COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 304, 22 December 1921, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

. i THE MARKETS AT A GLANCE/ CHRISTMAS TRADE GOOD. . I Auckland "Star" Office. Thursday, December 22. Retail houses are now the busiest section of the grocery trade, and by all reports!; business is particularly good, purchasers showing more freedom in their .spending! I ban [hey have fur some lime. Wholesalers have had another strenuous week, all departments being fully taxed to cope with orders coming in. and in distributing further i welcome arrivals from oversells. Quite n ' ; feature of the Christmas -business has!' been the arrival of .shipments jus: as they were wanted, and at no time this Christmas have shortages been acute. Last week shortages were showing, this week require-1 merits have been met |v most lines. Wholesale travellers arc now off the road. I consequently business will be quieter for the rest of this week, after which the warehouses will be closed until January 4. "Some retailers were Incllned-to be pessimistic regarding Christmas business, hut where attention has been given to displays, and tpeci.il attractions and stocking good ranges of seasonable lines, the response has been particularly good, ami some shops, both grocery and fancy goods and drapers, mention that business is -better by fur than last year. Certainly Auckland and Hamilton have never seen finer window displays, end the variety of offerings cover a very wide range. The last two days have brought a large influx of visitors to Auckland, and the main thoroughfares are well crowded Wtth shoppers. Trice changes continue, some markets firming, while others have reduced. The latter list coutaius another blow for the farmer, which bears out the old proverb, "It never rains but it pours." The further ••Auction listed by bucou enrers shows au all-round reduction of a penny per pound. the total reduction for the last two' weeks being twopence per pound, fortunately for this market the Christmas demand for hams wns satisfied at payable rates, the quantity being sold this year being much above last year's sales. lower cost stimulating business. 'Coffee.—Advices received this week from Calicut are particularly interesting. although the information is not altogether a surprise to those in the know. The coffee crops all round South India are going to be very short this season, and this will probably cause a Jlrming in all markets. The crops are anticipated to reveal a shortage of fully 50 per cent In the South Indian district, and it is possible that even this amount may not be reached, consequently the demand is much stronger. The exchange market is causing fluctuations, however. 'Nuts.—This time last week the trade were anxiously seeking stocks of all lines, and the local market was particularly bare, but a welcome arrival this week brought Chinese walnuts. Barcelouns, Brazil nuts and peanuts, and sales are reported very brisk. Dried Fruits. —Although new season's dates have not arrived, good samples of Inst season's are available. Figs iv first hands are practically nil. Three crown Mlldura currants are on the arrival list this week, and owing to the market being previously bare distribution has been active. Seeded and seedless raisins are iv full supply, sultanas being sufficient for Christmas trade. Mustard.—All packiugs of Colman's are being quoted at new high levels, other lines are slow of sale at any price. Groats and Barley.—A further advance is registered on Robertson's packings this week, making two rises during this month. Washing Blue.—Colman's square aud ■bag are at new high rates. Candles.—Southern and local manufacturers have reduced costs on all packiugs. the move being one penny per pound. This was hinted at in our report on December S. Tobaccos.—Cigarette tobaccos are difficult to obtain, and It is possible that the most popular brands will not arrive before MaTcb, certainly not before February. The reason of stocks being so short and further shipments so remote is caused by the trade here cancelling all standing orders tliev had placed for periodical shipments, as the new tariff was anticipated to hit the cost hard. It was thought that the increased duty rate might possibly kill the sale of cigarette tobacco: it certainly has slackened iv demand to a certain extent, and an extra demand has been given to manufactured cigarette*, the cost of which now bears more favourable comparison with own made. One of the most popular lines of plug tobacco is notified for close arrival. Cut tobaccos for pipe are in fair supply. Cigarettes are heavily held, but many lines hard of sale are 'being forced ou to the trade by the Tobacco (Association insisting, that" purchasers of certain popular lines must take a proportion of other lines which are slow of sale, and help thus to clear the stocks of these lines. This certainly Is a good proposition for holders, but retailers are $a\ favourable to being compelled to buy what they do not want, but do so under protest. as they want the ready sellers, and can only obtain by conceding to sellers' requests. Tinned /Fruit.