HEAVY DEMAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 142, 18 June 1938, Page 11

HEAVY DEMAND.

PUKEKOHE CABBAGES. 6000 BAGS LAST WEEK. PRICES ABNORMAJXT HIGH. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) PUKEKOHE, this day. Several weeks ago, when cabbages were selling in the markets at about 17/6 per large sack, and even dearer, it was thought that the shortage which caused these record prices was only temporary and that by now prices would have dropped back to about their normal level. However, the heavy demand is still far from satisfied and price# remain at an abnormally hisrli level. The position of the cabbage market at the present time is similar in many respects to that which affected the potato market during last October and November, when the whole of the North Island was calling upon Pukekohe for supplies. The shortage was caused by the long dry spell and the activities of the white, butterfly, the cabbage fly, and other pests throughout the. North Island. Hawke's Bay growers have also Buffered a serious setback from the recent floods. However, the effects of these reverse* were reduced to a minimum bv many Pukekohe growers who conscientiously sprayed their crops to guard a<rain«t insect pests, as well as hand watering them to assist in the growth. To-day they are reaping their reward. At present Pukekohe i= about (he only place in the North Island that ran supply any great quantity, and even then supplies are far short of require ments. for during the winter month* cabbages are a most popular vegetable. Last week the Pukekohe railway station shipped to southern centienearlv fiOOO large sacks. or approximately 100.000 cabbages, while this week's figures are about the came. In [addition, the Auckland market had al-o jto be supplied, and many more bundledof sacks were transported by motor Ibvki to the city*

So keen has been the demand that prices have remained at an extremely high level, both Drumhead and Savoy being quoted at 15/ per large sack today, compared with 16/ last Monday and 15/6 the previous week. At this time last year, the market price was 5/ per large sack, which is somewhere about the normal level. How long the shortage will continue is extremely difficult to forecast, for much depends upon how soon other centres will have any supplies available,! and in what quantity. In this respect little is known of the position in Hawke's Bay and to what extent their crops have suffered as a result of the recent floods. Pukekohe residents, however, find' themselves in the peculiar position of, having to pay from 8d to 1/ for a goodj sized cabbage in the shops, and at the same moment see many truck loads pass-j ' ing down the main street as if cabbages ' were very plentiful.