OATS MARKET WEAK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1926, Page 4

OATS MARKET WEAK.

LOCAL MAIZE SCARCE. AFRICAN FUMIGATED. Thf Southern market for potatoes, whtr-h had temporarily eased, has firmed up again as a result of rresh inquiries from Australia. There are ample supplies on hand locally rrorn the South Island, and potatoes i'rom Pukekohe in excellent condition are still available. An invercarg-ill report says: ?n far very rew or the main crop potatoes have been offered, but digging- is becoming more general, and the offering should become more plentiful in the course or a week or two. Values to farmers based on f.o.b. price would be about £5 10/ on trucks in the main potato-growing districts throughout Southland. Onions. There lias been no material alteration in the local market, and supplies are ample for present requirements. The position in the South is somewhat weaker, as the high prices have a tendency to check the demand. Maize. As reported last, week the long expected shipment or South Arrican maize ex the Tugela turned out to he badly infected with weevil, and merchants have since been taking the consignment into store, with a view to fumigation. This, of course, adds, materially to the landed cost, and it is being sold at 7/0 to 7/9 ex store. Meantime, coastal maize is almost unprocurable. The market is firm, as further South African supplies cannot be expected until about October, when that country's new season's grain should be available. To import earlier would be to receive this season's grain, with a probability or its being weevily infected. Oat*. ThP Southern market Is decidedly weaker, but Auckland merchants are giving little attention to quotations from the South Island, as Canadian oats are l'ullilling requirements. The Invercargill correspondent of the " Christchurch Press " says, undc* date May 6: —The market continues to weaken in condition, and, owing- to ihe Canadian oats landed and to land in the North Island, the demand at the present time is quiet. The oats being offered are or varying quality, and not nearly as good as was the case during- the past two seasons. There is a fair percentage of A grades and superior A's, and also a large number of samples below B grade. Prices to farmers run about 3/2 ror A grade and 2/11 ror B grade, with lower grade lines down to about 2/6 to 2/8. Good Duns are in rair demand, and heavy dark samples are worth up to 3/6 per bushel on trucks. Seed Oats.—There is a rairly good demand for seed lines. Australian rates for Algerians have gone back, and IT further reductions take place Southern quotations may be affected. Wheat. The Australian market remains firm. Further supplies are on the way from Adelaide to Auckland by the Kaituna. The " Sydney Morning Herald " of May 6 says:—The inactive position of tne market in the United Kingdom, and tne indeilnlte outlook in the industrial situation there, caused some degree of nervousness in the local grain trade yesterday. Shippers naturally hesitate to enter into fresh commitments until the outlook clears, and they are only fulfilling orders in hand. General limits for bagged wheat receded to the basis of 5/6* in the country and 6/i* ex trucks Sydney. Very little, however, was offering. The flour export trade was quiet, and quotations were nominally about £13 15/ r.o.b. Local business was inactive at £15. There was a good demand ror milling offals, bran at £7 10/ and pollard at £8 10/ per ton. London cables describe the market as being at a standstill. Chaff. So far as Marlborough supplies are concerned, the market continues exceptionally firm. Blenheim merchants are adopting a very independent attitude, stating that tbey can easily place all their supplies without looking at the Auckland market, and local merchants are turning their attention to Dunedin and Timaru, from which ports more favourable quotations are available. TLie price Auckland merchants have been paying does not appear to be on a parity with reports of prices ruling South of Canterbury. The consignment of Australian shut out of the .Kaituna will come by a later vessel. Bran and Pollard. There is at present a keen demand for both these lines, and Australian importations are necessary to supplement the output of New Zealand mills. Supplies (or the local market are aboard the Kaituna. Wholesale Current Price*. Flour.—£l9 15/ per ton. less 2* per cent discount for 2001b sacks or both."local and Southern. Sharp's and Bran.—Local sharps, £10 10/ per ton; bran, £9 10/ per ton; Australian bran, £10 15/; Australian pollard, £12; oat pollard, £8 10/.per ton. Grain.—New Zealand oats: Feed, B Gartons, 5/6 per bushel; Canadian, 5/6. New Zealand Algerian seed, 6/9; Australian, 7/3 per busbel. Wheat: 8/6. Maize: Local (nominal), 7/4 per bushel, ex wharf; South Arrican (treated), 7/6 to 7/9 ex store. Barley: Feed. 6/9 per bushel; Cape, seed, 8/2 per busbel. Maize meal: 15/6 per 1001b. Barley meal: 14/6 per 1001b. Chaff.—Blenheim, prime, fl2: f.a.q,, £11 10/ per ton, ex store; Australian compressed, £10 WO/, in bags £10 15/. Onions. —Local, £16 per ton. Potatoes.—Local, £7 to £7 10/, on trucks, PuKekone; Southern. £10. ex store. Peas.—Blue Prussian, No. 1, 12/6 per bushel; partridge, No. 1, 9/ per bushel; lower grades, 6d less. Fertilisers. During this last week, owing to unfavourable weather, the demand for fertilisers (has been quieter, but' with an improvement in the weather there should be a steady demand for topdressing- duringthis month. The local superphosphate manufacturers received a cargo of Nauru phopsate per s.s. Sierra Morena last week, and the next shipment is due at Auckland on tne 13th or 14th instant. As weather conditions are now satisfactory at Nauru and Ocean Islands, It is not expected there will be any shortage of supplies. Prices remain steady at the following cash rates: — £. s. d. Super, 44-46 per cent 5 12 6 Super, 36-38 per cent 5 2 6 Basic super 5 2 6 Nauru phosphate (finely ground) 5 2 6 Sulphate or potash 15 0 0 Kainit, 14 per cent 5 13 0 Potash Manure, 30 per cent .. 7 5 0 Ptftash Manure, 20 per cent .. 6 5 0 Nitrate or Soda 17 l o 0 Sulphate of Ammonia 19 0 0