GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 250, 22 October 1935, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

DOMINION SUPPLIES SHORT. CALLING ON AUSTRALIA. tt _______ Many of the lines dealt with by grain and produce merchant*; have been in short supply during recent months, and outside markets have been called upon to make up the shortage. Practically all the onions sold in Auckland in the last two months have come from Canada and California. Potatoes would have come from Australia but for the Government embargo. I'ollard has been coming regularly in large quantities for some time, and now wheat, oats and bran have been added to the list, while there is some talk of sending to Africa for a shipload of maize if present prices go much higher.

The new season's crop of potatoes from Pukekoiic is now coming forward, but the quantities are still too small to materially affect the general supply position. There is still a keen demand for Southern, the main idea of buyers being to obtain really good quality. These are being quoted at 10/ to 16/ a cwt ex store. Onions are very slow of sale, due to the high prices and the competition of other vegetables. In view of further shipments coming to hand there has been an easing in values, and merchants are now quoting both Californian and Canadian at 22/6 to 25/ per 1001b bag.

Pollard supplies are rather short, due to the Niagara hold-up. However, this vessel's cargo is to come forward by the Waipahi. The market across the Tasman is a little easier, but this is not likely to be reflected locally for some time, as stocks now in store and due to arrive were purchased' at the higher price. The demand is still exceptionally good. Bran is in very short supply, so much so that imports from Australia have been made. This is very unusual, as freight charges come heavy on so bulky a line. The landed cost is much higher than the quotations from the local mills, but with so acute' a shortage something had to be done.

Another line not often imported is feed oats. These are almost unobtainable in the South, and merchants are importing a quantity from Australia. They will be sold on about the same basis as New Zealand B Gartons, and are expected to be of better quality. The fowl wheat fViarket is now being supplied from Australia through the Wheat Board. Present quotations both for Canterbury and Australian wheat, ex store, is 5/6 per bushel, but it is expected to advance before long. The board has advised merchants that the cost to them will be increased early next month by I%d per bushel. The quality is exceptionally good, and seems to be appreciated by poultry feeders.

Maize is very firm, and as a consequence values have moved up another 3d to 5/4 per bushel. Despite the present difficulty of getting supplies merchants do not consider there is a shortage in the country, and expect that when the 'seasonal decline in demand takes place values may slip back again.

Wholesale Current Prices. Pollard and Bran. —Mill prices: Pollard, £7 per ton; bran, £6 per ton. Merchants' prices: Pollard, local, £7 5/ per ton; Australian, £7 15/; bran, £6 10/; Australian bran, £7 10/ to £7 12/6. Oats. —Feed: B Gartons, 4/10 per bushel; A Gartons, 5/; clipped duns, 5/9; clipped Algerians, 4/9: clipped A Gartons, 5/3. . Fowl Wheat. —Canterbury and Australian, graded, 5/6 per bushel. Maize.—s/4 per bushel. Barley.—Feed: Clipped, 4/5 per bushel. Seed: Cape, 5/6 per bushel. Barley Meal.—9/6 per 1001b. Wheatmeal. —10/3 per '1001b. Chaff.—G.b.o.s., £8 per ton, for Southern. Potatoes. —Southern, 15/ to 16/ per cwt. Onions. —Canadian and Californian, 22/ to 25/ per 1001b bag.