MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 215, 11 September 1928, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

BRIGHT COUNTRY PROSPECTS FRUIT AND NUT MARKETS ADVANCE. 1/ PINKS AND CHUMS SALMON WITHDRAWN. "Auckland Star" Office, September 11. Wholesale grocery trade has been fairly bright during the past week, the loading of the Island steamer resulting in slightly more business for the various Island ports than usual, as on the return of the Tofua from her present trip she is going into dock for repairs and overhaul, and a •unaller boat is taking up the running for the next trip. On this trip only the main Island ports will be touched at, so the mail requirements by the return trip last week were unusually heavy in consequence. Country orders show a steady increase, and with the dairy season now opened and in full swing the future prospects of country trade are particularly bright. General. During the last week there has been rather a shortage on Rinoldi macaroni and vermacelli, which will not 'be relieved until the vessel which left Melbourne at the end of last month arrives. Merchants expect that it will be at least ten days before this supply will come to hand. There is a temporary spot shortage on Epsom salts, which will be further accentuated if the next shipment due to arrive by the Port Napier proves to have been damaged in transit. It wiH be remembered that this steamer had rather a serious fire on the way out from England, and a general average of 30 per cent has been declared on her cargo. A handy line for the trade is the distribution of walnut halves, packed in %lb cartons at a price which enables the retailer to sell profitably at 1/6 per carton. The fact that supplies of this line are New Zealand grown should also commend itself to tne trade. A new health tablet has been placed on the market during the last few days, and as it is backed by powerful advertising and a free redemption gift scheme, and as the package is well got up and also an article of merit, good sales are anticipated. Bonus offers are still being made by different sections of the trade in order to stimulate turnover, one of the latest- being an offer by the agents of a well-known brand of toilet soap of one dozen tablets free with every gross bought during the next two months. During the same period a line of shaving cream is being sold thirteen to the dozen. One of the already popular lines of health biscuits is being made more attractive to the purchaser by a comprehensive scheme that offers special inducements to the children of either sex to save coupons for the prizes which are quite easy to obtain. The recent concessions in freight, owing to the freight war in Eastern Canda, has enabled merchants to take good advantage of the opportunity of the next sailing at the end of the month, and special reduced quotations on canned peas, pork.. and beans, salt, etc. etc., for delivery during the next two months are now being made. Frnlts.

Bine* the last report almost every market of any importance in the fruit and huttmaineM ha* shown a marked advance. Starting of! -with prune*, the market moved op 6/ per ewt in the larger sues, and 3/ par ewt in the smaller grade*. This i* stated to be on account of the subt ' stantial European demand, which has been further assisted by a shortage in the American crop of approximately 16 per cent less than last year, and from the latest reports to hand a severe shortage in the French crop also. This last advance has been further accentuated by the fact that shrinkage has been much greater this year in the drying out than has been the case for some time past. The extraordinary position applying in the earlier part of the season in America, viz., a depressed market on prunes and raisins ana then an exceptional advance on prunes and a firmness on raisins has applied also on English fruits and nuts. The fig market, which had ahown sign* of weakness, is now quite firm, and Greek currants, which some time ago advanced ttd and then receded to their previous level, have now again advanced a Hd per lb, with the market firm at the latter quotation. Spites. Cloves registered a sodden advance in the market of 3d per lb during the week, with shippers advising that supplies of the ' usual variety were rather difficult to obtain. Nets. Sieily almonds, which in the last report were registered at an advance, have now jumped another £15 per ton, and ground ahnonds show an advance in the market of £90 par ton on previous quotations. Jordans are «iso listed at an advance of £10 per ton, and the higher prices recently named on Brazils are still maintained,, with an advancing market. In addition to the heavy advances on nuts and fruit*, the nut kernel market shows considerable strength, particularly on Brazil kernels, and as this class of business largely affect* the confectionery trade they will now have to pay on ,the latest advance a further Id per lb increase. Cables received from London advise an unusually stiff advance in the market for Madagascar Lima beans, the latest alteration being an increase in indent quotations of 9/ per ewt for prompt shipment. gsjinsn. The local shortage in Sockeye grade of salmon has been considerably relieved by the arrival of further supplies by the Aorangi on Sunday last. This grade was withdrawn by packets some time ago and the shipments now coming forward were booked by merchant* before packer* withdrew their price*. Further cables received from packers now indicate the same position on some of the poorer grades, both r.;it,-« and chums, in lib tins, being withdrawn. Crtam of Tartar. One of the larger English manufacturer* of W per cent cream of tartar has ju*t advised the trade of a reduction in their quotations of 10/ per ewt. Kapok. The Java market for kapok ha* shown a weaker tendency of late, but mainly on account of offerings being made on old crop parcel*. Late cables received from Samarang now show that the market did not reach the lower levels previously indicated, and all quotations are now showing a firming tendency. An advance Of *d per lb wa* advised by cable on all new crop offering* for shipment from the beginning of October, and also for later deliveries. Shipper* advise that considerably more interest i« being taken, and that Holland and other countries are operating. Citrie Acid. English maker* (Kemball Bishop) of citric acid crystal* now advise by cable the withdrawal of prices owing to the j shortage of raw material. Walnst Halves. Late advices received last week showed « «»™-»y Arm market"on French™.?♦s!£? « fc .* hnvy . '■**•■«» on the quotations of the previous week. Halves show *.28 7/8 per ton for November shipment Canned Fran. ' v*?W i£ erin * •■ £"«!?«•»>'• canned 52m7 £« P« a «*«*»-2tt'o tins show a i ' OeS£!A- the WK fM SeptemberI UcWber shipment of 9d per dozen.

