MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1930, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

STEADY WHOLESALE TRADING ISLAND STEAMER ARRIVED. NEW BOOKINGS COMMENCE. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, March 18. During last week general trading conditions have been rather quiet—this applies paticularly to wholesale distributing warehouses who do not expect any change until about the middle of this week, when orders for next month should commence to come in. The Island steamer arrived yesterday and brought the usual requirements from Island traders, which will be attended from this week. By this vessel also local merchants received further consignments of pineapples, which have proved welcome on account of some packings ex the first shipment being already in short supply. Genera". Wholesale grocery business will commence their iivst deliveries for Aprii account by rail on Friday next, lown requirements will -be attended to on the following Tuesday, the 25th instant. Increased supplies of sugar are now available and.it is apparent that the company are making every effort to overtake their back orders, and another week or 10 days should see deliveries almost normal again. JSeiv season's prices for Mildura fruit, sultanas and currants, were cabled during the weekend, and in comparison with previous quotations show a slight reduction. The hrst deliveries of the new fi'uit will commence about May next. In the meantime any arranged prices for quantities of okl season's are now held in abeyance, merchants now offering on a flat rate at a reduction. During the week further supplies of Manchurian walnut halves and pieces have come to hand, and as quality is superior to previous offerings good distribution may be expected. Following the advances made on some lines of breakfast foods last week, another quick cook porridge meal, manufactured by a Southern mill, has been increased 2/ per dozen. Local jam manufacturers, in their new lists just issued, have introduced quite a number of new lines. They are now packing loganberry, pineapple, pineapple and apricot. They are also offering honey in 12oz cartons and lib jars at competitive rates. Custard powder shows a slight reduction. The bonus scheme on a well-known line of English poultry spice commences on the 7tn oi next month for a period of nineteen days. During this time one packet will be given free with every dozen ordered. A renewal -of the bonus offer of one bottle free v, ith every dozen ordered on a popular line ot liquid flv exterminator is again offered, and remains" open for a period of four weeks. The local manufacturers of preserved ginger have reduced wholesale quotations per lb. This alteration should, appeal to storekeepers, particularly as the preserving and jam making season will shortly be in full swing,' with a consequent increase in demand. This alteration in price is not due to any market fluctuation, m fact overseas quotations for the raw product are approximately £25 per ton dearer, but is solely due to advantageous purchases made earlier in the season, supplies of which are only just arriving.' Under the circumstances it is practically. a certainty that as soon l as the shipment now arriving is distributed wholesale quotations will revert to their, previous price, lhe new crop in China will not be harvested until August next, which is too far eft to affect the present position. Owing to the increased landing cost of Zig cigarette papers, merchants' selling prices on both singles and doubles have been increased by 3d per box. Advices received from one of the largest mills supplying split peas and pearl barley .to this market, indicate that they anticipate no alteration in the new season's price for pearl barley, but that it is most probable that prices of epliu.peas will show a slight reduction on last year s quotations. . Australian millers report that there is no change in the rice position as far as Australian deliveries are concerned. Prices for new season s Burmah rice for shipment March-April, are considered attractive, this market being now lower than it has been for years past. Advance notices received from Australian manufacturers in regard to a new type or preserving jar for next season should have a particular appeal to householders, liiis iar has a slot bottom which makes tne jar an easy seal. It will fit on any thin batten, which can be easily attached to a board, which makes the base of the jar an absolute fixture, enabling the householder to use both hands for either screwing or ■unscrewing the lids. Advance samples will shortly be distributed, and the local glassworks are arranging to manufacture here.

Ceylon Tea. At the last sale held at Colombo on the 11th instant, 2,250,0001b of tea was placed under offer. Quality showed a good selection, up-country grades an particular, showing a slight improvement. The result o£ the . sale showed a good demand tor commons, medium 'brokens, strong and generally dearer, good and finer sorts irregular -and easier, with prices closely following quality. Alterations prices in the previous week's quotations snowed advance of %d per lb on both commons and Price broken Orange R« koes ; J la ° 8.0.P/s remained firm, while first classic broken Pekoes and fine broken Orange Pekoes declined %d per lb. Exchange was quoted at 1/6 5-32 Mail advices just to hand, dated February 6, state that quantity brought to auction during^_t he month fell rather short of anticipation, 13,250,0001b being offered as compared with 15,000,000 in January last year, lhe average price for the month worked out at 74 cents, aii'advance-of nearly 12 cents per pound on the December average. The feature of the month was the very strong market at the opening sale of the year for medium and low grown tea, the broken Pekoe grades in particular frequently showing advances of 10 cents per lb. a a-ood deal of this demand was due to a strong inquiry for the Egyptian market for quick shipment, which has. since subsided and prices have declined correspondingly. Quality generally has shown a decided improvement, which buyere have been keen to appreciate, paying full prices for all teas that were at all stand out. i There was a good inquiry for gobd liquoring dusts and fanning?; at generally firm rates, but other sorts declined. Climatic conditions for January have been abnormal, temperatures throughout the .planting districts being above the average. The second half of the month was more or less rainless, and this in itself should result in a further improvement in quality, but so far as it is possible to judge this 18 not likely to be a "vintage" season, so far as really fine quality tea is concerned. Shipments to the United Kingdom for January show a welcome decrease of 2,000,0001b as compared with January last year, due to the smaller crop, returns for the previous month. Last month was rather favourable to crop, and shipments above the average may be expected for February. The total crop harvested amounted to some 15,500,0001b in excess of 1928, the whole of it and another 1,000 001b in addition going to the United Kingdom. Shipments to South Africa show a spiking increase, whilst those to Iraq a disappointing decrease. With regard to restriction, no programme has yet been .decided" upon to all interests, but, a decision r„ C SL se»?io "iB expected -to arr "J at shortly. As regards market prospects,, a market over the EL L& a nr «o may be expected for all teas' but common sorts, jn good qual -y . statistical position to Sow a tato' decline Sl price.

