LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1927, Page 4

LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

EGGS UP TO 2/8.

VEGETABLES CHEAP, BUT FRUIT VERY DEAR.

The cheapest vc-getubles available just now are swedes, of which plenty are offering at the auction marts, ami bring from 1/0 to 2.'0 per sugar bag. Eggs are not so plentiful, as hcr.s are rnoultincr. and prices have advanced to as high as 2/8 per dozen retail. .Speaking generally. vegetables are cheap, and fruit is dear. Passion Fruit Ready. More local passion fruit i≤ now coming on to the market, and is in good demand. Choice dessert apples aie still selling well, but rough lines and windfalls are hard to quit. Bon Chretien pears command a rc.idy sale, but at slightly reduced rates. Choice plums are still dear, a remark which also applies t'> peaches. Up to 16/ a case has been realised for Paragon. Tomato prices have advanced lately, but it is not expected that the increase will lie maintained. Quotations are: —

Apples Gravenstcin. choice 8/ to 10/ per case, small 4/ to ti : Scarlet Pearmain, 4' to 8;t): Mobbs Royal. 4 to 5/6: Willie Sharp, 3/ to 5/6; Cox's Orange, 6/ to 8/6; windfalls. 2/ to 2/0. Pears—Bon Chretien, choice 6/ to 8/0, small 4'' to 5/; Fertility. 4' to 5 ; Bergamot. 4/ to 5,'.

Tomatoes. 3;' to s'. Hothouse grapes — Hamburg 10d to 1/4 per lb; Colen 1/6 to •J/; White. 1/ to 1/4. Plums—Doris, choice 12/ to 16 . others 10/ to 12/ Satsuma, 6/ to 9/: Monarch, 7/ to 9/. Cape Kooseberries. 6d to 7d per lb. Lemons, 4/ to 10/ per case. Bananas, 22/ to 25'. American oranges. 30/ to 52/. Sydney, 20/ to 28/. Sydney watermelons 1/ to 2/6 each, extra large higher prices. Quinces, 6/ to 8/ per case. Local passions, 4/ to 10/. Peaches —Choice Paragon 14-' to 16', Lippiatfs Late Red 5'6 to S', Gold Queen 7/ to 0/. Rhubarb Plentiful. There are still plentiful supplies of rhubarb, and this popular vegetable realises under the hammer from 1/6 to 2/ per dozen bundles. New season's kumaras are becoming more plentiful, but still command a fair price. Potatoes and onions are in full supply at reasonable rates. Latest quotations arc —Potatoes. 3/ to 7/ per cut: onions. 5/6 to 6/ per cwt; cabbages. 1/ to 4/ per sack, 5/ to 9/ per sugar bag; beans, peas, 2/ to G/6; swedes, 1/0 to 2/9; lettuce, 2/ to 5/6 per case; encumoers. 4d to 1/ per dozen: pumpkins. 5/ to 7/ per cwt; pnmpkins off the bench. 3d to 1/4 each; celery, 1/ to 2/9 per bundle; vegetable marrows. 1/6 to 2/3 per dozen: rock melons. 3d to 1/6 each; watermelons, ]/ to 3/6 each: carrots, parsnips, beet, and turnips, 6d *jM 1/ per dozen lots. Not Much Hapuka. I Though most varieties of fresh fish have j been in good supply this week, shops have not been able to secure much hapuka. Crayfish also are scarce, and roe is going off. The influx of visitors this week has brought an excellent demand, and good business has been done. Retail prices are as follow: —Fresh fillets, schnapper, terakihi, and trevalli, 3d to 4d each; John Dory, 1/ per lb; kingh'sh, 10d per lb: kippered fillets, 1/ per lb; lemon fish, 8d per lb; gurnard, cream fish, and mussels, 2/1 per dozen, in bottles 1/6 fresh sehnap- j per and trevalli, 6cl to 8d each; mullet, 9d to 1/6; hapuka and kingfish, 8d per lb; flounder. 4d to 1/6; Canadian salmon, 2/ per lb; Sydney prawns, 2/6 per lb; smoked fish, schnapper 10d per lb, mullet 10d, trevalli 9d. kippers 9d per pair, silver strip 8d per lb; crayfish 10d to 1/ p*r lb; rabbits, 1/ each. Eggs Scarcer. There has been a falling off of supplies of eggs at the auction marts this week and demand is increasing. Present rates are:—Hens, 2/2 to 2/3%; ducks, 2/1 to 2/2. The retail prices for fresh eggs today was 2/6 to 2/8 per dozen. Butter and Cheese. At the auction marts this week dairy butter in lb pats has realised from 1/ to 1/1 per lb, with inferior at 9d. The supply has been moderate and the demand fair. Retail to-day, farmers' butter is quoted from 1/2 to 1/4 per lb. Superfine factory butter sells retail at 1/7 per lb cash across the counter; first grade. 1/6, and second grade 1/5 per lb. The London market for butter eased this week. Cheese sells at 1/2 to 1/4 per lb, and 1/6 for extra choice brands. Bacon and Hams.

Good demand exists for hams and bacon. Whole hams are offered retail at 1/3 to I' 4 per lb, and rashers cost 1/8 to 1/9 per lb. Bacon in cuts is quoted from 9%d to 1/5 per lb, and in rashers 1/3 to 1/4 per lb. Cockerels up to 7/.

At the auction marts to-day there -was a smaller supply of poultry and a keener demand. Selling rates were:--! ,, '"'" cockerels, heavy breeds 6/6 to 7/, light breeds 3/6 to 4/6; fat roosters, i, breeds 2/6 to 3/6, light breeds 1/ to 1/6; pullets. White Leghorns, 5/ to 6/; Black Orpingtons, 7/ to 8/6; fat hens, heavy breeds 3/ to 3/6, light 2/ to 2/6; young drakes, prime, 2/7 to 3/5; small, 2/ to 2/6; old ducks and drakes, 2/ to 3/; young ducks, 6/ to 6/6.

BUY N.Z. GOODS. • That the recently-formed Xew Zealand Preference League is not satisfied to form one of the many institutions which spring up from time to time with excellent ideals and little in the way of practical results is indicated by the record of progress already achieved. The League has only been in existence a few weeks, but already it has made considerable headway in its propaganda work. To a "Star" representative the organising superintendent. Mr. W. H. Honey, brieflyoutlined the methods to be followed in carrying out the objects of the association. In every possible way the idea is to I>j instilled into the mind of the public that they should buy New Zealand goods as the best means of providing profitable employment to the people of the Dominion. Politics are to be barred and no Government support is to be asked for through the tariff. In other words, the preference for New Zealand-made goods is to be advocated upon its own merits as a sound economic principle for a young country like i New Zealand to adopt. Yesterday at a meeting of the board of] directors, the president, Mr. T. H. j Macky in the chair, it was announced that | the Auckland City Council had granted the league the use of the Civic Square site for the purpose of holding a tent village exhibition of New Zealand manufactures on March 23, 24 and 25. The scheme has received the support of many manufacturers, and an extensive range of exhibits is assured. Addresses will lie given indicating the aims and objects of the league. There will be no charge for admission, the exhibition being designed to increase the membership of the league. Visitors will be asked to become associate members, paying only a shilling and intimating their intention of purchasing New Zealand-made goods when-

ever possible.