—Dessert peaches are on the arrival list this week, having come ' to a bare market. Pears are almost unobtainable in first hands. Apricots are also In small compass. Cube pineapples are expected shortly; however, the shipment has practically all been sold to forward buyers. • Jams.—Large quantities of Southern are being sold locally, price being a halfpenny per-pound cheaper than the cheapest local production. Local strawberry iv tins and jars Is again available, and good business Is being put through. Hardware.— The proximity or the holidays lias caused the demand to slacken, and business is quet. Bar iron aud steel is now arrlving regularly, mostly English coming to this market. 'Forward business is good for- preserving jany-fhe price being easier. With cheaper suga*_ is expected that more business will be done this year, as the high cost has prevented many from bottling iv the last two years. ■* DAIRY PRODUCE. ""--•' The outlook for the dairy farmer is not too good at the present time. All indications point to a further drop in prices of butter, and a reduction in the charges fur bacon and hams early in the New Year . \s far as butter Is concerned, the price on the local market is supposed to be regulated with the quotations ruling in London, but this has not proved to be the ease of late, the result being that higher rates are ruling locally than a parity with f.o.b. export prices for London. As the market in London is reported very weak, and there are still heavy stocks held in England or last season s make purchased by the British Government, there is little chance of the market recovering until these have been cleared. Bacon and hams are in heavy fmpply in Auckland this Christmas, anil while standard brands have so fur held tbeir price, still other lines arc being cleared at lesser rates, and this must in the end bring the market down all round. When hams arc sent to Auckland to be sold by auction the resultant disorganisation of the market upsets all calculations. POTATOES. Prices for potatoes have fluctuated considerably since last report, the market being decidedly weaker, owing to the large quantities sent in. The weather has been very enitable for digging, and some growers prefer to clear lines rather than wait longer and risk second growth setting in If rains fall during the next week or two. The quality of the potatoes so far has been very good, and the yield an excellent one. There are still a few old season's Southern potatoes in store, whicli holders would be glad to clear, but with the present low price ruling for tbe new local crop, sales are hard to effect. Old potatoes are still held in the South, and the season right through has not been a satisfactory one from the grower's point of view. ONIONS. Supplies of onions from the United States are now about exhausted, and until the newlocal crop Is fit for inai'ket, Victoria will have to be drawn upon. A shipment arrived by the Kalapoi this week from Australia which- was comprised of lust season's Brown Spanish and some of the new crop Globes. The onions arrived in spfcndid condition, and sold readily at about I <s/ per cwt. Under the new tariff the duty ou onions has beenj increased from 20/ to 30/ per ton. which, of course,, adds to the cost charged -the consumer at this end. Some of the earlierplanted onions in the Auckland district will shortly lie ready for market. In order t<> get the better prices onions are already being pulled and left to ripen in the sun, but generally speaking another fortnight will elapse "before the crop is really ready for market. MAIZE MARKET DULL. The large consignments of maize reaching this market keeps prices down, as the demand naturally falls off during the warmen weather. It is probable that during the next few weeks there will be much less maize scut up from the Bay of Plenty, owing to the steamers being used for excursion, trips. This should enable stocks which have accumulated in stores here to be worked down. If consignments are not too heavy in the Xew Year, the market will then have a chance of recovering. The quality of most of the maize coming to hand has been very good, fcut a lines ol shrivelled Brain w.hictt.