Considerable interest has been displayed in quotations for old season's Brazil nuts, for prompt shipment, on account of the re-cent advances made in •prices of the new season's offerings. However, latest cables indicate an extreme shortage of stocks, and in the meantime any prices for reliable old season's nuts have been withdrawn. Sicily Almonds. Sicily almonds were quoted last week at prices that showed a reduction of £3 per ton lower than the level reached last year. In fact prices to date show a price level which compares more than favourably with any quotations made over a period of four years. Yesterday a further cable was received advising another slight decline and that there were indications •for a good crop. Present rates on this line are certainly attractive to buyers. Cream of Tartar. Cables received by local agents during the week point to a generally firm market on most brands of 99 per cent cream of tartar, for both immediate and forward shipment. One exception, by a prominent shipper, is being made, who is offering at an attractive figure, due apparently to having a surplus stock to dispose o:. Cocoa Butter. This market is showing a weak tendency, and although no actual alteration has taken place during the last week or two, the trade in some quarters are expecting still lower rates. Pilchards. Agents advise receipt ol; cable advice offering new season's quotations for pilchards. These quotations are based on the same level as last year, and forward business, is already being offered to retailers. The first shipment from the canners •commences about July-August next. Sulphur. A slight firming is indicated in the market for commercial flowers of sulphur, latest quotations being increased 5/ per ton, this advance being caused by the higher rate of exchange on shipments coming forward to New Zealand.

American Resin. During. the past month quotations on American resin have been fluctuating slightly. Cables received about a week ago indicated a firm market, both G and N grades advancing 17/ per ton. At this advance the market remained steady until a few days ago, when a further cable was received advising a reduction of 2/6 per ton on G only. Turpentine, which generally moves with this market, recorded a slight reduction for March and April shipment, with lower prices of approximately Id per gallon for forward shipment to August next. Casks, which usually show a differential of Id per gallon, are now quoted at 2%d a gallon reduction for forward booking. ' Wholesale Current Prices. Butter. —First grade factory, booked, 1/4% per lb, and 1/4 for prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked, 1/2% per lb, and 1/2 for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, lid per lb.

: Cheese.—First grade factory, medium size, mild, B%d to 9d per lb net; loaf, 11% per lb net. Chesdale, 61b bars, 1/3 per lb; 7oz packets, 9/9 dozen. Bacon. —Hams, 1/ to 1/1 per lb; rolled hams, 1/4 per lb; cooked wnole ham, 1/5 tier lb; cooked pressed hams, 1/10; bacon sides, lid to 1/1 per lb; rolled sides, 1/1% to 1/3 per lb; middles, 1/2 to 1/4 per lb; shoulders, 9d to lOd per lb; rolled shoulders, lid to 1/ per lb. Lard, bulk, 8d to 9d per lb; pats, 9d to lOd per lb. Flour.—Local, 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/. per ton; 50'e, £I'J 5/ per ton; 25's, £20 per ton; 12%'5,, £20 17/6 per ton; 6 3 / is, £21 17/6 per ton. Southern: 2001b sacks, £18 per ton; 100's, £18 15/ per ton; 50's, £19 per ton; 25' a, £19 10/ per ton; 12%'s, £20 5/ per ton; 6%'s, £20 17/6 per ton, all lese 2'/a per cent discount. Linseed.—Whole, 30/ per cwt; ground, 31/ per 1001b. Malt.—Crushed, 10/3 per bushel; whole white 9/9 per bushel; whole black, 13/ 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. —17/ per 1001b. Bluestone.—3s/ to 37/6 per cwt.