COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 296, 14 December 1922, Page 13

COMMERCIAL.

•0H WHETS ft! A GLAHCE. -(KOSK OF BQSDDBSS. gKIOCS HEXPED BY AUKITADS. Anckli!r.J -?tar" Office, T-iar*-da.v, December 14. «taltf»l-- lia-i---> ><; - tr '' fan P*"-**-"-*--* tn ti> dispai-b n( orfers for Jiauary *2S/ Ho---< > «-c*'. "retalhfrs arp loukin* _*__de-l to U-ie ttetn over m* UolltLij-e jiiMWrt IT Wlto"<-s^ | f-- 5 f"' l tb «' '- =;n ' i inst - ?!Sr'T«marT 3rd. Tie koourledee chat SLijTieo'k-. «™ Kllort b resP'>n-" r itiie for JSeft*n n*"" 1 attenrton tn req-iirementß, STtke pollfl-nitj of a tax of tvToiienceper ___ an Importation of American frnils Ut of JanoiuT In causing a hIR «ri seedier ralrins. Stock-. H, been cmMMerablj - helped this week by _\*tt\ at gootta that have been Ueld np In Titnlla tor some while, and fortanatoly Surtni ta time to "^t^ ll 'by spsdal Siutinsf demand. Travellers will ense off Jflhe begtaiii-ig of Dext week, as it will mt ilmolt Imposßlble to touch new business Eta! ChrUtmas. Orders collected this Swth naTe been co heavy, and mails have Sunt In f-acli a demand, that staffs are Juafto their uttermost to cope with tbe Sale OtTertn-t, and it 1« going to take them fftW "a* 3 do to aU 01- - l e-'s through Zhm Chriatmas. Retailers In the grocery SToleised with tie lmprorwnent In trade. a& some of the largest retail establishments rnort that they have never before had anch v'Jeiuge of orders, and heavy quantities, ntuwry houses are busy with the ChristniiWlilMW, and the constant changing or SKaiiTa, and the attractive nature of them, iliipon->ible for admiration from shoppers. EBilisb toys find preference against competition on account of the superior manufacture. Prices are much lower, especially for iAli, than they were last year. •Tn. aulpplng situation bo far as traders an concerned 1b not causing much anxiety low. Finance shows a big Improvement IndflDf by the volume of business done by Btallers and by the heavy building programme. Tinned Frulti.—Arrivals during tbe week lav« bean' timely in meeting an extreme siorUie. Pears continue at extreme rates, cooseqnently importation was light. Peaches and apricots continue at recent levels. Plneiiitttes are In light holding both for cubes ■ad sliced, with prices unchanged. New rtltments .of cubes due In the Sew Year It* upected to land a bit easier. Dried Fruits. —Raisins continue to be hetfily "Mught on account of the possibility -of tax in th' new year. It Is recognised tint prlctl will not decline, so should tax lie Imposed the purchases would place lolden la a good position. A large shipment of fruits from 'Frisco, via ■Wellington, la in tin hands of wholesalers, who are busy distributing to contracts, and as the shipment lodod-d mnscatels the arrival Is only Just In Urns to catch the demand. There is a aU for dried apples and peaches, but sunplks are very light. Greek currants are tiie only tTsllible .supply, and these are fast reMtnlat exhausted. Carton dates are In ftlr supply, but bulk are short. Figs are ■imost cleared as far as the wholesale are concerned. Retailers are now well supplied for.most fruit's," and they report a considerable iinproTement In trade this year. Sit*.—Jordan almonds have arrived this week, but owing to heavy retail demand the npply U oulckly being disposed of. How-ei-tf, Una Is not to be regretted, as trade b eonflnei to Christmas requirements. Sicily ■lnnsds are badly wanted, bnt new stock my be-available within a week. Nuts in -659 of various kinds have been heavily town .on (raring tbe last .week, and this lvi had the effect of, working stocks very low. Quotations continue low, and this has -rat life Into trade this year. Peanuts are , ftill nnprocnrable, but arrival Is expected lj aext boat from Sydney. ■ Tinned Is no change of note ftli week to report in the quotations for : tinned ash, bnt demand shows a big Increase. Salmon Is principally Inquired for; demand for aerjjn-pi la. good. .. Pilchards and mullet twslow-sjelleri: Choice saimbnlst quoting at •J-atl redaction, while Pinks and Chums re■*m' »t low. level. Sardinec continue In fair ' fjgptlt. bnt only small snare goes to Cana<tt.pack. JeSiei.— k -try heavy demand exists, this . tog a favourite line during hot weather. Wees this rear are well under last season's -arts, and sales have' Increased correspond- - l_K_ Local pack-are irecelvlng" preference, ■Bported are seldom "asked 'for. SJaigar.—A very heavy- call hn s been made curing the week, and this has caused orders -to iccmnulate somewhat. However, all ! dlJMllils received up to. the present .will be act prior to Christmas. Loaf remains scarce. Wit arrivals are now more regular.; a small tMpaent having arrived this week. wbUe ' fttrtier.-shipment is expecfted In a Hew Spices.—Although the spice market Is atter -quiet' at the present time, yet more ~ I Is - noticed In demand, and January is •Wcted to see keen Inquiry. Cable qnota__us show fairly even, fractional mores only ("Maiing. Pudding spices naturally have W a big ran this month, fields.— Stocks have run to very low hoid- :__ wtth the warm weather demand has osia heavy, and It Is now a difficult matter : {Mick up either citric or tartaric. The "**r quotations continue to rule, but if •pot stocks have to be bought by merchants f*es must rise temporarily. g"|"teuiet—Trade for this line, has devetoped gßtlderaMy during the-last two weeks, pre■gßce attaching to tablet form. ~ Hardware,—Building is responsible for *jj7_hea--3r calls on hardware and kindred ___*, -B& although many places will be jS™- 1 by,-Christmas,' yet there Is evllg|*ln aU directions, both In the shopping •goes and In suburban areas, of a con- . JUKiee of a heavy demand. y ■;■ THE -OCBOP IX BiDTTER. \__\* decline in the price of butter on the j™* u ? l maiket, which naturally follows tbe 0 ' ,ar B er supplies, has taken place, Si™. ** hoped that bottom has been •252!?? •* I *f ver cwt. which was the JMtatlon of December 11. This is, ho<w- ' J2i CoMWer 4bly a"bove tlie low figures 225.** hi" l ' season, where owing to the 327 Mnt T-over held by the Imperial Gov™oent, as low as 126/ per cwt was ''SF. Tb * re l 8 not the slightest danger - flaliy companies in New Zealand having V S wS * nch lww at the beginning SLj™ Tear, even though sop/plies for--2J2~ *rom New Zealand will be much ___* this season. On October T the ■?^£. , !? notatlon t<a l** l * Zealand butter £±__y- By November 4 the price had FWW to aoa/, and on November 90 was '5? to 180/. As previously stated, for ' «aS~? U °>c quotation was 18*.'. The i SS*! 4 of butter this season Is sWELw.the trotter graded. "From .Aagust -JLSJ ""J* of November tbe total was g»» cwt, as compared with 336,325 cwt •4?JS'"«"Ue period last year, an increase SiMuS* cwt - At the lower prices, which S.lr!L' l 2 "te tor rest of the season, iSi?Jr ,e . l>alk •* the supplies from New J2jn«, Australia, and the Argentine reach -Sgnpa, It Is evident that dairy farmers will SJ; \, X __T sattsfaetory return this year, werouowlng steamers are due to sail this a»«ra:-lPort Denison with 100,000 boxes, ' SS. ffiv^ soo - MldiHeaex 54,000. CMata--5n»«.000. and Port Victor 21.000: total. SWW. boxes. The Tainul also took away .The retail price of butter has _S__ ea altered this week on the local "■ •^"*""t.. -• t

