocks. Prime heavy bullocks sold firmly at last week's rates. Heifers were a shade easier, while cows met a disappointing sale throughout. The entry of store cattle numbered 145, and included only odd pens of steers, the best of which sold to £6 ss. Lighter steers sold from £4 10s to £5 15s. ~ Prices for vealers were unchanged, while store cows were a shade easier. There was a small entry in the dairy section, only 38 head being offered. There was a slack sale for all descriptions. „ • • - The largest entry of fat sheep for some time was penned, totalling 1900. There was no outside competition, and on account of the over-supply a distinct decline in prices was recorded. The offering consisted principally ot ewes, with only odd consignments ot prime heavy wethers. The latter class showed a depreciation of 2s a head at the commencement of the sale, but over the final races the drop was even more pronounced. Ewes of all descriptions declined fully 4s a *hile medium quality wethers sold from *, St* a heal cheaper Freezing buyers were in the market for all suitable Ul In the fat lamb section 1103Mf» varded. The quality was not so good as hat offered at the previous marked Exporters were buying, and butchers competed freely for all the heavier grades, a firm sale resulting. ■ S In the fat pig section only 1061 ware offered. Baconers sold at slightly ie duced rates, while porkers were a shade firmer. , ~, The 67 store pigs yarded met witn brisk competition, and values appreciated 2s a head. GERALDINE.

The fortnightly sale was held yestei day at the Geraldine Salevards. About 800 fat lambs were entered, the quality not being up to the previous sales standard. All exporters were operating and practically all pens changed Hands at auction, prices bemg lull* up to schedule. One race of fat sheep was offered, butchers operating at late rates on their lots, as also did the exporters. Only two pens of store sheep were offered, these selling in keeping with other sales. Owing to the small yarding, pigs met with keen demand, values improving by os a head for slips and 3s 6d for weaners. Two head of fat cattle were sold, values not being quite the equal of those ruling at the Pleasant Point sale. Prices were:— , nn ' . Fat Lambs—. Best butchers', 23s to 24s Id, good 21s to 22s 7d, light 17s 4d to 19s Id. _ „ . Tat Ewes—Best butchers' to 21s id, good 14s 7d to 16s Id, medium 12s to 13s 7d, light 10s Id to lis 7d. Fat Wethers—Good 22s Id to 22s 10'd, light 17s 6d to 18s 7d. Fat Cows—£2 10s to £5 7s 6d. Store Sheep—Good 2-tooth wethers 17s 6d, ewes and lambs (culls) 5s 6d. Pi gs _Weaners 15s to 18s 6d, slips 20s to 255. Implements, etc.—Farm dray and frame £B, cart saddle and breeching £3 ss. WELLINGTON GAS COMPANY. WELLINGTON, January 15. The annual report of the Wellington Gas Company, Ltd., says that during 1935, 1073 services were connected and 2518 cookers installed, compared with 1027 services and 1843 cookers installed

for the year 1934. After payment of an interim dividend of 4 per cent, on ordinary shares, the dividend for 1930 on preference shares, and providing for depreciation of plant, buildings and machinery, also debenture redemption fund and insurance fund, the balance to credit of profit and loss appropriation account amounts to £26,051, compared with £25,921 for 1934. It is recommended that the sum of £26,00l l>e appropriated as follows:—To payment of a further dividend of 4 per cent (making 8 per cent, for the year) £11,152 Bs, and carry forward the balance of £14,899 Is 2d. The retiring directors are Sir Harold Beauchamp and Mr George F Pearee, who offer themselves for re-election. STUD SHEEP SALE.

HIGH PRICES AT MASTERTON

MASTERTON, Jan. 15. Prices, well in advance of vendors expectations, were realised at tne Wairarapa Sheep Breeders *™™ stud ram sale to-day. Taken right through, prices showed *&***&** advance on those of last year mere was keen and animated bidding, and the sale is regarded as one of the best for years. The demand for top lines ot high quality Romneys was keen mi O. Donald secured top price for the sale, Mr J. C. Best, of Eltham paying 210 guineas for a Romney. Mr D- '>• Holden (Hastings) paid 1200 guineas for a ram sold on account of b" William Perry, who disposed ot jt> rams for an average price pi nearly 82 guineas. Out of the total offering of 128 Romneys, 58 sold under the hammer at an average price ot 62 guineas. / THE SHARE MARKET. The following sales were made on the Christchurch Stock Exchange yesterday:— LIgTBD STOCKB . Sales on 'Change.

