GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 210, 5 September 1925, Page 6

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

POTATO MARKET FIRM. AUSTRALIA STILL BUYING. FOWL WHEAT DEARER. (I?y Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Tlie activity which actuated business operations in the grain and produce trade last week has been fairly well maintained in llie past few days. Tlie spurt in business lias centred chiefly round the potato trade, and it lias been demonstrated that tubers are not too plentiful. Australia having conquered its aversion to the potatoes of New Zealand, an aversion due more to the political proclivities of the Australians in regard to the protection of Australian industries than to the suggested fear of importing diseases with our tubers, Commonwealth orders have resulted in a decided fillip to business, and the demand from the consuming centres of tlie North Island has very materially increased. Farmers who have held on to their potatoes have been fairly well repaid, though the extra Jaipur entailed is a factor in tlie price ruling at the present time. I'nfortunately many acres of potatoes have not been dug, and on the lower lying land will have rotted. It is rather rare at tlie present time to find a farmer with any substantial quantities, and merchants are not often ottered even 10 ton lots. For tlie next steamer, which is to sail for Sydney, merchants in Australia, are still offering ff) 10/ a ton, f.0.b., and in the past few days several sales have been made at this figure. Considerable interest is being maintained in the trade, but the demand from Australia is not likely to last much longer. For the Dominion 'A.ide, sales have been made at £8 15/ a ton, f.0.b., South Island. Though that price was paid for shipments from Lyttelton and Timaru. quotations are slightly lower, not more than 2/0. For immediate delivery from the North Island, £8 10/ lias been paid, and the inquiry from other parts of the North Island besides Auckland suggests a fairly bare market. In the north, farmers are being offered £7 on trucks at country stations for their potatoes. Those xinforttinate merchants who have made commitments with oats beyond the amounts they have command of, are not in an enviable position, and the oversellers have not been at all happy lately. The past week has been characterised by the operations of those who wish to cover their sales, and to some extent by an improved consumptive demand, more particularly from the North Island. For A grade gartons, the f.o.b. value at the present time is 4/5, with B's, 4/1 to 4/1 J. This is for September delivery. Fowl wheat is very firm, and owing to the rise of the Sydney market, the North Island finds it better business to obtain supplies from Lyttelton than from Sydney. The result is that the f.o.b. figure at the present time is 7/1, sacks . extra, and sales have been made at this rate. Some mercbants have advanced their prices to 7/3, and probably this price will have to be paid to obtain supplies. Grass seeds are still fairly bright, and with the improvement of weather conditions it is likely that the business will he an improving one for the next few weeks.