MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 129, 3 June 1930, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

CALIFORNIAN RAISINS; FIRMER.

CREAM OF TARTAR WEAKER. "Auckland Star"' Office, Tuesday, June 3. Wholesale distributing merchants maintained good business during the whole of last week in completing their 2oth orders against June account.. lobacco and cigarette business has been very heavy this time, the distribution at the new rates being responsible for a much greater increased turnover. In the majority of cases, storekeepers and tobacconists availed themselves of the maximum quantity discount rate. General.

Manufacturers of a popular line o! washing tablets have inaugurated a new scheme to further increase the sale of thit particular line, 'by the giving of a towe. for every six shilling or twelve sixpence ■cartons returned to the manufacturers. Further supplies of Australian dried fruit landed ■ yesterd&y and a considerable quantity is -being delivered at the maximum quantity rate, which shows a concession of j&d per re to buyers. Further supplies of 'both sage anct- tapioca, as well as haricot arrived, during the. past week, the first vessel which arrived a few "weeks ago being unable to carry all the Auckland consignment. A specially packed line of both carton and tinned desiccated coconut placed on the market some little time ago is attracting considerable interest, and is therefore increasing in sales distribution. Further consignments of French walnut halves ihave lately come to hand, and on being opened up proved of excellent sample, and should therefore sell very well. A popular line of Australian preserved ginger, which has been in short supply on this market for some .time, has just recently landed and should go into distribution right away. The manufacturers of an Australian line of pure extract of eucalyptus that -has 'been distributed on this market for many years have inaugurated a bonus scheme of 13 •bottles to "the dozen for every order placed with -merchants during the months of June and July. Extensive newspaper advertising is -being carried out during these months, which brings this popular line befo-re the public, i urther shipments of Maconpchie's herrings in sauce 'have just come to hand. Up till a few weeks ago this line was .in short supply, tut the recent shipment to hand should enable -merchants to meet all requirements for some time to come. Importations of Australian grown rice are on the increase. This, line, although, somewhat dearer than the usual Australian No. 1, is fast growing in popularity, owing ta its'longer grain and freedom from broken rice. Owing to the recent reductions in -prices -of .marrowfat peas, another of the local packers of cartons has reduced prices to the trade. A recent importation of Californian extra fancy long grain rice, packed in a very attractive design of lib carton, is selling rather well, Prices, although a little dearer than ordinary rice, owing to "the packing, are considered very reasonable. Agents for some of the popular lines of Australian canned fruits advise-'that the Australian Canned Fruit Control Board, Melbourne, have extended their s<pr-ead shipment terms to December 15 next, "which will -be much. appreciated by the trade. In view of the possibilities of' opening prices on "hew season's Californian canned fruit _ being _ on a higher rate than Australian, intending'buyers are advised not to t delay in hooking their requirements too long. The fact that the 1929 season of Californian was a poor one and that there will he no carry over when the inew season's .prices are announced, gives a very fair indication that opening prices will he high. Another factor is the exchange situation, which, on the present rate will considerably increase buyers cost. Local canners of tinned whitebait are now offering for IN"ovember-December delivery on the same basis as the previous season, but subject to paGk. It is rather difficult at this juncture to forecast what the season's canning is likely ito amount to, but from past- experience it is anticipated that the demand will exceed the supply." Intending .buyers are therefore advised to place their orders early. Canned -mussels, which are now- being packed at Coromandel, are now being offered for delivery spread from July, August, September to December. Prices remain the same

as last season, but as only limited quanti ties are ; foeing packed, merchants skouli place their orders early. British Columbia Salmon. Mail reports give the following estim&t of the " 1930 pack of British Columbi; salmon, neiv season's. In Sock eyes thestimated pack for 1930 is 335,000 cases which is calulated to barely take care o existing requirements. The United King dom is expected to absorb large quantitie as their market will be short before thi new season's arrive. In Cohoes, this pad runs almost uniformally each year, an< the 1930 pack is expected to be normal There is no carry over in first hands, an< as this 1 grade is now extremely popular oi all markets, a brisk demand is expect,ec this year. Pinks—a good , pack is ant: cipated. There, is no carry over ofigooc pinks, and although _ we anticipate ar average production in 1930, there-is nc reason to fear that supplies will exceed demands. Chums—Last year the pack oJ Chums was -very disappointing, and die not provide sufficient to meet the demand A normal pack for 1930 is anticipated, bui with free selling, such as has been general in years past, the available supply wall be readily taken care of. Ceylon Tea. On the 27th ultimo the usual weekly sale of Ceylon tea was held, 2,750,0001b being offered. Quality showed rather a better selection, low country being poor, mediums plain, ordinary up-cot: ntry plain but useful. Occasionally. quality showed a slight improvement. The result of the sale showed, a strong general demand, all buyers being interested, common kinds generally advancing; low mediums and mediums irregular and rather dearer, coloury sorts advancing considerably. The actual price alterations are as follows: — Commons and Price broken Orange Pekoes advancing Vid per lb, plain 8.0.P.'s Vsd, first classic broken Pekoes Id, fine broken Orange Pekoes %d. Exchange ruled at 1/6 and 7-323. Cream of Tartar. Cables received last week advised a reduction of approximaetly £2 per' ton on. a well-known line of English cream of tartar, 99 per cent grade, that is now being sold extensively in this market. Acids. Cables to hand advise a reduction on both citric and tartaric acids of Id per lb. This as the first alteration that lias taken place- in? this market for some considerable time, prices previously remaining very firm.."