BRITAIN'S OVERSEAS TRADE. THE FIGURES FOR DECEMBER, (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, January 13. The Board of Trade returns for December show the following:—• Imports ... £74,480,000 Exports ... £34,917,000 Re-exports ... £5,432,000 The principal increases compared with December, 1934, were:— Imports. £ Grain, flour ... 695,000 Dairy produce ... 1,027,000 Tobacco 816,000 Cotton &ira\y waste 2,565,000 Hides and skins ... 723 >°°5J Non-ferrous metals 544,000 Exports. £ Wool and raw waste 153,000 Woollen manufactures ... 270,000 Wool & raw waste 153,000 The totals for 1935 were : Imports- ... £756,936,000 Exports ... £425,921,000 Re-exports ... £55,265,000 COMPARISON FOR THE YEAR. LONDON, January 14. The Board of Trade returns of overseas trade for December and for the year 1935 show that exports last year were higher than in any year since 1930, and that imports and re-exports were higher than in any year since 1931. Exports for the whole of 1930 totalled £425,921,343, an increase of £29,935,822 on the figures for 1934. Imports amounted to £756,936,175, an increase of £25,522,392 j and re-exports amounted to £55,265,376, an increase of £4,022,029. The increase in exports affected

nearly all categories. Exports of machinery at £38,495,459, were £5,689,109 higher than in the previous year. Vehicles worth £4,189,973 more than in the year before were exported, to a total value of £28,332,128. Exports of iron and steel at £37,093,242, of non ferrous metals at £14,085,471, and of cotton goods at £60,177,625, were £2,001,189, £2,195,669, and £1,530,597 higher respectively in December, than in the previous December, as in every other month of last year. Exports were higher than in the same month of 1934. They totalled £34,917,068, compared with £39,399,994 in November, in which there was a greater number of working days, and in December, 1934. Imports for December reached £74,480,626, against £71,455,483 in November and £63,24U,187 in December, 1934. Re-exports last month were £5,432,397, compared with £4,571,962 in November and £3,605,689 in December, 1934. Overseas trade figures for December again reveal the loss of , exports to Italy suffered by British traders through the imposition of sanctions. Exports of coal to Italy in December amounted to 19,098 tons, worth £14,000, compared with 420,373 tons, worth £349,073 in December, 1934. No more than six tons of iron and steel left Britain for Italy last month. This compares with 1272 tons a year ago. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. VALUES REMAIN FIRM. (United Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, Jan. 15. At the Sydney wool sales 12,503 bales were offered and 11,450 sold. Ninety-six bales were sold privately. Competition was strong and values were firm. Greasy merino brought up to 303 d.

200 Com. Bank of Aust. ±> Bu. (cum div.) (2) 0 18 8 55 Com. Bank of Aust. (pref., cum div.) ... 9 13 9 13 6 0 50 Bank of N.Z. 2 7 6 200 N.Z. Guar. Corp. ... 0 5 0 100 N.Z. Refrig. (£1. pd) 1 2 0 100 Dunlop Rubber 0 1G 5 3 300 Kauri Timber 1 3 (2) 1 3 2 £200N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. (4a per cent, stock, 1940) ... ••• 92 0 0 600 Big River (2) 0 2 0 8 9 400 Mount Lj-ell (4) 1 0 1 0 400 Mount Morgan (18s 6d paid) ... (3). 0 18 li 0 IS 10 1000 Skippers ... (2) 0 0 3£ 250 Worksop Extended ... 0 2 5 Sales Reported. X> a d. £300 Amalgamated Brick, x> s. 7ip.c. 31/3/44 (Wei.) 100 10 0 100 Com. Bank of Aust. (cum div.) (late sale January 14) ... 0-18 11 50 Com. Bank of Aust., (pf., cum div.) 9 15 0 9 14 6 40 Natl. Bank of A/asia. (£5 paid) 7 2 0 300 National Insurance ... 0 19 0 50 Broken Hill Propy. ... 2 19 1 100 Kauri Timber 1 3 4 £200N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. (4£ p.c stock, 1940) 91 10 0 100 N.Z. Farmers' Fert. 0 19 11 100 Golden Dawn 0 3 2 100 Mount Morgan (2s 6di paid, late sale Jan. 14) 0 19 2 100 Mount Morgan, 2s 6d paid) 0 19 1 20 Reserve Bank 5 15 6 200 Electro. Zinc (ord., cum div.) (late sale Jan. 14) 1 15 1 UNLISTED STOCKS. Safe on 'Change « d. 800 Argo Gold Dredg. (2) $J s. 0 1 250 Woolworths (Sydney, ord.) (ex div.) (4) 6 0 6 Sales Reported. 100 Woolworths (Sydney, ord., ex div.) 6 0 G