COMMERCIAL NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 175, 6 May 1944, Page 5

COMMERCIAL NEWS

FRUIT AND PRODUCE.

THE ASHBURTON MARKET.

Prices at the fruit and produce market at Ashburton yesterday were: Chaff —Gs Gd sack. Wheat—£l to £1 3s sack. Oats—lßs to £1 sack. New Potatoes—lid lb, 4/6 sugarbag. Onions —2d lb. Lemons —Five for Is. Cauliflowers —6d to Is each. Cabbages—4d to 6d each. Lettuces —4d to Gd each. Green Peas —Gd lb. Marrows—4d to 9d each. Pears —Dessert, Gd lb, 15s case; cooking, 5d lb, 12s case. Apples—Jonathans 3d lb, 7s to 9s a case; Delicious 7s Gd to 9s 6d case, Lord Wolsley 7s 3d to 8s 3d case. Quinces —4d to 5d lb. Carrots —2d lb. Jam Melons—North Island, 21d lb. Pumpkins—lid lb. Squash—2d lb.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. SOUTH CANTERBURY MARKET TIMARU, This Day. Several lines ol’ wheat are coming forward on the South Canterbury grain and produce market, but the majority are in poor condition, and even lines threshed out of stack are still out of condition and in some cases musty. Generally .speaking, wheat'which has been headed has improved very little ill condition and has deteriorated considerably. An urgent appeal has been made for in creased acreages in wheat, but owing to the intermittent wet conditions during the last two or three months some farmers have not liad tlie opportunity to complete their ploughing. May is usually the month for sowing autumn wheat, but so far very few lines of seed wheat have been sent out. The current fixed prices for wheat, are: Tuscan Gs 2ld, Hunters Gs 4!d, and Velvet Gs 61d a bushel.

There is a definite shortage of all lines of oats, and the scarcity of Gartons may be attributed to tlie fact that last year farmers were unable to obtain a market, and this naturally had the effect of reducing the quantity sown for harvesting this year. There is a shortage of good malting barley. Extra quantities will have to be sown next season to meet requirements for feed and malting barley. There is a good demand from the North Island for all lines of chaff. Nominal quotations are £6 a ton, sacks extra, for good bright oatsheaf.

Tlie inclement weather has inter rupted digging, but potatoes are urgently required for the North Island and for the Armed Forces. The current fixed prices are: Sutton’s Supreme and King Edward £8 5s a ton; other varieties £7 15s.

Very little business is passing in seeds. Chief interest is shown in white clover, but only for lines of good germination and purity. A fortnight ago there were numerous inquiries for undergrade lines, but aparently this market has now been supplied.

THE SHARE MARKET. The following sales were made on the Christchurch Stock Exchange yesterday:— LISTED STOCKS.

Sales on ’Change.

Sales Reported

100 Goldsbrough, Mort . £ s. d 1 10 0 115 Felt and Textiles (2) 2 12 6

£500, N.Z. Government 3 per cent. Stock, 195255 99 15 0 20 Bank of Australasia 9 10 6 117 Christchurch Gas .. 1 5 9 100 Hadfielcls 0 IS 3 £200 N.Z. Farmers’ Co-op. (,4i per cent. Stock, 12/4/49) 100 0 0 10 Bank of New South Wales (cum iliv.) .. 27 2 6