COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 271, 26 August 1943, Page 6

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. ,I, - • ASHBURTON MARKET. Another cyiiet week on the local market is reported by Ashburton grain, seed and produce merchants. Millers are ordering wheat which has been held in stores. Heavy shipments are being made to the North Island and the position regarding trucks has become acute. In some cases trucks have not been available for shipping orders, and no orders are being accepted by the railway for goods other than shipping. Milling oats are still in strong demand, and other varieties are also meeting with good inquiry. The shipment position for chaff has slightly improved during the week, but owing to the unfavourable weather cutting has been delayed. Owing to the approach of spring values are inclined to ease.

There is a good inquiry , for table potatoes from Auckland, hut Wellington appears to have ample supplies in the meantime.

Other markets remain unchanged. The following are prices quoted to farmers on trucks at country stations, sacks extra unless otherwise stated: Wheat —Tuscan, August 6s 6*d (less £d a bushel deduction retained for insurance compensation), Hunters 6s Sid (less deduction), Pearl 6s 10id (Fess deduction), Marquis 7s Old. Oats —Algerians 2s 6d to 3s, Gartons,'A grade 3s 6d, B grade 2s 6d to 3s (nominal), Duns 3s 3d to 4s, according to quality. Chaff—-G.bo.s., £5 a ton. Ryegrass—Perennial 3s 6d to 4s 6d a bushel, Italian 3s 9d to 4s 6d a bushel, for good farmers’ dressed lines. Clover—Red, 9d to lid per lb; white (uncertified) Is to Is 3d per lb. Potatoes—Suttons £9 ss, f.0.b., s.i.; white and Dakotas, £8 15s, f.0.b., The Egg Market. The buying price of hens’ eggs is Is 4d and the retail price is Is 6d. ADDINGTON STOCK SALE._

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The stock sale at Addington was held in wintry weather, but the entries iall round were up to recent numbers. Prices for fat cattle and sheep were well maintained, hut the demand for store sheep, because of feed conditions, was very slaek. There was a small entry of porkers but a big yarding of baconors, which showed a slight easing.

The store sheep entry was 2200, against 2522 last week, comprising 1060 ewes in lamb, 541 ewes and lambs, 424 hoggets and 176 wethers. Owing to the boisterous weather, very few buyers were present and the sale was a dragging one, many pens being passed, especially ewes and lambs. The best pen of ewes in lamb to Southdown rams made 29s 6d, and another line made 25s 6d. The ewes and lambs were of good quality, but there was little competition for them, mainly owing to the feed shortage. The best line brought 16s 6d all counted, and others made from 13s 8d to 15s 9d. Wethers sold from 23s 6d to 26s 7d. One line of 225 ewe hoggets made 24s IGd. . The fat sheep entry numbered 4000, mostly of prime quality. The demand was keen from the outset, and 'although prices showed a slight easing toward the close, the market was firm throughout at well up to recent values. The highest price for wethers'was 53s Id for some heavy sheep. There was a strong demand for 2-tootli wethers, and very few of these sold at under 40s. The best price was 48s 7d, a line of 58*avoragi.ng 475. Young ewes also .sold readily, a line of four and sixtooths making from 41s 3d to 43s lOd. Medium class sheep, both ewes and wethers, sold at late rates. The cattle entry was 534, compared with 517 last week. The quality was better than usual, with a larger showing of heavy beef. Values were scarcely up to last week’s figures. Best steer beef made from 50s to 53s per 1001 b, best heifer beef to 48s, medium to 455,

ordinary to 375; best cow beef to 40s, medium to 37s 6d, and inferior and ordinary to 30s.

There was little in store cattle to attract interest. About the only exception was a pen of 15 Black Poll-Here-ford cross 3-year steers, in average stoi'e condition, thati made £l3 Is. There was a demand for fresh-looking cows for grazing, and the best of these made up to £6 8s 6d. The porker entry was the smallest for a considerable time. The demand was again keen at up to full schedule rates. Onnly four choppers were forward, the top price being £lO IGs. The yarding in the bacon section was the heaviest for several months, and with only a few good-quality pigs the market all round was easier by from 3s to 5s a- head. Store pigs sold as follow : Small weaners 15s to IPs, best 20s to 235; slips 24s to 275; small stores 28s to 30s, medium 32s to 345. THE SHARE MARKET. The following sales were made on the Christchurch Stock Exchange yesterday:— LISTED STOCKS. Sales on ’Change. *

£ s. d. 20 Commercial Bank of Australia (pref.) .. 10 5 0 Sales Reported. 400 N.Z. Refrigerating (10s paid) (2) 0 12 1 100 N.Z. Refrigerating (£1 paid) .. 1 5 9 200 Timaru Woollens 1 0 G