MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 244, 15 October 1929, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

TRADE KEEPING UP WELL

PEPPER REMAINS FIRM.

; '■ GINGER PRICES LOWER. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, October 15. •Wholesale- grocery merchants report that trade during the week has averaged out quite well for this time of the month. Business is coming in fairly freely, notwithstanding a certain amount of pessimism that has been evinced in various quarters. There is not the slightest doubt that with the close proximity of Christmas, and retail stores already commencing to land indents of goods bought for this particular trade, both' wholesale and retail should experience good business for the next three months. General. The Australian currant and sultana market still rules at very firm rates, with shippers from main ports being unable to accept any business at present ruling quotations beyond October shipment. Wholesale merchants, however, in order to cater for the requirements. of the retail trade over the Christmas period, have extended' their selling terms at present prices from •the end of October until the end of December, which should be appreciated by the retail, as it will obviate the necessity of laying in heavy stocks during October for December trade. There has been more* of an inquiry lately for bulk cornflour, this no doubt being occasioned by the warmer weather that has been experienced during the past two or three •weeks. Owing to the extensive demand that is now being experienced for honey, local stocks are becoming short and many beekeepers are afraid that their supplies will not last until the new stocks are ready in February next. Therefore, many of the recent low quotations for bulk honey that have been listed during the past few weeks are now being withdrawn, the demand'now being for blended honey, which is offered repacked in lib cartons and 21b tins for retail sale. A recent English arrival is a popular brand of jam which has lately come to hand at slight reductions on previous costs, which is being passed on to the retail trade. There has also been a further range of South African jam to hand in the same popular varieties that have, previously been brought forward to this market. A forerunner of some of the many. Christmas lines coming to hand has been the arrival' of English mince meat in lib jars, lemon Cheese in lib jars, Christmas crackers in large variey, cigars and Xmas puddings. A further sharp advance has just taken place in price of packet seeded and seedless raisins, ex local offerings, owing to replacement value of new seasons being at a high premium. Walnut halves are now practically unprocurable on the local market at present with further supplies gome distance away.. Further supplies of English soup powders, custard powder, Sorento walnuts, meat extracts, infants foods, and Norwegian sardines in popular brands have just come to hand. The mail steamer last week brought further small supphes of pilchards, which are now berng distributed. A new arrival of shrimps in jars is also to hand. This line as most, attractively packed and should sell well with those who feature quality goods. The canary seed market has shown a decidedly firm tendency, and all evidence points to a higher price ruling for a considerable time. Latest advices regarding the Turkish position is that this crop has fallen short of indications, and is not estimated to yield, sufficient to satisfy requirements until the next crop of Argentine becomes available next year. Pimento is rather scarce and prices for the new crop for shipment from .Weflt Indies are very high.

Dates. • The direct steamer sails early in October so that indenters are now placing final "business for delivery before Christmas. The'market appears exceptionally strong, as offers recently made for shipment from London at the usual increases to cover 6torage, interest and other charges, have not been accepted, and some packers are now asking an advance of £1 10/ per ton over and above the usual'.extras. A feature of the trade this year has been the increase in demand for Sairs, mainly, it is presumed, on account of the lower price and excellent quality. Loose pack Sair dates have also come in. for a good deal more attention this season. Castor OH. 'Australian thirds castor oil in recent lists shows an advance of l%d per gallon . on drums, while cases remain firm at the .previous rates quoted. Peanuts. Quotations on Chinese peanuts received during the, last week have shown an easier tendency, new season's selected in shell being reduced 6d per'cwt, and special choice 3d per cwt. Shipment is from Chafoo and is for transhipment via Sydney. Seagrass. Advices received.last week notify.reduc-tions-of fid per piculon twisted seagrass No. 3 quality. „ Prior to this advice, the market had remained unusually steady. Lentils. A further slight reduction on lentils was advised in agents' cables received last week from Calcutta. /The total reduction now advised in quotations during the past fortnight amounts to '2/ per cwt. Ceylon Tea.

