MARKETS AT A GLANCE

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

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

BUSINESS IMPROVES

AUSTRALIAN CURRANT CROP SHORT. JUNE DELIVERIES COMMENCE THIS WEEK. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, May 19. Wholesale grocery merchants opened up to better business yesterday and country requirements are decidedly heavier, and as the week progresses, further improvements in trade are anticipated. General News. Merchants have advised the retail trade that they are commencing deliveries for June account on Thursday next, the 21st inst., to all towns served by rail or service wagons. Town deliveries will commence the following Monday. Business for this delivery is expected to give a big lift to merchants' returns, and already various departments are busy with the orders received. Increased activity has been noticed among merchants during the past few days owing to the arrival of the Xarbada last week with Eastern goods. A large proportion of the consignments received were booked for delivery ex ship, and dispatch departments have been busy accordingly. It is very evident from the quantity of peanut kernels that came to hand by this vessel that the supplies landed will be totally insufficient to cover storekeepers' requirements over the next month or two. As the market is firm and supplies difficult to obtain, indications are pointing to higher prices prevailing when the next parcel arrives.

Seasonable lines to hand during the week include walnut pieces and walnut halves, both lines opening up in excellent; quality, tinned prunes, lentils, Rangoon rice, canned fruits, etc.. etc. Of interest to household gardeners is an attractive packing now being marketed by retail stores of garden manure in 71b packets at 1/11 per packet retail. A new line of health biscuits of the non-fattening type is being offered throughout the trade this week to retail at 1/1 per %lb packet. The calving season which is now beginning is being reflected in the demand by the farming community for drenches, etc!, and in view of the firming tendency in the primary products markets, a good season for this type of line is anticipated. A line of fish and meat pastes to retail at 3d for a J%oz tin is being introduced this week, and in view of the quality and the handy packing, a good demand is expected. Local manufacturers have announced a reduction of 2/ per gross for 2%0z and 3/6 per gross for 4oz size toilet soap. A new line of English manufactured toilet soap is being offered to arrive early next month as prices slightly lower than local. A considerable quantity has been sold to arrive.

' Arrivals from overseas markets besides > those already mentioned are: Proprietary I brand carton soaps, haricot beans, Indian ► split lentils. ABTN shellac, Chinese peni nuts in shell. tobacco, salmon, medicinal ointments and pills, chewing gum, prunes, sauces, capers, canned apricots, Ceylon tea, ground rice, macaroni and vermicelli, etc., etc. ' Australian Currants. ; Advices received from the Australian Dried Fruit Control Board indicate that the currant crop is likely to be very short i this season, and business on two and three-crown grades is now only being accepted subject to pack being available. ; As far as is known at present, there are : no restrictions regarding booking on one- , crown grade and a certain amount of small , business is going on in this direction. It ; was mentioned early in the year that the shipments of the new season's crop were being discussed and that owing to bad weather, etc., the supply likely to be available would be short by approximately 12,000 tons. Resin. The American market for resin has steadied up a little in last cablet? received, G grade now being quoted at 1/ per ton lower, with N grade offered at 2/ per ton advance. Turpentine. Prices for pine tree turpentine in last cables received are very firm, quotations showing an increase of 'Ad per gallon on previous rates. Eastern Steamer. The Narbada arrived at this port last week carrying the usual quantity of Straits Settlements and Eastern produce. The main items of interest in the consignments forwarded were 10,782 bags of Rangoon riee, 3463 cases of pineapples, 263 sacks of white pepper, and 1577 bags of sago and tapioca, all for Auckland distribution. Pineapples. The market for pineapples is a little firmer, with an advance of %d per dozen being noted on first quality VA\b cubes, l%lb slices flats, and 21b 'slices. Mail advices received state that fruit supplies received during the month were smaller than anticipated, with the result that the market has steadied. The sale of summer crop will probably be from towards the end of May to the third or fourth week in June, when it is anticipated that the market will touch bottom. Pepper. Pepper quotations remain fairly steady, the only alteration last week being a reduction of l-16th on Muntok white. Mail reports to hand advise that the pepper market continues dull, and there is nothing of interest to report. The main crop is not expected to arrive till June, but it is felt that with current prices at present low, they are unlikely to decline to any considerable extent. Nutmegs and Mace. Nutmegs in last cables received are fairly steady witli Ysd per lb reduction being noted on 110's, and %d per. lb reduction being noted on broken grades. Mace, on the other hand, continues firm, with an advance of Yid per lb being noted, making quotations in this commodity at a very high level. In mail returns to hand shippers advise that the market for nutmegs now continues steady, but the tone is a little easier for the moment on account of the supply position. '

Califomlan Prunes. Agents advise that mail information received from San Francisco regarding prunes indicates that the prune crop of 1936 is in a very critical stage at the moment. Growers are predicting a very light crop, but it is still too early to make any definite estimate other than that the crop is considerably less than was expected. Californian Raisins. Stocks of Californian raisins are ing limited, with a very active demand, sustaining the recent advances. Growers are indicating a light crop for the coming season, and are endeavouring to formulate a scheme of price control for 1936 crop. Under these circumstances considerable interest is being taken in Australian sultanas. Alaskan Salmon. Lata cables received advise that slightly lower prices are named _ for small stocks of Alaskan salmon which are available for prompt shipment. Dates. Fancy pack Sair dates for OctoberNovember direct steamer are quoted at an advance of 2/ per cwt above ordinary grade. This represents an advance of 1/ per cwt over last season's prices for special quality. Pilchards. Quotations for new season's pilchards have been named for spread shipment, with shipment commencing early in July. The quotations named are considered to be quite favourable, and represent a decline of approximately 10 per cent in the c.i.f. rate.

Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—Finest grade, booked 1/1% per 'lb, and 1/1 per lb for prompt cash; first grade factory, booked 1/1 per lb, and 1/0% per lb for prompt cash; second grade factory, booked 1/0% per lb, and 1/ per lb for prompt cash; whey, Il%d per lb and lid per lb for prompt cash. Cheese.—First grade factory size (80's), G%d per lb net; medium (40's), fid per lb; first quality (20's). 7Msd per lb; loaf, 8d per lb; tinfoil, %lb pats, 1/3 per lb. Honey.—Bulk white, 5d per lb; light amber, 4%d per lb. Bacon.—Ham, 1/1 per lb; rolled boneless ham, 1/3; cooked whole ham, 1/5; cooked rolled ham, 1/6; cooked pressed ham, 1/8; bacon sides, 9%d; rolled sides, lid; rolled middles, 1/; pressed shoulders, ll%d; lard, bulk 7%d, pats 8d per lb; dripping. 5d per lb. Linseed. —Crushed, 16/9 per 1001b; whole, 16/6 per cwt. Flour.—Local, 2001b 6acks, £13 12/ per ton; 100's. £14 12/6 per ton; 50's. £14 17/6 per ton; 2.Vs. £15 7/6 per ton; 12%'s, £1G per ton; 6%'s, £16 17/6 per ton. Malt.—Crushed, 10/3 per bushel; whole white, 9/6 per bushel; whole black, 11/6 per bushel. Twines.—Seaming, first quality, 3/5 per lb; second quality, 2/10 per lb; binder, 49/6 per cwt.

Bluestone.—2B/6 per cwt.