GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

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

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

POTATOES ARE CHEAP,

IMPORTED MAIZE

Auckland is well supplied with potatoes at present. Two shipments from the South arrived last week-end and merchants are having a difficulty in placing the extra stocks. The market is sick with a certain amount of price cutting going on and local values have little connection with f.o.b. prices in the South. Onions a Shade FKmer. Onions are still plentiful but stocks are growing lees, and holders *vi now able to command a be/je? price. The Australian market is_ $kgif to be in ore favourable this year t/*last, and orders have been sent ove* f<» July shipment. With the prospects of 'better supplies from the Commonwealth, Canadian grown may not be required until September. Wheat the Same. The price of wheat is unaltered at 7/10 per bushel, but the f.o.b. price at Lyttelton went up Id a bushel yesterday, and the advance will coon be passed on to the local user. Maize From Gisborne. Stocks of Java maize are practically all used up and Gisborne is filling the gap, pending the arrival of further supplies from South Africa, which are expected about the end of this month. Of the position in Poverty Bay our Gisborne correspondent telegraphs: — "Importations of maize this year have kept down the prices received by Gisborne growers, who do not welcome tne announcement that a further 3000 to 4000 sacks are due at Auckland at the end of this month at 5/10 per _ bushel ex wharf. To compete with this Gisborne holders will require to sell at about 5/5 f.o.b. As growers are asking 5/9, little business is passing. _ . "Neither is there any great activity in forward deals for new season's grain, business being restricted by reports that future shipments of South African can be landed at 5/6. A few forward sales have been made at 5/3 to 5/5. "This season's crops are of good'quality, if rather late. Picking is in progress and crops appear satisfactory, with indications of a better yield than last year, despite a certain amount of blight."

Oats and Chaff. There is no change in the oats or chaff markets and consumption is so limited nowadays that merchants are not greatly concerned' with slight variations in market values. B Gaxtons are still selling at 4/10 per bushel, with prospects of an advance at any time, and New Zealandgrown chaff is worth £10 10/ per ton ex store,, with Tasmanian £1 cheaper. _ A fresh shipment of the latter has just arrived by. the Ivaituna, but is not yet unloaded. Bran and Pollard. Bran is still in good supply from local sources, but merchants are having to import pollard from Australia. The landed cost from the Commonwealth is high, and merchants are charging £10 10/ per ton, Which is dear buying for stock feeders. Fertilisers.

Owing to unsatisfactory weather conditions the demand the last week or two has been somewhat quieter. As soon as there 'is an improvement in these conditions further top-dressing will be done, as it is necessary to act quickly to secure early spring feed. The chief demand is for quick-acting fertilisers, such as highgrade super, basic super and ammoniated super, and also super and potash' mixtures. Price... remain steady at late rates, and stocks generally in all lines are ample to meet demands. Potash has been m short supply, but the s.s. Tainui, which arrived last evening, carries a fair quantity, a large proportion of which will be distributed direct to buyers ex ship.

| WTioresale current Prices. Pollard and Bran—Mill prices: Pollard, £9 10/ per ton; bran, £8 per ton. Merchants' prices: Australian and bonth island poMard, £10 10/ per ton; bran, £8 15/ to £9. . , Oats.—Feed: B Gartons, 4/10 per bushel; A Gartons, 5/; clipped Dunns, 6/j; clipped Algerians, 6/6; clipped Gartons, 5/3. - Fowl Wheat—7/10 per bushel. Maize.—New Zealand, 6/11, ex store. Barley.—Feed, 5/9 per bushel. Seed: Cape Barley, 6/6 per bushel. Maize Meal.—l 4/ to 14/6 per 1001b. Barley Meal. —13/ per 1001b. Chaff.—G.b.o.s., £10 10/ per ton, Blenheim or Canterbury; Tasmanian, £9 10/. Potatoes.— £6 10/ to £7, ex store. Onions.—£6 to £6 10/, according to quality, ex store.