GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 246, 17 October 1925, Page 6

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

SOUTHERN MARKETS. POTATO PRICES SKY HIGH. SPECULATION FOR 1926. (Bj- Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRI?TCrIURCrJ, Friday. The first 6hot in speculation in the Dew season's produce has been fired, and it is a long shot, too. Potatoes have been sold for April-June, 1926 delivery at £5 5/ a ton, f.0.b., s.i. Of course, operations will be confined to a. little lijiht skirmishing for the time being. Most merchants have a few wounds to tend as a result of this season's battle before seeking further engagements. It has not been a good season. Even holders of oate, which are now selling at buoyant values, are finding that the victory is rather a pyrrhic one, for they or mo6t of them, bought in the first instance at high prices, and though they repelled assaults on the market, storage and interest charges accumulated all the time. The strength of the oats market is caused partly by the covering operations of oversellers and partly by a fair demand for consumptive purposes. -All the sams, the volume of business is not great, as some have been sold at 4/8 a bushel, f.0.b., s.i., and some holders are asking for 4/9. Such prices represent a rise on the week. B's are even scarcer than As. and they have been sold at the improved price of 4/5. The strength of the grade oats market is helping holders of Algerians or of undergrade stocks of Cartons to get rid of their supplies. Kates for potatoes on the Sydney market have been soaring, with a suggestion about the rise that the sky will be the limit. Canterbury will benefit thereby, for the Union Steamship Co., Ltd., has made the Karetu available for tlie Sydney run, and this vessel will leave about the middle of next week with consignments of potatoes that it is understood will total from 400 to 500 tons. This shipment should make a big gap in stocks. Sydney purchases have been wade at £11 a ton f.0.b., s.i., ana urns indicate that, by t..e t.nie the i.ii etu arrives, New Zealand potatoes ■.-ill bring from £1-5 to £lb> which shout. .i.uxe the f.o.b. value abo.it iVI. The t_. ,iiiy ucinand has whipped up the mark., coastal shipment. Though Au 1.1.1. il is pro a./iy mc weaKesi tiiarket iii iuc ijouiin.oii ju*t at the present time, 11.11 c are inuications t.iat -Northern r-.i>c~s are being worked out again. Obviosibij Auckland meichants hope to indjv'.- i uDs.gii.iient Lusiiiesa, desiring to Bide-s.i.v> u.e necessity for making contract.;, iir sij p..L'o o.i chipucaid the best j.nce AucK.and appears to have paid is £S 10/ a ton 1.0.b., &.L, for pro.npt. bjt in (.'inistisiuren parce.s have hands ai £S id/ a ton for proiupi, and £0 a ton for October. The ijouti.e.u markets are fairly bare ol potatoes. Lmneaiu is purchasing from South Laht.'ruuiy, Wuere protest t..ey will have no surplus for slnjjmem. Lame.-uury growers are be.ug oncred £7 a ten at country stai..-, .-.. iiie aca.on is witn a flourish. i» no demand for fowl wheat, which is ijJiAed at i, i a utulicl, f.0.b., e.i. Cow jjrass has (jjietened. although good lines sue wort.i iroin 1-0/ to I'io/. Peic.ii.ai is nrm up to a point, iJi.ugiiijs nands at o/'J for 27-28lb seed. >ouLiit'in reporia are ti»at a good quantity Una been sonl. Ti»e Nortii Island nas been n.bbhng away at the cocksiuoc ntai'Ket, uJid stocks of peninsula been now held are probably not large, standard seed has been sjld at 10d a \.j 1.0..J.. but any lurther demand might auvuiicv prices oy }d a 10. Europe is still olic.iriji white clover, cheaplydressed seed i-c-iiig 1/3 to 1/4 a lb, c.i.f. The iiniuiifd sueu is of good quality.