POTATO TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 4

POTATO TRADE.

BIG SHIPMENT COMING

SOUTHERN FLUCTUATIONS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CIIRfSTCIIURCH, Friday

Mainlv because of a heavy shipment totalling 14.103 sacks taken to the North Island yesterday in the \\ aipiata, the potato market in Christchnreh showed a slight weakening for the day, but this is the first check since the rise set in a fortnight ago. There has been some demand from the North, but in the opinion of some merchants not _ ncaili enough to justify the prices which are reported to have been ottered farmers ami paid to merchants among themselves. 1 Values, lliev claim, are entirely fictitious, | especially as there are now • only two months of the season left. The market !is extremely difficult to judge, because ' everybody interested in potatoes has a different idea of values and is able to quote instances of actual sales which raAge over a pound from the highest to the lowest. Sales of f.o.b. Dakotas at more than £0, and of whites at £8 10/. arc reported. The "Waipiata lifted 1359 sacks from the Bluff, 5844 from Tiinaru and 0900 from Lvttelton. a load that should keep the northern market quiet for some tune. Another heavy boat is advised for next week, but it is unlikely that it will be as heavy as the Waipiata. which was a record for the season, and probably tor last season, too. In the meantime farmors continue to hold on to what they have, and only small lots can be boupht. Quotations on trucks vary. One merchant yesterday quoted £5 15/ to £0 5/ for whites and £7 for Dakotas, while another quoted £6 15/ to £7 for whites, and £7 to £7 5/ for Dakotas. August-September quotes are up to £S 10/ for whites and £9 10/ for Dakotas, f.o.b. The big shipment bv the Waipiata seems to indicate that there will be no shortage of potatoes in the South Island, and there are little prospects now, with the Sydney market slipping, of a shipment to Australia. There lias been a fair inquiry for oats during the week. Cartons being quoted at 3/3- Duns have also been asked for, and are worth 3/ to >t3. with \ei> little business passing. The dial! business seems at a standstill. The small seeds trade is undergoing the usual mid-winter calm, and practically no business is being done.