GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 August 1930, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

POTATOES ARE CHEAPER,

ALSO BARLEY AND POLLARD.

Chief interest in the local grain and produce markets centres around the decline in the price of potatoes. This lias been brought about by the publication of Government , statistics, which, show an abundance of supplies in the Southland incidentally justify the attitude of Auckland merchants, who, generally speaking, have declined to make forward commitments. However, the full extent of the Southern fall has not yet been reflected here, though prime' quality is available at £6 15/ per ton, ex the,wharf, or £7 through store. At this time last year Aucklanders had to pay £11 10/ per ton ex etore. Even at the present low prices the market is sick. The Waimarmo has brought a heavy cargo from Timaru and Lyttelton. A fair proportion had been sold f.o.b. South, but the holders of the balance are finding a great difficulty m effecting a clearance. Onions The Same. -, There is no change in the market for onions. A fresh shipment of Australian arrived last week', and this will probably be the last of the early seasons. They keep poorly from now on, and merchants prefer to handle Californian, even at higher rates. The next shipment from San Francisco is expected early next month. Oats and Chaff. There is no alteration in the markets for oats or chaff. B Gartons are still selling at 4/10 per bushel, ex store, Dominion chaff at £10 10/ per ton, and Tasmanian at £9 10/ to £10, with only a moderate demand. Wheat and Maize. The demand for wheat is curtailed by the high* prices, but local merchants are entirely in the hands of the Southern pool, and the price ie unaltered at 8/ per bushel. Maize, on the other hand, sells freely at 6/2 to 6/3 per bushel -for local, and a few pence extra for the limited supplies of South African that are still available. Of the position in Poverty Bay our Gisborne correspondent telegraphs as follows: — "Auckland merchants are displaying little interest in Gisborne maize, for which 5/ is being asked by holders. During the past week a number of small deals have passed, but parcels averaged only about 25 sacks. Auckland merchants have been paying 4/11, but few deals have been made with Hastings and Wellington at' a Id advance on that figure." Barley Will Be Down. There is usually very' little movement in the barley market, but a change has been brought about by'the action of the Government in abolishing the duty of 1/ per bushel. Orders have v consequently been sent to Australia, and when the first shipment arrives next month the local price both for the whole grain and the crushed will be' reduced. Pollard and Bran. Cheaper supplies of pollard are now arriving from Australia, and merchants' prices have been lowered accordingly, and are now on a level with those of the local mills. Bran is unaltered. Wholesale Current Prices. Pollard and Bran.—Mill prices: Pollard, £9 10/ per ton; bran, £8 per ton. Merchants' prices: Australian pollard, £9 10/ per ton; bran, £8 15/ to £9. Oats. —Feed: B Gartons 4/10 per bushel, A Gartons 5/, clipped Duns 6/9, clipped Algerians 6/6, clipped Gartons 5/5. Fowl -.Wheat.—B/ per bushel. Maize.—South African. 6/4 to 6/6 per bushel, ex store; local, 6/2 to 6/3. Barley.—Feed, 5/9 per bushel. Seed: Cape Barley, 6/6 per bushel. Maize Meal.—l 4/ to 14/6 per 1001b. Barley Meal.—l 3/ per 1001b. Chaff.—G.b.o.s., £10 10/ per ton, Blenheim or Canterbury; Tasmanian, £9 10/ in hessian bage, £10 in New Zealand sacks. Potatoes.—Table, £7, ex store. Seed: Early Rose, Beauty of Hebron, 11/6 per xwt; Gamekeepers, Northern Star and Arran Chief, If.

Oniona. —Australian, 10/6 to 11/6; Californian, £1 per bag.