MARKETS AT A GLANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

NEW YEAR OPENS BRISKLY. RECORD PACK BRITISH COLUMBIAN SALMON. DATE MARKET ADVANCES. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, January 5, 1937. The figures for j December, 1936, point I to a record being reached amongst wholesale grocery traders, and the New Year has opened .briskly, although business during the holidays was quieter than was anticipated, this being due to the great numbers camping and holiday-making, and who had purchased their requirements during the previous week. Retail stores also experienced excellent returns for the Christmas period, a noticeable feature of the trade being the great demand for luxury lines, on which buying in former years has been restricted, this no doubt reflecting the satisfactory prices realised at the last wool sale, and the general return of the country to prosperity. General News. A reduction of £2 pter ton has been advised in the price of cornflour, and advices from agents also announce a reduction in imported starch. The position in regard to imports from California is causing anxiety to merchants, its it is quite evident that stocks held locally, particularly of raisins and prunes, will be exhausted before any further supplies can possibly reach New Zealand, even should the strike terminate immediately. Merchants! arc already out of many line's, and are anxiously awaiting a of the position. With the arrival of the Narbada last week, merchants are now in a position to fill all requirements for first and -second quality pineapple, sago and tapioca. Supplies of new season's dates now to hand have proved to be of excellent quality, and at the reasonable prices offering are sure to meet with a ready sale. A small consignment of 12oz and 21b packets of new season's dates came to hand recently, and i.s there is always a steady demand for this packing, this shipment is expected to move quickly into consumption. In view of the heavy sales now being experienced in canned pears, merchants have been forced to secure further supplies from Australia, and a small shipment to hand this week will be barely sufficient to cover sales in hand'. Further consignments, however, are due by the next steamer from Melbourne. Many lines of biscuits atul confectionery are still in very short supply, but the manufacturers are making every endeavour to catch up on orders in hand and expect to be able to fulfil all requirements in the course of the next week or so.

Cordial manufacturers advise that the warm weather experienced during the holidays is being reflected in Che demand for cordials, and they are being hard pushed to meet requirements. Some lines of jam are still ir; short supply, but with the new season's fruit beginning to come to hand, this is not causing a great deal of concern. Prices for new season's pack of tinned peas have shown an advance of approximately 5 per cent on account of higher packing costs. This may possibly cause an increase in the demand for Australian and Canadian packs, which are landing to this 'market at quite competitive prices. A new brand of perfumed fly spray is being introduced to the trade, and as both packing and price are attractive, fair salles are expected to result. ' v Many shortages which were experienced just prior to the holidays on account of the late arrival of the boats from South are now being relieved as these vessels are unloading. Arrivals to hand during the p.ist week from overseas and Southern ports comprise shipments of infants' food, tomato sauce, mustard, essence of rennet, pinks, Cohoe. Chum and Sockeye salmon in %'s and l's tins, Ceylon tea, 3-Crown currants, breakfast foods, starch, disinfectant i powder, lime juice, baking powder, jelly crystals, druggists' sundries, etc. 1 British Columbian Salmon.' Cable advice indicates a reduced price for both Chums and pinks salmon, whilst Sockeye and Cohoes remain unchanged. .Notwithstanding the heavy pack of Sockeye during- the last season prices remain firm, astne English market for this parttcuJar.packing » expanding rapidly. Mail advices received from Vancouver, under date November 28, state that with the canning season practically at an end, British Columbia's canned salmon pack has reached a total of 1,848,061 cases, the highest figures since t'he record year of 1930, when the total reached was 2.221.783 cases. Last year's total was 1,529,022 cases. The -smallest pack during _ the past six years was that of 1931, with a total of only 686,104. Chums accounted for the largest gain this -year, with a total pack in -all districts of 581,864 cases, compared with 404,573 last year. .Pinks rose from 506,312 in 1035, to 548,705 this year. Both these figures will be added to slightly with several weeks of the season left. Sockeye, the most valuable of the Pacific salmon, also registered a heavy gain, with this year's pack totalling 409,321 cases, compared with 346,098 last year. Dates. Following very heavy sales for the Christmas season on all packings of dates, quotations now named for shipment from London show an advance of nearly 3/ per cwt over direct steamer rates. Pending an indication of the replacement business for dates from tVe trade within the next few weeks, little interest is displayed in London quotations. Olive Oil. Quotations for French olive oil for immediate shipment show an increase of over 2/ per gallon against prices quoted in the last month. Forward quotations have been withdrawn, and it seems likely tha* - while the present advances may be in the nature of a scarcity price for the December season, the advance will in part be reflected in forward quotations when they are named. Madagascar Lima Baans. Following opening quotations, which were 1/ per cwt lower than those for the previous season, an advance of 2/ per cwt is advised. Most of the local purchasing has been done on the lower price, but tlie advance in replacement cost will no doubt be reflected in forward quotations to the trade. Prunes. A feature of the trend of consumer purchasing of prunes has been the marked tendency towards the larger sizes. At present there are no large sizes available either from Australia or California. Desiccated Coconut. The market for desiccated coconut in cables received recently continues to show a very firm tone, shippers stating that further increases in this market may be expected. The present high rate is mainly due to the steadily advancing price of copra, and agents report that further business is passing at the revised rates. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—Finest grade, booked 1/2%, and 1/2 per lb for prompt cash; first grade factory, booked 1/2, and 1/1% per lb for prompt cash; second grade factory, booked 1/1%, and 1/1 per lb for prompt cash; whey, 1/1, and 1/OV4 per lb or prompt cash. Cheese.—Export (80's), B%d per lb; medium (40's), BHd per lb; first duality (20's), B%d per lb; lo4f, 9d per lb. Honey.—Bulk white, 5%d per lb; light amber, 4%d per lb. Bacon.—Ham, 1/2 per lb; rolled boneless ham, 1/4 per lb; cooked whole ham, 1/6 per lb; cooked rolled ham, 1/7-per lb; cooked pressed ham, 1/8 per lb; bacon sides, ll%d per lb; rolled sides, 1/1 per lb; rolled middles,- 1/2 per lb; pressed shoulders, 1/1 per lb. Lard, bulk 8d per lb, pats 9d. Dripping, 5d per lb. Linseed.—Crushed, 16/9 per 1001b; whole, 16/6 per cwt. Flour.—Local, 2001b sacks, £14 15/6 per ton; 100's, £15 12/6; 50's, £15 17/0: 25's, £16 7/6; 12%'s, £17; GVs, £17 17/6.