At the usual. weekly sale held in Colombo on the Bth inst v 2,000,0001b was placed under offer. Quality of the Uva grades showed, a slight falling off, but other kinds proved quite useful. The result of the sale showed a good demand with commons ruling firm. Price broken Orange Pekoes advanced %d per lb. Plain 8.0.P.'s remained firm. First- classic broken Pekoes and . fine broken Pekoes showed a decline of %d per lb. Exchange was quoted at 1/6 5-16.. The monthly mail, report, dated September 7, is as follows: Four auctions were held during the month when a little over 8,250,0001b passed under the hammer. The sale ■ average for the month was 83% cents, as compared with 77% cents for July. Shipments to Great Britain totalled 10,500,0001b, as compared with 11,250,0001b for the corresponding period last year. Exports for the year continue to keep ahead, and are a little over 11,000,0001b in excess of last year. Again •Che feature during the month has been the very strong demand for all useful liquoring teas, with colour and body, and teas with quality. Prices obtained Jhave been very satisfactory. Quality, has been good, especially teas from the Nuwera, Eliya and Uva districts, but it. declined noticeably during the latter part of-the month, and in consequence high grown teas have recorded a slight drop in . price. t . The distribution of Ceylon tea *rom_ January 1 to August 14 to Great ~mtain,..amounted to 11,193,9391b. To ? :^&% 4061b > *° N « w Zealand 'S U'^ 1 ? 11 k ea ex P° rts fr °m April 1 to'teuoil ? reat Britain amounted land for the same period -T jLv I 1,791,2641b. ■ v ■ .-• penoa a decline of '"'"■'■ Hemp/ ' j ■ • All quotations; received bv cabin •"i'i*«i in .-regard to Manila hemp fi Jw ly a wgakhess,: and priSarf^n ll considered to be dowh'to very reasonX levels.. Against this • Mexican S Si sisal aa, being quoted at very steady rates.

Salmon. The salmon situation is still very acute, particularly for British Columbia grades. One large packer has now withdrawn the whole of his offerings of all grades; other reliable packers are still offering a few grades, but agents are expecting cabled instructions to withdraw quotations at any time. In view of the present situation in new season's salmon offerings, merchants' indent quotations are particularly favourable to buyers and they would, therefore, be well advised to cover at present rates as all indications point to further sharp rises on this market. American Resin. Cables received by local agents last week advised American resin as showing a firming tendency, quotations for both "G" and "W grades having advanced 5/ per ton. Turpentine. The market for Pinetree turpentine continues to advance, late cables received advising an advance of a further Id per gallon for prompt shipment. Pepper. After last week's activity in the pepper' market, when prices were subject to some weakness and agents were submitting counter offers in an endeavour to get finalisation of some of the business offering, the market-took an upward turn and prices seem more inclined to _ remain steady, the latest quotations received last week being nearly VA& per lb above the lowest rates ruling last week. Nutmegs and Mace. After a period of rather low prices the market for both whole nutmegs, 110/ and whole mace is on the upward grade again, prices for both commodities having advanced %d per lb. Pineapples. Quotations received on Singapore pineapples last week show that there are fluctuations in the market. Some sizes have advanced, but the majority of the various sizes and packs show a decline of over %d per dozen cheaper. Pineapples have been selling fairly well of late, but good stocks are held which has prevented so much interest, as was expected, in the lower market. Some buyers, however, have brought their stocks down to a .point where further purchases are ■necessary, and these have already covered for next steamer. Barcelona Nuts. Latest London quotations received for filbert' Barcelona nuts advise an unusually fiim market just at present, prices having advanced £3 per ton. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter..—First grade factory, booked, 1/7% per lb, and 1/7 for prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked, 1/5% per lb and 1/5 per lb for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, 1/2 per lb. Cheese. —First grade factory, medium size, mild, D%d to llMti per lb net; loaf, 11%' d per lb net. Chesdale, 61b bars, 1/3 per pound; 7oz packets, 9/6 per dozen. Bacon.—Hams, 1/1 per lb; rolled .hams, 1/3 per lb; boned hams, 1/4 pei. 'b. Bacon: Sides, 1/ to 1/1 lb; rolled sides, 1/2 lb; middles, 1/3 per lb; shoulders, 9d per lb. Lard, bulk, 9d per lb; pats, lOd per lb. Flpur— Local, 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per ton; 50'e, £19 5/ per ton; 25's, £20 per tonf 12%'s, £20 17/6 per ton; VA's, £21 17/6 per ton. Southern: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per/ ton; 50's, £19 per ton; 25'e, £19 10/ per ton; 12%'s, £20 5/ per ton; ett's, £20 17/6 per ton, all less 2% per cent discount. Linseed.—Whole, 22/ per cwt; ground, 23/ per 1001b. Malt.—Crushed, 12/ per bushel; whole white, 12/ per bushel; whole black, 14/9 per bushel. Twines.—Seaming, 3/9 per lb; binder, 8d per lb. . Peameal.—l2/ per 1001b. Linseed Oil Cake Nuts.—ls/ per 1001b. Linseed. Meal.—l 7/ per lOOlh. Bluestone.—3B/ per cwt. Supplies very short. . . ~ •