SPECULATION IN POTATOES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 224, 20 September 1924, Page 7

SPECULATION IN POTATOES.

SENSATIONAL HAFFENIKG3. ACUTE UPWARD SLANT. (By Telegraull.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this d»y. Happenings on the potato market are j sensational. in v series of jerky moves, rates have gone on an acute i upwards slant in the sharpest ami most extended, rise of the season. Lust week the f.o.b.s.i price ranged from £5 7/G to £5 10/; this week it is US. There | is a fair demand for consumptive purposes, though this is not the cause of the big jump in the market. Xorth Island out ports still are taking supplies, and Auckland is taking rather more interest than it did in the freight offering in the noxt two shipments from Lyttelton. Had the present rise not talien place in the Canterbury market, Auckland may have discontinued further purchases from Australia, but between the landed cost of Canterbury and Australian potatoes in Auckland there now is a difference o£ £4 a ton in favour of the latter. If the Canterbury price holds, it might be a proiitable busillti&S to continue purchases from Melbourne and pick over supplies before distribution, or' Victorian merchants might decide to risk exporting to Xew Zealand on the consignment basis. October prices have bean affected by the rise for September shipment. An offer for October has been made at £7 10/ ii ton f.o.b.s.i. Prices at country stations have, of necessity, lagged behind; f.o.b. rates for shipment have been too sudden for this to be otherwise.