GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

POTATOES FIRM UP. MAIZE PRICES LOWER. The chief feature of the grain and probite market since last report has been i definite firming in the price of potatoes, following upon advances iu the South. Of the Canterbury position the Lyttelton "Times" says:—■" Offerings from the country are by no means heavy, and most of the lines coming to hand are small. •July over-sellers are finding difficulty in getting sufficient supplies to fill their commitments, and this is a factor that has tended towards higher prices." Local merchants arc by no means as confident as they were that the Dominion yield will exceed requirements. It is now recognised that the demand from this centre is much greater than formerly, and this season it has been emphasised by the failure of last season's Pukekohe crop. Auckland commenccd to draw heavily from Canterbury a full month earlier than usual, and the results of this drain are being reflected in the lessened supplies now offering. In past years merchants have been in the habit of looking to Australia when prices showed signs of jumping, but what with ordinary duties, dumping duties, freight charges, and various legislative restrictions such business is now virtually prohibited. Within fairly elastic limits, therefore, the Auckland consumer will have to pay what the Southern grower decides to charge him. At present the wholesale rate ex store is £9 per ton.

Seed potatoes for main crop are now in fair demand, but a week of continuous dry weather is needed to encourage general planting. Up-to-date and Axran Chief are amongst the most favoured varieties, and seem to be preferred to Northern Spy and Gamekeeper. Onions. The only onions on the market at present are repicked Canterbury, which realise about 15/ to 16/ per cwt, ex store. The small lot of Japanese which arrived ten days ago all went into immediate consumption. The balance of June orders from Japan are expected next Tuesday by the Sydney boat, and a few Canadians will arrive early in August, Oats and Chaff. The market for oats is weak in sympathy with the Southern position, and B's are now down to 4/9 per bushel, with A's 3d dearer. A few undergrades came to this market a couple of months back, but even at 4d and 6d under the price for B's they are hard to quit. There is some demand for seed oats, but it would appear that the coming season's planting will be very small indeed. Chaff, on the other hand, is firm, as stocks on spot are light, but there is 110 change in quotations, which are steady at j £9 10/ per ton, o:-; store. This stability i in the chaff market is party due to the | fact that some merchants have their com- j mitments covered by forward contracts for extending through the whole season. Maize. Supplies of new season's maize arc coming forward freely, and prices have eased in consequence to 6/6 per bushel, ex store. The quality is excellent. Some samples that have come forward from Gisborne lately have been particularly attractive, being of the smaller type of grain noted in imports from South Africa and Java. However, Gisborne vendors are asking prices in excess of those at which local merchants can buy from the Bay of Plenty, and in the meantime are missing the business. Fowl Wheat. There is no alteration in fowl wheat prices, though the market is weak. 7/6 per bushel, ex store, is the ruling rate, and there are ampTe stocks on hand. Southern merchants who were sending up consignment lines to this centre have ceased these operations, as the returns were not satisfactory. Bran and Pollard. Thanks to a favourable winter, the demand for bran is not excessive, and local mills can supply requirements. Pollard, however, is still needed from outside, and shipments are coming forward both from Sydney and Melbourne. Wholesale Current Prices. Sharps and Bran. —Mill prices: Sharps, £9 10/ per ton; bran, £8 per ton. Aiei- I chants' quotations, ex store: Pollard, £10 10/; bran, £8 10/; oats, feed, B Gartons, 4/9; A Gartons, 5/ per bushel, clipped Dunns, 5/9; clipped Gartons, 5/6; seed Algerians, 6/; fowl wheat. 7/6 per bushel; maize, new season, 6/6, ex store; barley, feed, 5/9 per bushel; Cape barley, seed, 6/6 per bushel; maize meal, 14/6 per 1001b; barley meal, 13/ per 1001b. Chaff.—G.b.o.s., £9 10/ per ton. for Blenheim or Canterbury. Potatoes.—Canterbury, £9 per ton. Onions.—l.s/ to 16/ per cwt.