_____ EGGS. v*!' of. eggs are falling off on the SS*?^ 1 ■""» P ri<:e °f e«K" B*IH -mTfti 1 1 -6 P er dfll; e n retail. With the ""£ "JPProach of Christmas the demand for i™ *** increased considerably.

j: :■ /'HAMS A>T> BACON. : fc2i2?"!l a B°°4 demand has set in from r2«i°Mers for Christmas hams. «3ome . CJ™*-*! have less stocks of bams and %&£> T f« Christmas to tne __. ge jJStts to _ Sydney -within the last three i Tl> POTATOES. IsSfe ' marke - ls now well supplied witb 'S£nLF ow .? new Potatoes. As might be \_7r_* 1 with such a favourable season, the * lai " 8e 0De > and the quality of the 'Snt£ "WsaUent. Owing to the quantity 4 te the mar ket has eased. £6 Jbm „ D '•lag now quoted for pota- ., -JJP" on trucks at Pukekohe, according to ■S» ni".. V? man y residents In the suburbs * ton „ W tn .? glng tbeir s-Tdea grown pota-ttts-Miil i. - c ore «bausted. less nuantiI ■s^k^ i " ** "euuired from growers for the «*UMl I .^*^ na r ket !s Poetically bare of <*ebs ? S. tbe lu<:k >' holders of a few parMOfc \*£ «ft*rnian are Dow setting 35/ per tWI 22! as <"onipiired with 18' r<> -o,' talsirtL . ago ' N "° further lots will be .'tZIT r -" om America this season, as - s «Bito r"Sf Hf '""-'ally grown onions will be "•SShf.l l ¥ B m <""ket, ns the recent hot -«qH» ."- as brought on the tubers wonder- '««■» -."?• 4? n -*- 1 of Australian onions iffKlL \1 • ""-•- "•"" th * Moeraki. but owing toil lnje lD "'ansit did not arrive in ;*____*__~ ti ° D ' Some of ihe earlier local , *33LV? £"?**? b «* n «" nt ln - bu t these *SeWis, qrrteHj- used, as they are not ...Tv^ a r ripened to keep long.