reached this market were hard to clear even .t lower prices. It had apparently been grown on poor swampy land. OATS VERY DULL. Consignments of oats are still being sent up from the South, and this tends to weaken the local market, as merchants realise that conditions cannot be too good when shipments are sent up for stile. Space was secured in the Port Kombla to ship oats for I..union now that the freight has been ieduced by _ per ton, but. at this time of tlie year the experiment is somewhat, risky, unless.the English yield is a very small one on account of the dry season. In the South forward sales are reported of the new seasou's oats at 2/11 for P. (iartous. f.0.b., S.I. This means about -/- to 12/8 on truck, which is not a high price for the grower. RYEGRASS SEED. Reports from Canterbury are to the effect that a large crop of ryegrass seed is expected to be harvested as soon as the holidays are over. FOWL WHEAT. Tup Kalapoi brought a small shipment o0 fowl wheat from Australia since last report. It is reported that there linve been signs of •weevil, and should this prove correct, it may entail the expense of either fumigating or putting in freeziug chambers, which would add considerably to tbe cost to consumers. Owing to State regulations fowl wheat at present costs about twice as much in New, Zealand Iv what poultry feeders pay for it in Australia. CHAFE. There are ample supplies of excellent Blenheim chaff on this market, consequently higher values are not likely to rule. In the South the supply of chaff Is reported to be in excess of tbe demand. HAY. A good de:il of hay has been cut already in tbe Auckland province, and if the weather prove favourable for harvesting there Is every chance of a record yield being stacked, as the growth has been remarkable this seasou. WHOLESALE CURRENT TRICES. Farm and Dairy Produce. —creamery butter. 1 " per ll> for prompt cash; farmers' separator. 1 1 per lb: cheese, first grade factory, medium siie lOrt per lb, export size nd per lb: loaf size. 1/2 per lb: hams. 1/2 per lb net: bacon, 1/2 per lb net: lard, bulk 1/1. pats 1.2; honey, prime grade lOd; eggs. 1, S per dozen wholesale. Flour, £'22 2/6. less discount of 2* per cent per ton. in 2001b sacks; sharps. £10 10. ; brau, £7 10,'; oatmeal, 25's, £27 per ton. drain.—Oats. A grade, -t 'fi per bushel, ex store: Algerian seed oats, «'»': maize, 4/3 to 4/ti per bushel, wholesale lines ex wharf. Chaff.—Best Southern, £!) 111/ per ton ex store; local, £S 10/. Potatoes.—New potatoes, first grade, S/C to 10/ per cwt. Onions.—American. '■'.'< per 1001b crate: Australian. 16/ per cwt: local, new. 8/ to 9/. ON VHAXCK. The Auckland Stol-k Exchange closed for the Christmas-New Year vacation at noon to-day. It is safe to state that the last six mouths' business was better than was hoped for at the end of the first quarter of 1021. The improved demand for Government War Loan stock is a feature of the last quarter ' of the year. Especially has the demand increased for ih per cent stock free of income tax, for which buyers now offer £«."> 12/0, whereas earlier in the year these lines could have been got at £70. The 5 per cent Loan could be placed at £01 10/. and the r>l per cent at £02 0/ and £02 7/0 for the respective issues. Bank of Australasia stock sold at £11 during the week. Bank of New Zealand down to £2 ti ti, and I'liiou Hank of Australia (00/ paid), at £0 14/. Loan and Mercantile stock are easier, buyers of preference having dropped to £_, while £70 was offered for ordinary. I*, and O. Deferred Stock hud a rise of .£lO yesterday, being wanted at £.".00. whereupon- the selling rate was promptly raised from £305 to i£:i2."i. Inquiry set in for Waipa Collieries yesterday, but the offer of 1.1/ did not lead to business. Huddart. Parker Steam firmed a little during the week. 42/3 being refused by holders. Northern Steam were a shade easier, being sold down to 13/. Several sales took place of Auckland Trams, ordinary issue, at 14/0, at which figure more were offered. The preference issue are wanted at 16/. but sellers ask another 1/6. Very little has been done In mining shares since last report, but Inquiry set in for Ohlnemurl Mines yesterday at "'. Waihi shares had steady buyers, but uo sales, ah to,'. Grand .lunctlous sold, aud are .still offered, at 8/. AUCKLAND STOCK SALES, ' The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report:— We held stock sales during the past week .it Westlield. Whitford. Warkworth, Waiukll. Tuakau. and Kaukapakapa. Although the yiirdings have been small, most of the cattle penned have changed hands at late quotations. Springers, close to profit, best £13 to £17 10/, others £S 10/ to £12 15/: backward springers, best £S to .