Brazil Nuts. v All quotations .on Brazils are still ruling -■■at 'high rates, owing to the short crop and iteavy ■ demand that is taking place. America is .now a buyer which is also expected to keep this market firm. ■ Prices are advised for later shipment, but owing fftfe extra cost imW. m storage cLrsrea, *nd also to loss of weight through jSag? prices for; -later delivery show a-SoEresponddng increase. Ssiflo and Tapioca. Cables received last week advised tnat both Penang and Singapore sago tapioca derifanog

market, last prices being a further shade easier. A .later cable received from Penang indicated that shippers consider that the market is not likely to decline much further, and intending buyers are therefore advised to watch the market very closely.

Pineapples. It is indeed difficult to follow this market. For some time past it has been known that prices have been below cost production, and yet the rates advised bycables to hand last week indicate a still lower market. Dates. Sair bulk and Kheclvawi are now firmer. Prior to the present firming of the market, fair quantities 'had been offered at low rates, which were quickly ■ snapped up, and -the . market is now up 6cl per cwt. Carton dates are also getting low, the cheap brands all being exhausted, oaly the good quality grades being left. Californian Raisins. A report lias just been received that the market for Californian raisins is firming upon all lines. The firming on this market is not altogether unexpected, as last week Smyrna grade showed an increase of. 1/ per cwt on certain lines. Quotations on golden bleached are showing a tendency of a firmer market, fancy being advanced i/, and extra choice and choice 1/ per cwt. Prunes. Prunes appear to be weaker' last week, and a reduction of 1/ per cwt was cabled on 30/40's and 70/80's. Owing to the confusion in some quotations sent out one af the big shipping houses, who .has in the past been including exchange in their quotations, has adjusted all quotations to i, c.i.f. basis. This is also being adopted by another house, and should put merchants in the position to base their costs 3ii the exchange rates ruling at time of shipment without having to speculate as :o what rate has already been included in ike price they have bought.

Nuts. Very; little indent business has been done on lines suc-h as nuts up to now, but with the quotations now being made by merchants on* new season's figs, etc., this should direct the attention of retailers to the requirements of Christmas trade, and a general stimulating of forward buying for this period should be in evidence. Prices at present on all lines, with the exception of Brazils, show distinctly in favour of buyer. Brazils, however, are somewhat higher than last year on account of the small crop, and so far not many merchants have covered. American prices on muscatels should not be very long in coming through, and these, along with English prices, being quoted for Christmas trade should bring abo-ut a lot of interest in this market, which up to now has been very neglected. Wholesale Current Prices.

Butter.—First grade factory, booked, l/4 5 ,£ per lb, and 1/4 for prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked, 1/2Vz per lb, and 1/2 for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, lid per lb. Cheese.—First grade factory, medium size, mild, B%d to 9}4d per lb net; loaf, per lb net. Chesdale, 61b bars, 1/3 per lb: 7oz packets, 9/6 dozen. Bacon. —Hams, 1/1 per lb; rolled hams, 1/4 per lb; cooked whole ham, 1/5 per lb; cooked pressed hams, 1/10 per lb; bacon sides, lid to 1/1 pe rib; rolled sildes, 1/3 per lb; middles, 1/3% to 1/4% per lb; shoulders, 9d to lOd per lb; rolled shoulders, lOd per lb. Lard, bulk, 9d to lOd per lb; pats, 9d to 9%d per lb.

. Flour. —Local, 2001b sacks, £18 10/ per ton; 100's, £19 5/ per ton; 50's, £19 15/ per ton; 25's, £20 10/ per ton; 12%'s, £21 7/6 per ton; 6%'s> £21 17/6 per ton. , Linseed. —Whole, 24/ per cwt; ground 21/ per 1001b. Malt.—Crushed, 10/3 per bushel; whole white, 9/9 per bushel; whole, black, 13/ per bushel.

Twines. —Seaming, 3/6 per lb; binder, 8d per lb. Peameal. —12/ per 1001b.

Linseed Oil Cake Nuts. —15/ per 1001b, Linseed Meal.—l 7/ per 1001b. Blues tone. —37/6 per cwt.