r - ..*.- - MAIZE. — "- The quantity of maise sent up of late has been equal to all the req-alrements of this market. Small shlpnrents have been made to Australia- This was rendered pos ; si'ble by a low freight rate offering by a steamer wanting cargo. Advantage was taken of space being offered considerably below ordtßarj "'freight rates to forward parcels of maize to the Commonwealth, where tbe prices ruling allowed shippers a margin of profit. This is an 'evidence how much export trade depends upon freight rates "being as reasonable as possible. FOWL WHEAT. Ample supplies of fowl wheat are reaching this market, and knowing there Is a large quantity of under-grade grain In the South local merchants are only disposed to buy on a conservative basis, having no fear of prices advancing in tbe near future. A falling off in the demand for fowl wheat in Auckland is reported, which is most unusual when the weather Is so warm, as poultry feeders usually stop using maize under such conditions. OATS. The demand for oats in Auckland Is very poor at the present time, and local merchants are holding fair stocks. Export of this grain to Australia Is still taking place from the South. The reduced freight rates have been extended to December 31st, which will enable further shipments to be made to the Commonwealth. As far as the outlook for the coming season is concerned It is reported that tbe acreage under oats in the South this year Is 100,000 below that of 1921, which will mean a correspondingly less yield. On the other hand each year less oats are required, as motor traction replaces horse-drawn vehicles. CHAFF, The market for chaff la exceptionally firm in Auckland at the present time, and indications point to higher prices ruling for this line, as smaller areas have been put under oats this season In the Bangitikel district, as well as at Hawke's Bay. It Is also reported that a less area was sown in the Marlborough district. Already quotations for forward delivery of chaff have advanced considerably at Blenheim. Merchants down there are evidently expecting still higher rates to rule for chaff. MAMTRHSB. A steady demand exists for manures for turnip planting. Beyond that, little business is expected in fertilisers at this season of the year. WHOLESALE CTTR.RENT PRICES. Farm and Dairy Produce.—Superfine creamery butter, 1/6J per lb for prompt cash: first grade. 1/6: second grade, 1/5; farmers' separator, 1/8 per lb; cheese, first grade factory, medium size, 1/ to 1/2 per lb; hams, lid per lb; bacon, 9d to !"4d per lb net; lard, bulk lid, pats 1/2; boney, prime grade, lOd; eggs, 1/2 per dozen wholesale. 'Flour, £17 5/, less discount of 2J per cent per ton. In 2001b sacks; sharps, en 10/; bran, £3 10/; oatmeal, 25's, £37 per ton. Grain.—Oats, A grade, 4y"B per bushel, ex store; Algerian seed oats, 6/; maize. 5/8 to 5/6 per bushel; ex store; fowl wheat, 8/ per bushel. Chaff.—Best Southern, £9 10/. Onions.—American, 22/6 per 10OI"b crate. Potatoes. —Best quality, 8/6 per cwt, ex store. FLAX. During the month of November the total number of bales of flax graded by the Department of Agriculture was 6183 bales, as compared with 7540 bales for a similar period in 1921. For the 12 months ended November 30 tbe hemp graded totalled 62.418 bales, as compared with 91.8H2 bales the previous year, an Increase of 536 bales. The tow graded for the same periods was 15.797 bales for this year' and 12.843 for 1921, an increase of 2954 bales. The market for flax is very dull owing to there being no Inquiries received from overseas. KAGRI GT7M. This market Is likely to be dull until after the Christmas-New Year vacation. Gam is accumulating in store Auckland awaiting opportunity to'shlp to the United States. Stocks of really good gum are light, but large quantities of lower grades have been- sent in during the last few weeks. ON "CHANGE. Prices for most stocks have been well maintained since last report. Sales of Soldiers' Loan Inscribed were made yesterday afternoon at £90 17/6. The inscribed 5 per cent war loan were also placed at £90 5/, which figure was offered for the 1938-"» loans at 41 per cent free of income tax. Auckland Gas debentures are still wanted at £102, and Booth Macdonald could be- placed at .£9B, but Gisborne Sheep Farmers' debentures could now be got at

£100 10/, whilst llaeky Logan* ara still inquired for at £90. Bank of New Zealand sharei are firmer this week, 57/ being offered at the third call yesterday. N.Z. Insurance Improved a little, sales being reported op to 28/6, while South 'British were transferred at 35/6. Slightly better prices were offered for Hikurangl Coal shares, and a sale of Taupiri s took place up to 18/6. Auckland Gas new Issue have firmed, the amount of the call, 23,48. being now the buying quotation. Bartholomew Timber shares are better, buyers now offering 16/. Kauri Timber sold at 37/, but Gear Meat buyers advanced their offers to 86/6 without sales resulting. MUne and Choyce shares sold np to 24/6 yesterday, an advance of one shilling for the week. Moanatalarl shares eased to sales at 3/3, and Grand Junctions sold up to 10/6. Walhl shares are offered at B*ty* ex div paid this week.