FINANCE, COMMERCE AND MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 293, 11 December 1925, Page 4

FINANCE, COMMERCE AND MARKETS.

LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

INCREASED REVENUE.

CHERRIES EROM SYDNEY.

APRICOTS FROM THAMES.

POTATOES A GLUT.

Strawberries are now coining forward in larger quantities, but prices are holding up quite well. Sales are being made at 10id to 1/2 per chip, and from 1/5 to 1/9 for Captain Cook variety. Local apples are now in small compass.' Dohertys bring 4/ to 7/0 per case, and Stunners 5/ to .107. A large shipment of Canadian apples came forward by the Aorangi, and these have realised from 16/ to 21/ C. P. Barri pears sell from 0/ to 10/ per case. The last Sydney boat brought 1000 cases of cherries, and these sold readily at prices ranging from 5/ to 14/ per case, whilst New Zealand grown imported from Greytown brought from 0/ to 8/. Apricots from the Thames promise to provide a fine crop this season. To-day's quotations are from 6/ to 10/ per case. Other auction prices have been: Gooseberries, 0/0 to 8/6 per case; hothouse tomatoes, Cd to 1/2 per lb; outdoor, 3d to CAd; Sydney oranges, 12/ to 20/; hothouse grapes, 3/ per lb; repacked bananas, 20/ to 28/: lemons, 6/ to 15/. Vegetables. The local auction markets are glutted with new potatoes, which have been selling from 6/ to 11/ per cwt. Additional Canadian onions arrived hy the Aorangi. These had to face the gradually increasing competition of locally grown, and prices have eased to 15/ and 10/ per crate. Locals are bringing from l:}d to lid per lb. Green peas are . in heavy supply, and bring from 2d to 3d per lb. Other sales have been: Broad beans, 2*d per lb; French beans, 7d to 9d; cabbages, 4/ to 10/ per sack; cauliflowers, 4/ to 12/; asparagus, 8d to 1/ per bundle; marrows, 2d to 8d each; cucumbers (outdoor), 3/ to 10/ per dozen; rhubarb, 2/0 to 3/6 per dozen bundles; lettuce, 1/ to 5/ .per . crate; carrots, beet, parsnips and turnips, 8d to 1/6 per dozen lots. Fish. There have been fair supplies of fresh fish during the week. Mullet and kingfish have been more plentiful, but John Dory is still scarce. Retail prices are: Fresh fillets schnapper and tre'valli 3d to 4d each; John Dory, 1/ per lb;, kingfish, 10d per lb; kippered fillets, 1/ per lb; roe, 1/6 per lb; gurnet, cream fish and mussels, 2/ per dozen; mussels, 1/0 per bottle; fresh schnapper, terekihi and trevalli, Od to'Sd eaqh,;'mullet,. 9d - to'l/6; flounder, hapuka! and' kingfish, 1/ per lb; smoked schnapper, 10d per lb; roe, 2/ per lb; mullet, 9d: trevalli, 8d; terekihi, 8d; kippered fillets, 1/ per lb; silver strip, 9d per lb; crayfish, 10d to 1/ per lb. Eggs. At the auction marts the price of remains as at last week's figures namely 1/11 for hen and 1/10 for duck eggs. In the South, eggs ruled about 1/9 per dozen- at auction this week. r The retail rate, in Auckland to-day for. eggs s was, hens 2/2 per dozen, ducks 2/. There is a fair'supply coming 'in;'but r frpm now on to; Christmas there is bounct 'to' be' a steadily increasing demand. Butter ana Cheese. A drop of one penny per pound took place on the Bth instant in the wholesale and retail price of factory butter. Superfine is now selling retail at 1/9 per j lb, first grade 1/8, and second grade .1/7 per lb. Farmers' make' is scarcer and still sells at 1/4 to 1/6 per lb retail. Cheese remains at 1/2 to 1/4 per lb retail, and for extra choice matured 'brands an extra 2d per lb is asked.

Bacon and Hams." *' - : '■■* " The Christmas demand has set in for hams. Whole hams are quoted retail at 1/3 to 1/4 per lb, and rashers 1/9 to 1/10. Bacon in cuts sells at IOJd to 1/6 per lb, and Tashers 1/5 to 1/7 per lb. Poultry. At to-day's auction sales there was a large supply, and a good demand for heavy birds. Prices were: Heavy young cockerels 0/ to 7/ each, lighter 2/6 to 4/6 roosters 2/ to 3/, heavy Lena 3/ 3 / q 'oi lgl i ter 2/ t0 2/9 > cockerel chicks 4d to Bd, ducks (old) 2/ to 2/6, youn« ducks 3/ to 5/0, turkey gobblers to 18/ iiens 7/3 to 12/3.

DAIRY CONTROL BOARD.

THE COMPULSORY CLAUSE.

PREMIER URGES CAUTION.

(By Telegraps.—press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday.