Ceylon Tea. At the gale held in Colombo on the 4th instant, 2,125,0001b was placed under offer, and while Uvas showed a falling off, other kinds were useful and held firm at last rates. The result of the sale showed that commons, Price broken Orange Pekoes, and plain 8.0.P.'s continued firm, first classic broken Pekoes advanced %d per lb, and finest 8.0.P.'e remained firm. Exchange was quoted at 1/6%. Jellies. One of the popular brands of locally manufactured jellies has just been reduced 1/3 per gross to the trade. Dates. The last quotations named on new season s dates remain unaltered. There was some talk of slightly lower rates, but quotations by the first direct steamer are not likely to be altered in any way, as all shippers are bound by agreement to maintain a level quotation which should go a long way towards establishing confidence in the retail trade, who contemplate buying for this shipment. The stock position on bulk is fairly good at present, but supplies of packet turban grade are rather in short compass, although further shipments are expected during the next three weeks. Chinese Walnuts. New crop quotations for Chinese (Manchurian) walnuts in shell have been named by shippers that show the tendency of the firming market. Prices haa previously shown some fluctuation, but the rates now quoted show an increase of £8 10/ per ton on the new season's opening rates of last year. Business has already been done for shipment, which is being made some time in October. Haricot Beans. Shippers of haricot beans from Rangoon advise a severe shortage in the supplies of this commodity, with the result that the market at present is ruling very strong and owing to the lack of supplies, prices have been withdrawn. Prior to this last advice the rates previously ruling had advanced to a quotation that was the highest named for years past.

Jute. Late cables received from Calcutta still advise the market for all jute goods as showing considerable strength, all quotations now being made showing slight advances on the previous rates of the November-December shipment.

Chillies. The indent market for chillies is unusually firm, the latest information being that supplies from Zanzibar are now unobtainable and consignments from Mombases are being listed at an advance of 15/ per ewt. This last alteration is apparently only the commencement of the finding market, as shippers advise that further increase* are extremely probable. Indian Lentils. The Calcutta market for Indian split lentils A grade, is decidedly firmer, the latest cables advising an increase in shippers' c.i.f. quotations for the Novem-ber-December shipment of £2 per ton. Java Peanut Kernels. Further supplies of Java peanut kernels arrived to this port by the Marama to-Jay, and as supplies have been very short, this shipment is eagerly awaited. The indent market remains very firm, with the advice that supplies in first hands are very scarce Hardware. Hardware houses advise that trade is fairly good, particularly from I'ie country —the demand for dairy requirements naturally accounting for a good share of this. Household requisites are also in demand as well as building materials, although the demand for the latter is rather quiet. Further shipments comprise many lines of Christmas goods, mechanical toys, electric irons are also arriving, earthenware, garden tools, thermos flasks, tennis racquet*, pots, irons, "rat-traps, etc. Wholesale Csrrsnt Prices. Butter.—First grade factory, booked, 1/<W» per lb, and 1/7 per lb for prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked. 1 '5% KJb, and 1/5 per lb for prompt cash, mere' separator, 1/2 per lb. Cheese.—First grade factory, medium size, mild, lid to llttd per lb. Loaf, 1/1 net per lb. Chesdale, 61b bars, 1/3 per ib; 7oz packet*, 0/6 per dozen. Crest, 470 per dozen. Bacon.—Hams: 1/1 per lb; rolled hams, 1/3 per lb; boned hams, 1/4 per lb. Bacon: Sides, lOttd to 1/ per lb; rolled Sides, 1/1 per lb, middles, 1/1 to 1/3 per lb; shoulders, 8d per lb; rolled shoulders, lOd per lb. Lard, bulk. 10d per lb; pats, lid per lb. Flour.—Local: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100'*, £18 15/ per ton; 50*. £19 5/ per ton; 25*, £20 per ton; 12Vs, £20 17/6 per ton; 6%'e, £21 17/6 per ton. Southern: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; loo's, £18 15/ per ton; 50's, £19 per ton; 25's, £19 10/ per ton; 12%'s, £20 5/ per ton; 6%'s, £20 17/6 per ton, all leas 2% per cent discount. Linseed.—Whole, 22/6 per ewt; ground, 83/6 per 1001b. Malt.—Crushed, 12/ per bushel; whole white, 12/ per bushel; whole black, 14/ per bushel. Twines.—Seaming, 3/0 per lb; binder. 8d per lb, Peameal.—l3/ per 1001b. Linseed Oil Cake Nuts.— 14/ per 1001b. Linseed Meal.—l 6/ per 1001b. Bluestone.—33/ per ewt.