KAURI GUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 117, 19 May 1936, Page 4

KAURI GUM.

j LARGER QUANTITIES HANDLED. | . HIGHER PRICES OBTAINED. j There are two distinctly striking features in the movements of kauri gum during the month of April: the export of 200 tons was greater than during the corresponding month of last year, for the first time this year, and the 346 tons sent into the city from the fields constituted a record for four years, being a larger amount than in any month since April of 1932, when 405 tons came to hand. Furthermore, although the L nited States took a smaller proportion of the total than the United States and Canada took in March, or than the former alone took in February, the total average value exi ported is higher than in any month this I year, being £32 4/6, as against the pre- | vious record of £29 14/ in February. | Fortunately the better average can be | fairly attributed to the larger proportion | of higher grade gums included in recent | shipments, and to a pronounced advance ' that has taken place in certain grades j during the month, on account of their j comparative scarcity. In most cases, howi ever, the higher prices asked are restrictI ing trade, l'ossibly the greatest percentage advance was registered in seven- | eighths scraped black gum, as this has proved a popular selling line for some time past. Gains in price were also apparent in Bl and B2 grades, but these were more moderate. Inquiries were received for fair quantities of nubs and B3 gum, but sales of these grades were restricted on account of higher limits asked. Good clean chips, testing SO per cent gum content, were saleable immediately on arrival at slightly better rates, but most lines now arriving are noticeably inferior in quality. Altogether the producers are now faced with a better inquiry all round for gum, and it is hoped that the better prices will again attract diggers to the fields, as the industry is seriously threatened with a shortage of supplies, particularly of the better grades. Prospects certainly look better, provided that diggers' return to the fields, or remain there in sufficient numbers to maintain a reasonable supply of the well graded lines of gum.

Very little white gum is being received in the city, and seven-eighths white and reucraped white are very firm. Considerably better prices are also being offered for three-quarter scraped range white. White chips and nuts are very firm, with only small quantities offering.

The 200 tons exported during April found a much narrower market than usual, the following table showing the destination, the total value to each market, and the average value per ton:— Country. Tons. Value. Average. United Kingdom . 101 £4117 £27 10 0 Holland 2 (>0 30 0 0 Australia — 10 — United States . . 47 2252 47 IS 0 Total 200 £6445 £32 4 0 The returns for April supplies at 346 tons enable a table to be compiled showing the total number of tons received and exported during the first four mouths of the year, in comparison with the trade during the corresponding months of last year, and also of seven years ago, before the crash came: — .1920. 1035. 1930. Rec. Exp. Koe. Exp. Rec. Exp. January . 290 431 312 222 182 151 February . 275 2*20 274 249 220 247 March . . 240 440 336 323 160 270 April .. . 339 557 221 144 340 200 Totals .1144 1063 1143 938 908 8681