GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 12, 15 January 1929, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

FOWL WHEAT DEARER. GLUT OF POTATOES. HARVESTING IN THE SOUTH DELAYED BY RAINS.

The crop of potatoes has been a good one in the Auckland district and the local market is glutted, with the result that prices rule lower than usual for thie time of the year. Efforts are being made to enable New Zealand potatoes to be shipped to Sydney, where prices are high at present. One gentleman in the grain and produce trade, when asked his opinion upon the matter, said he did not think there was much chance of the embargo being lifted. When the crop ie small end prices are high the farmers in a country use their influence with Governments to prevent good prices being spoiled by importations from abroad. "Personally," he said, "I think the less Government interferes with trade the better it is for a country. When Australia hag a glut its growers want to ship the surplus to New Zealand, and our farmers object. Now that we have a surplus of. potatoes I expect the growers in Australia will take care that the market is kept closed to imports from this country. The fanner claims that when the crops were poor the higher prices are needed to even up things, but the consumer has to pay the piper/*

Good Crops In Canterbury. Wet harvesting; in the BoutK has delayed the ripening and catting of crops and it is reported that new season's chaff from Blenheim will not be ready before February. So far the grain crops in the South hare not suffered seriously from the heavy rains. Some farmers on good land in Canterbury talk about 60 to 60 bushels of wheat to the acre this year. Provided the weather keeps favourable a good return seems assured grain growers in the South this year. Potatoes. Aβ indicated above the local market is overloaded with potatoes, with the result that prices rule as low as £6 10/ wholesale at Pukekobe, which, when freight and cost of handling are added, means £8 to £8 10/ ex store Auckland. Growers may delay digging until the glut is worked off, but with a heavy crop to market prices are not likely to improve much in the near future. Onions. New season's locally-grown onions are coming forward in increased quantities. The yield has been a good one this season and the onions now coming to hand are of improved quality. Prices rule from 12/6 to 14/ per ewt ex store, but a reduction is expected as heavier supplies are sent in. Wheat. The market for fowl wheat in the South firmed 2d per bushel during the week. Stocks held locally were light, but a small shipment arrived yesterday by the Kurow. The store price in Auckland is now 7/9 per bushel. Cutting the new wheat has started in Canterbury. Some large lines of old milling wheat are offering in the South, but millers seem to be fully stocked just now and in a few weeks the new season's grain should be on the market. Oats. Very little business is being done in oats. In the South forward sales have been made of A grade Gartens at 3/7 per bushel, f.0.b., sacks in. These are for April-September delivery. Chaff. Aβ far as chaff is concerned business has been small lately. The season is later in the South,-and advice from Blenheim is to the effect that the new chaff will not be ready for market before February. Wet weather during harvesting in the South may have had a bad effect on chaff in some districts. Chaff is quoted at £9 10/ ex store Auckland.

Main. Owing to the hot weather maize is not meeting with much inquiry at the present time, as poultry men prefer to use less heating food. Flax. The market for flax ia fairly firm. No stocks are at present held in atorea ae supplies have been shipped ae they came to hand.