£ll 10/. others £5 to £7 15/: aged cows and Inferior heifers, £2 to £4 IS/; ;il to 4-year steers, f4 to £~> ~>/\ 2* to K-year steers. £2 10/ to £.". 18/: IS-months to 2-year steers, it'l 10/ to £2 7/C: yearling steers. 15/ upwards: yearling heifers, 12/ C to £1 15/: 18-menths to 2-year heifers suitable dairy purposes, £.1 to £3: bulls, 10/ to fS 8/,, according to breed and quality; empty cows, 10/ to £1. Beef at fully Westfield prices. On Monday, at Mangere. we held, in conjunction with Messrs. A. Buckland and Soils, Mr. W. D. It. Hall's clearing Bale. There wns a large attendance, and we report a good sale. Grade dairy cows to i£2">: registered pedigree Holsteln cow. 2Cgns: ditto heifer, 14gns. Large quantity of farm implements, sundries, etc.. at satisfactory prices. Alfred Rockland and Sons. Ltd., report:— During the week we held sales of dairy and store cattle at Westfield. Pukekohe. Waitakaruru. l'okeno. Clevedon and Runeiman. The vardings were below the average, T»nd values about the same as last report. On Wednesday, 14th Inst., there was a large attendance at Messrs. Little Bros., Te (Sana. The-dairv cows and heifers hronghtl from £12 10/ to fin 5/ for best; others £4 10/ to £11: IS-month heifers £3 15/. empty coWs £1 10/ to £2 15/, calves 5/. sows and litters £.1 5/ to fl, farm horses £12 to £19 10/. On Friday last at the Haymarket, we hail an average yarding of horses, tbe demand; being slack with values easier. ' On Monday, at Mr. Chas. Kldd's, Puni, buyers were in attendance, and satisfactory prices were realised. \ WESTFIELD EAT STOCK. ' * The >,".Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.. Ltd.. report:— At Westfield fat stock market on Wednesday beef was penned In average numbers. Competition was keen, last week's Improved prices being more 'than sustained. 'We quote: Extra choice oxen to 26/ per 1001b; choice and prime oxen, 20/ to 25/ per 1001b; rough and Inferior oxen, 14/ to 18/ per 1001b; young cow and heifer beef, 10/ to 21/ per 1001b: other cow beef. 10/ to 15/ per iOOlb. No other heavy prime steers were penned. Steers sold at from for heavy prime steers £0 to £11 5.', mec'.J»ii £7 10/ to £8 17/6, light £5 15/ to mf/6. unfinished £4 upwards; young cows and heifers, £3 10/ to £0 10/; other cows, £1 15/ to £3; hulls, £1 10/ to £2 5/. -Calves were penned In average numbers: the demand for good vealers was equal to last week's prices, and rough calves were dult.of sale. Kunners, CI to £4 5/j heavy vcftiers £3 to £3 14/, medium vealers £1 18,' to £2 10. light 15/ to £1 5/, smaller and fresh dropped 4/ to "/. 'Pigs were in average numbers. PorKers showed an Improvement on last week's prices; baconers remained about the same. 'No choppers or heavy Ibaconcrs yarded. Medium baconers. £2 8/ to £2 18/, light baconers and heavy porkers £2 5/ to £3, light porkers £1 14/ to £2 1/. Store pigs sold at late quotations, .jgheep were penned in average numbers. Competition here was also keen, prices being better. We quote: Heavy prime wethers. 13/6 to 15/3; medium prime. 11/0 to 13/3; light prime and unfinished. 0.0 to 11/3; heavy prime ewes, 10/ to 12/ C; medium and light prime ewes, i/ to 0/0: aged and interiorly-fatted ewes, 1/3 upwards; heavy and medium prime hoggets, 11/ to 13/; light prime hoggets. 9/ to 10 0. Lambs were penned In large numbers. Competition was keen, prices advancing ou last week's sale. Heavy prime lambs, 14/9 to 17. medium prime 13/ to 14/6, light prime 10/ to 12/0; small' and lnierlorl.Watted lambs 6'o to 9/- weedy and very s_al!___lis, 3,6 to 6 '3. ' Alfred Buckland and .Sons, Ltd.. report:— Yesterday, at our weekly Westfield fat stock market we yarded beef to the number of 420 head, comprising 340 steers, 74 cows uud heifers. The demand was good with a further rise of from 15/ to 20/ per head Extra choice ox sold to £1 8/ per 1001b choice and prime £1 4/ to £1 7/, ordinary . aud plain £1 to £1 2/, prime young cow and heifer beef £1 to £1 7/. ordinary and plain ■ 14/6 to IS/, rough beef 8/6 to 136- prime steers ranged In price from £9 15/ to £10 7/6, 1 no extra heavy yarded, lighter prime £8 to ; £9 12/6. light and unfinished £4 10/ to 1 £7 15/;-prime young cows and heifers £6 to 1 £7 5/, lighter prime £4 10.' to £5 13/, other fat cows £2 to £4 5/. The highest averages • for steers were: 9 from Mr. Jno. Massev. I Mangere, £10 0/3: 8 from Mr. J. 'Mclntyrc ■ Aka Aka, £9 12/6; 11 ei-Coast. .£9 S/5: 3B i ex-Walkato, £8 19/7; 20 from Messrs'. Peri ham. Larsen and Co.'s Aka Aka property . £8 15/6; 17 from Mr. P. Corhett, Hlkutala' 4iß 11/2; 5 ex-road. £8 10/; 16 Xrom Mr!

