GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 106, 7 May 1935, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

POTATO PROSPECTS. MAY BE DEAR THIS WINTER, Though prices at the moment are unaltered, tno tendon, y of the potato market is towarus lirmncss. The Wuigatui and Waipalii have biought substantial consignments from Lj ucltou. ihese aggregate about 10,000 sacks, but they have come to a b.ae inaiKcc, and are not likely to depress vaities. A merchant wno has recently returned from tne Huutli reports tu.it farmers there are

reluctan,t to make forward commitments. The demand at this end is quite Keen, and likely to continue so, in sharp distinction to the position at this time last year, when supplies were available from a variety of sources. At this time last year southern potatoes were being wholesaled in Auckland at £ti 10/ per ton, compared with £8 10/ to-day. Last month 50,000 sacks were brought here trom tuc South, whereas in April, 1934, supplies were coining freely from the Manavvatu and many other districts. To-day practically the whole of the North Island, south of Auckland, including New Plymouth, Napier and Gisborne, is drawing on the South Island for its requirements, so that the firmness of the market is readily understandable. Onions are still hard to procure, but their comparative deafness at 14/ to 14/0 per cwt is materially restricting consumption.

The heavy demand for Australian poliaril reported last month had the effect of clearing up the bulk of stocks from that quarter, and as the market across the Tasinan has firmed no further importations may be expected in the meantime. It is reported that Queensland is taking any surplus available in Sydney or Melbourne. Local mills report satisfactory business at the 5/ rise recorded at the end of last week. Bran is unaltered. Fowl wheat is unchanged at 5/9 I > 5/10 per bushel, but consumption is restricted, and it appears that the comparatively high price of the popular grain is driving pig and poultiy feeders to a more liberal use of pollard. Maize is gradually weakening, in view of the expected new crop, from which some supplies may be available next week. The market for horse feed is unaltered. B Gartons are quoted at 4/ per bushel, and chaff at £7 10/ to £7 12/0 per ton. Duns are practically unobtainable. Wholesale Current Prices. Pollard and Bran.—Mill prices: Pollard, £6 5/ per ton; bran, £5 15/ per ton. Merchants' prices: Pollard, local, £0 10/ per ton; Australian, £7 5/; bran, £G. Oats.—Feed: B Gartons, 4/ per bushe': A Gartons, 4/3; clipped duns, 5/3; clipped Algerians, 4/0; clipped A Gartons, 4/9. Fowl Wheat.—Canterbury, graded, 5/9 to 5/10 per bushel. Maize. —4/6 per bushel. Barley.—Feed: Clipped, 4/3 per bushel. Seed: Cape, 5/0 per bushel. Barley Meal.—9/ per 1001b. Wheatmeal. —9/ per 1001b. Chaff.—G.b.o.s., £7 10/ to £7 12/6 per ton, for Southern. Potatoes.—Southern, £S 10/ per ton. Onions.—Pukekohe, 14/ to 14/(5 per cwt.