GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1931, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

WHEAT PRICES LOWER.

POTATOES ARE DEARER

OATS MARKET WEAK

SiDce last report adequate supplies of potatoes from Pukekohe have been barely maintained, and prices have again advanced. There have been offers from the Manawatu district, where a good crop is being dug, but Palmerston North merchants appear to be diffident about making forward commitments, and their quotations for spot delivery are fairly high. Onions. Pukekohe onions are now offering more freely, and a spell of hot weather has improved their condition. Prices have eased to 10/ per cwt ex store. Oats and Chaff. The Southern market for oats and chaff is distinctly weak, and Gartons, which were quoted a week ago at 3/1 f.0.b., are now available at 2/10. The local price is 4/9 per bushel ex store, with a further reduction pending. Clipped Gartons, which are meeting a ready demand from poultry keepers are now selling at 4/9. New season's chaff will not be available for a few weeks yet, but when it is prices will be lower, probably from £8 10/ to £9 per ton, compared with tlj£ present rate of £9 10/. Tasmanian stocks are being cleared at £9. Wheat Cheaper. At long last there has been a reduction in the price of fowl wheat. The Southern market is definitely easier. Spot quotations are still 6/ per bushel f.0.b., but. for February delivery 5/6 is quoted, and for March 5/3. The local price has beeu dropped to 7/9 to 7/10 ex store. This reduction, coupled with the advent of hot weather, when maize is less favoured, has had the effect of increasing consumption. Maize. There is no alteration in the price of maize, which is still selling at 5/9 per bushel. Most of that required for Auckland City and suburbs is now coming from Poverty Bay. Our Gisborne correspondent telegraphs as follows: —

"A little business in small lines of Gisborne maize has been done during the holidays at 4/5 per bushel, but no large shipments have gone forward, merchants beiug content with hand to mouth buying." Bran and Pollard. There have been no changes in the prices of bran and pollard; for which there is a moderate demand. In the South. Of the Southern position, the Christchurch "Times" says: "It is now definite that the dry spell will affect the yield of crops all over Canterbury. The situation is not so far really serious, but a good many crops which have been shrivelled by the heat would not now benefit from rain. Potato and onion crops also, and pastures of all sorts would be helped greatly by a spell of wet weather. All crops on light and medium land have suffered already to a more or less extent, and even the heavier land is now beginning to feel the heat badly. It is anticipated that the quality of crops will vary a lot.

"The grain markets are at present very quiet. A little oats has been offered, the price paid being round 2/ a bushel. This is a considerable drop on last year's prices, and has been caused by the larger supply locally, and also the competition of cheap Australian oats. Not a great deal has been sold, but a fair proportion of the crop has been cut. "Little wheat has been cut, and practically none threshed." Wholesale Current Prices. Pollard and Br?,n.—Mill prices: Pollard, £5 per ton; bran, £5 5/ per ton. Merchants' prices: Australian pollard, £5 10/ to £6 per ton; bran, £6. Oats.—Feed: B Gartons 4/4 per bushel, A Gartons 4/5, clipped duns 6/6, clipped Algerians 6/3, clipped Gartons 4/9. Fowl Wheat.—7/9 to 7/10 per bushel. Maize. —Local, 5/9 per bushel, ex store. Barley.—Feed: 4/6 per bushel. Seed: Cape barley, 6/6 per bushel. Maize Meal.—ll/6 per 1001b. Barley Meal.—ll/ per 1001b. Chaff.—G.b.o.s., £9 10/ per ton, Blenheim or Canterbury; Tasmanian, £9 in New Zealand sacks. Potatoes.—lo/ per cwt, ex store; 9/ on trucks, Pukekohe. Onions.—lo/ per cwt, ex store, and 8/9 on trucks, Pukekohe.