Joseph. Slater.* Pukekawa, £8 7/6: 7 from ■South "Head, Kaipara. £8 1/5: 0 from Mr. E. G. Phillipps' Te :Heke farm, Heleasvllle. £7 10 2; :VJ ex-rail. £7 18/5; 5 cows, samoconsignment, £6 4'; 20 from 'Mr. F. A. .Price, 'Rnnganui, Papatoetoe, £7 18/; 8 from Mr. Win. Taylor. Te Awamutu, £7 13/3: 0 cows, same vendor, £0 4/2; 4 from Witt, £7 15'; « from Mrs. J. J: Craig's Maraetal Estate, £7 10/; IS local, £7 4/8; 15 from Messrs. Death Bros., Wnltaknruru. £7 3/4; 0 from Messrs. G. and 'R. Coates, Matukohe, £0 15/6; 20 from Mr. Geo. Ulddell's St. Heller's Bay property. £6 0/0. The sheep pens were well filled. Competition was good, and values slightly better than last week. Heavy prime wethers 130 to 14/0, medium to heavy prime 12/6 to 13/6, lighter prime 11 to 12'; other wethers. 10/ to 10/6; prime ewes 10/ to 11/U, medium 8/ to !>/», lighter 6 to 7-9: aged ewes. 2/ to 4/8 (108 sold). Lambs were penned in record numbers. The demand was steady at increased values. Heavy prime 17/6 to 20'fi, lighter prime 13 ti to 16/9. light prime 11/6 to 12/9; small lambs 5/6 to 10/0, weeds 3 '3 (2352 sold). Fat and young calves were again penned in large numbers, comprising many lines of choice light vealers. There was only a fair demand, and values showed no improvement on last week's rates. Runners made from £2 5' to £3 7/0: heavy vealers £2 4 to £3. medium £1 10/ to £2. light 18' to £1 s'. smaller 8/ to 15/. fresh dropped 4 to 8' (17S sold). Pigs were yarded in less than average numbers. There was a keen demand for light and medium porker* at improved rates. Baconers maintained last week's values, ('hoppers, £1 to £2 Ii; medium to heavy baconers, £3 2/6 to £3 12/. light £2 12 6 to £3: heavy porkers, £2 10/ to £2 18', light to medium £1 10' to £2 6./; slips. 15 f* £1 2': wcancrs, ft/ to 15/ (28S soldi. The next fnt stock sale will be held ou Thursday, January 5. Dalgety and Co.. Ltd.. report as follows on their fat stock sale at Westfield yesterday :— Beef.—A good yarding, consisting mostly of well-finished cattle. The demand was steady at lust week's prices. Extra choice, 26/; prime. 24/ to 18/; second quality. 18/ to 15/: prime young cows and heifers, 20/; others, 15/ to 10/. Sheep.—Not v big yarding, but good quality, a particularly good line of wethers coming from Messrs. Faithful Bros.. Hokiunga. averaging 15/. Extra heavy, 15/6: prime, 15/6 to 13/6: others, 13/ to 11/0; ewes, prime. 11/ to 9/6; others. 8/ to 5/6. Lambs. —A very heavy yarding. No extreme prices were given, but the demand was steady right through at prices quoted. Extra good, 10': prime, 15/ to 11/6; others. 10/ to 5/. Pigs.—A fair yarding, prices Improving very considerably ou the last few sales. Baconers. £4 10/ to £.".; choppers £4 10/ to £3: porkers, £2 ID/ to £1 10/. Yea!.—A medium vardlng. poor demand. Runners. £3 10/ to £2 10/: vealers. £2 10/ to £1 5.'; fresh dropped. 