To urge the rescission of the compulsory clauses in the Dairy Export Control Act, and the substitution of the ward for the block system in\the election of the board, a large deputation from tie New Zealand Producers' Free Marketing League waited on the Hon. Messrs. Cqates and iJoswortliy this afternoon. -The Taranaki Chamber of. Commerce was, represented in support of the request; regarding the . method of election only. Both the Minister of Agriculture and the .Prime Minister spoke in reply, and they-gave an assurance , that a bill to amend the system of election would be put through ■ early in the coming session, after dairy farmers had been given an opportunity to express their views on the form .the alteration should take. ; . . On the question of compulsory marketing, it was pointed out'thafUas matters stood it would come into effect before an election under the new system could be~ .held. Regarding this Mr. Coates expressed the view that it was advisable in view of the value of the industry that the enforcement of compulsion sEduH"be" approached with the utmost caution He also expressed the view. thai with an tt£ ™ !* s y stem of election to the board I be XT ° f - CoDtrol of m arketing would feffi^- m «» h^d S of producers,

IbNDOM _J^ N AGER. y :? g. J - *• •■•; ■• omsm

EIGHT MONTHS' FIGURES

LOCAL LOAN SUCCESSFUL.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association \

NEW PLYMOUTH, this day.

"It is a pleasure for mc to state, that the public finances to the end of November show satisfactory results, though it is yet too early to indicate the probable position at March 31 next," said the Hon. W. Nosworthy last night. "For the eight months of the year ended November 30, eliminating railway figures (now in a separate account), the revenue was £12,052,810, compared with £11,064,491 for the same period in 1924. The increase is principally in Customs revenue. Expenditure * (again eliminating railways) for eight months amounted to £13,428,035, compared with £13,070,175 for the same period of 1924."

Mr. Nosworthy said a large proportion of the Dominion local loan had been received, and the State Advances office would now 'be in a position to deal satisfactorily ■with arrears. By March 31 next the office should be near normal.

DAIRY PRODUCE PRICES.

BOARD'S SHIPPING POLICY. DEFENDED BY CHAIRMAN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Reviewing the circumstances attending the marketing -of New Zealand dairy produce and the position, regarding butter prices, the chairman of the Dairy Control Board, Mr. Grounds, said that experience had invariably been that the markets had been good until the Christmas trade was finished. The board, therefore, had decided that all product in cold store at the end of November should be shipped as speedily as possible, so that it might arrive to a usually good market. Following thi3, a reservation of approximately onethird of the production during December, January and February was to be retained to provide for larger delivery when normally the New Zealand supply was small. This plan and the proportions decided upon was commended by many of the exporting interests associated with the trade. The strike then arose, and during this period produce was placed on board wherever possible to facilitate dispatch upon the termination of the strike, and to ease, if possible, a congestion at the cool stores. During this time it was known that first quality butter was scarce upon the British market, and prices rose to 236/ per cwt. An abnormal price invariably provoked a violent ..The immediate result of the suspension, arid subsequent congestion of shipping was that only a mere trifle of New Zealand dairy produce arrived in Britain in October. November arrivals were moderate, but below what would have been the case, and December will be approximately even with. November, and considerably smaller than they should have been, with the inevitable result that the prospective arrivals in January will be abnormal. These facts have precipitated the present position, and notwithstanding apparent results the Dairy ioard is convinced that the course taken by it was the only sound one..- -_- -■-.— ..-_-•

N.Z. CO-bfc DAiRY COMPANY.

NOVEMBER RETURNS.

An increase of 1.33 was shown in the quantity of butter manufactured by the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, Limited, for November last, the figures being: November, 1925, 3060 tons; November, 1024, 3019 tons. For October 611 tons of cheese were made, compared - with 627 tons for the corresponding period last year, a decrease of 2.5 for the current season. Up to November 30 a total of 9251 tons of butter was manufactured, compared with 9402 tons in the same period last year, a decrease of 1.12. ' The cheese manufactured for the current season up to October 31 was 1272 tons, compared with 1225 tons for the same period last year, an increase of 3.8. ,

The company has had a considerable accession to the number of its suppliers this year and many dairy farmers have increased ' their individual supply. An officer of .the company said the indications were that the present season would not be so bad after all, and that there was every reason for optimism. The conditions had not been as good as in previous years, but other factors promised to offer compensation, for any loss sustained through the inauspicious circumstances under which the season opened.

DAIRY RETURNS.

DECREASED PRODUCTION. CAUSED BY DEY WEATHER. The continuous dry weather for the past few weeks—there have Ibeen no really heavy rains—-is responsible for a slight liniinution in the butterfat production of the province. The decrease has been particularly marked during the past week.' A substantial downpour would be of treniendous value to dairy farmers just now.

The following are the returns, of butter and cheese received, and delivered at their stores by the Auckland farmers' Freezing Company for the fortnight ended December 9:— '. 1925. Butter. Cheese. Butter. Cheese. Received... 111,565 11,075 121,973 0,248 Delivered.!. 102,301 .12,468 -14,086 V 1/7 643,906 57,430 712,506 47,251 5 !/? 573,590 41,307 45,102 On hand 9th . ■ • - ■-■ •' ■ - December 116,631 17,717 177,222 12,065

FROZEN MEAT COMPANIES.

PROPOSED MERGER DISCUSSED.

Advices, from the North Island (says the "Lyttelton Times") state that at •several meetings held at different centres the question of a merger of all companies engaged iri , the frozen, meat trade lias again been discussed. jThe idea of thope interested in' the matter,' it is said, is l to.secure their aims through "the instrumentality; Board. •They contend that,, if.i the Heat -Board were to make strongly favouring a merger'it:might, be-pos-sible to obtain 'the necessary legislative i action. !■■■ /"'■-■■"'•'

The project was not viewed favourably "by South Island companies when Taieed a year or two ago, and there have °«en no expressed, indications of any l chan ge attitude. - - : - - V