GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 233, 2 October 1928, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

ADVANCE IN POTATOES.

ONIONS STILL DEAR

The feature of the past week in grain and produce lines has been the sensational advance in the price of potatoes. As indicated in last report local merchants had obviously been caught napping anil it was stated they would have to pay what Southern growers asked. The position has become intensified in the interim and it has been disclosed that the bulk of the available supplies are under the control of one firm, which held approximately 10,000 sacks in Auckland and large quantities in the South. A week ago the current wholesale price was 10/ per cwt, ex store, to-day it ranges from 13/6 to 14/6, with no one in a position to quote quantities. It i 8 understood that the holding firm already mentioned has already quitted the bulk of the Auckland stocks, which should suffice for consumption for a couple of weeks. Lyttelton was quoting £12 10/ f.o.b. yesterday, which means £14 landed on the Auckland wharf. . Although prices have risen sharply there is still considerable uncertainty in the South as to the future and buyers there are refusing to operate, except to fulfil actual orders, as they fear a reaction. It must be remembered that the season for old potatoes is now rapidly drawing to a close and those who hold stocks have not a lengthy period in which to collect their profits. Any who hold too long will be left lamenting and it will not 'be the first time this has occurred. Statistically there does not seem any reason for a shortage. The area planted this season was estimated at 22,200 acres, against 24,616 the year before. Grog, reports generally were fairly satisfactory, so that the estimated yield of 118,500 tons, as against 116,771 the previous season, should have been reached. However, the call on Canterbury for supplies from this centre commenced very early this year and other I districts also appear to have made ud usually heavy demands on the Southern crop and this additional drain has apparently created a shortag-e. Onions. Onions are still both scarce and dear. A small shipment of Japanese has come by the UKmaroa now at the wharf and this will partly relieve the position. Maize. There is no alteration in the maize market. Supplies coming to hand from the Bay of Plenty are ample for requirements, but offerings are not so extensive as they were. Wheat. The fowl wheat market continues firm and local,, merchants have had to raise their prices. Although for a substantial order, 7/6 a bushel would still be accepted, 7/6 is nearer the average wholesale price to-day. Oats and Chaff. Xo change is recorded in the oats market, business being dull at late rates. Chaff has firmed up somewhat and is now worth up to £9 10/ for really prime quality. Bran and Pollard. These lines are in plentiful supply, the local mills being able to meet present requirements. Wholesale Current Prices. Sharps and Bran.—Mill prices: Sharps, £9 10/ per ton; bran, £8 per ton. Merchants' quotations, ex storer Pollard, £10 5/; bran, £8 10/; oats, feed, B Gar tons, 4/7, A Gartons, 4/11 per bushel; clipped Dunns, 5/9; clipped Gartons, 5/6; seed Algerians, 6/; fowl wheat, 7/6 to 7/8 per bushel; maize, new season. 6/6, ex store; Gisborne, 6/8; barley, feed, 5/9 per bushel; Cape barley, seed, 6/6 per bushel; maize meal, 14/ per 100lb; barley meal, 13/ per 1001b. Chaff. —G.b.0.5., £9 5/ to £9 10/ per ton, Blenheim or Canterbury. Potatoes.—Canterbury, £13 10/ to £14 10/ per ton. Seed Lines.—Arran Chief, Northern Star and Gamekeeper, 7/6 per cwt; Early Puritan and Dates, 9/. Onions. —Californian, ex wharf, 30/ per cwt bag; Canadian, 30/ per crate.