8/ to 5/. ADOINGTON. (By Tclcsraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHL-RCIi, Wednesday. The yarding to-day at the Addlngton market was a double one In view of the Christinas holidays. There was an exceptionally large ofl'ering of lambs, which sold freely, export buyers operating to some extent. Mutton sold at improved rates, but beef, except for very prime, was easy. Store Sheep.—The entry was mostly 2tooth wethers. There was a better demand, and an almost total clearance, the sale being the best for some time. Two-tooth wethers mude 5/6 to 0/1, cull and inferior 3/11 to 5/4; 4-tooth wethers ft/8 to 10/1; 4 and otooth wethers, 9/0 to 10/3; forward wethers. 12 4; cull 4 and 6-tooth wethers. 5/7: 2-tooth . ewes, ft/1: falling mouthed ewes. 6/10. all counted. I"at Lambs. —A yardincr of 5440. compared with 760 last week. Though prices were easier there was a good sale, the bulk of the entry selling at übout s}d per lb. Extra prime lambs made 20/0 to 23/7, prime 17/0 to 20/. medium 14/ to 19/, Ught and inferior 13/.'! to 13/9. Fat Sheep.—Small yarding and a spirited! sale until the final stages, when pricesj sagged, butchers having filled with lamb. Until then values were up to 2/ per bead on last week. Extra prime wethers 24/ to 27/. prime 20/ to 23/. medium 10/6 to 19/6, lighter 13/ to 15/9: prime ewes 15/ to 18/, medium 12/0 to 14/6, light aud Inferior 6/9 to 11/6. Fat Cattle.—Except for extra prime 'there was an easing, particularly for all light beef, much of which sold at no more than 20/ per 1001b. Good prime sold from 27/G to 30/. and a few pens at more than that. Extra prime steers £13 10/ to £15 15/. prime £lo to £13 2/6. medium i£6 17/6 to i£9 10/ lighter £5 to £« 12/6: prime heifers £6 17/G to £8 15. ordinary £3 15/ to £6 10/; prime cows £5 b» •*» *"VC, ordinary £3 to £4.13/.

i Vealers.—A large entry and a good sale. Runners, £4 12/6; good vealers, £2 10/ to £3 16/, medium 30/ to £2 5/, inferior 15/ to £1 5/, small calves 7/6. Store Cuttle.—A smaller yarding than lastt week and of better quality. There was a dull sale. Three-year-old steers. £4 10/ to £5 7/6; two-year-old £2 10/ to £3, yearling £1 to £1 7/6; yearling heifers £2 to £2 15/. two-year-old £3 to £3 6/, three-year-old £4 10/ to £6 4/; good cows £1 15/ to £2. Inferior fl to £1 10/. Dairy Cattle.—A small yarding. Tbe demand wok poor. Good second and third calvers £10 to £13, ordinary £0 to £9; springing heifers f6 10/ to £9 10/; Inferior cows iv milk 10/ to 30/. Fat Pigs.—Choppers, 45/ to 70/; light baconers 05/ to 00/, heavy 65/ to 70/, extra heavy £4, average price per lb 5Jd to 6Jd; light porkers 35/ to 40/, heavy 45/ to 54/; average price per lb 6Jd to Bd. Store Pigs.—Prices were much lower except for small suckers suitable for Xmas trade. Medium stores 20/ to 25/, small 12/ to 20/; good wcancrs 12/ to 17/, small 7/ to 11/.