MARKETS AT A GLANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 19, 24 January 1939, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

GOOD TRADING CONDITIONS. POOR HONEY SEASON. MUTTON BIRDS SCARCE. "Auckland Star" Office. Tuesday, Jan. M. Deliveries to the country districts on February account commenced yesterday ,ir.d will be made in the town area tomorrow. As a result of this there is a heavy volume of orders in hand and all departments, particularly in the packing and dispatch, are being kept busy. The mid-month tobacco deliveries were made last week and a good volume of business was handled, as many retailers took this opportunity ot replenishing stocks after the heavy holiday sales. General turnover figures continue to be good and show an increase over the corresponding period last year. General News. The unseasonable weather conditions which have been experienced in the last tew weeks have naturally caused a variation iti the natural sequence of demand normally experienced at this time of year, with the result that stocks of a number of lines have been particularly short. This applies particularly to such items as mtmeal, rolled oats and breakfast cereals generally, split peas, pearl barley, etc., the demand for which has been above normal and stocks of which are always kept at a very low ebb during summer months on account of the fact that they are so subject to grub. A further shipment of well-known brands of fly paper came to hand last week and these are moving out rapidly, as this pest is more than usually troublesome this year. A further shipment of Australian bulk cocoa has arrived and although demand at this time of the year is not particularly heavy, the supplies were welcome, as stocks in some quarters had previously become depleted. A well-known brand of English month wash an ived last week and is particularly welcome on account of a previous shortage of its stocks. A new type of pack of Canadian pilchards being offered to the trade is meeting with a ready reception, due mainly to the fact that further supplies of the ordinary type are to be seriously restricted. A good demand is still being cxneriepced in all types of canned and dried fruit. Particularly is this so in connection with merchants' offers on prunes, which are being made to the trade below replacement cost, due to favourable buying last year. Stocks of a large size of well-known brand of Australian sausages and beans are sold out in some quarters, but a smaller packing is still available. Advances have been advised in the price of two well-known brands of baking powder, due to increased costs. So far the advance had not been made by other packers. A shortage is being experienced in some quarters in several lines of canned fruit pulp, particularly in the smaller-sized packings. The 300/. cans of black currant are completeh' sold up and it is not anticipated that further supplies will be available from Australia so that merchants' offers for a line of local half-gallon tins are being availed of by the trade. The quantity held in this size is very limited and when this is sold up only gallon tins will be available. Reports from the Waikato indicate that this season has been the worst for many years for honey production. The absence of bright sunshine and continued spells of cold weather during December and early January has resulted in a very light crop to date and though by mid-January there is usually half the crop harvested, this year little work has been started. The late season has resulted in this year's crop being of good quality, but the improvement in this direction will not compensate for the smaller yield. In an earlyseason there is a good deal 61 tea-tree and other undesirable flowers about which darken the honey and affect the quality. This year a considerable amount of nectar has been drawn from clover, which produces the highest grade honey. Apparently the experience of Waikato beekeepers is shared by most producers in Xew Zealand, as a Hamilton apiarist who has recently completed a fairly comprehensive tour has found conditions in other districts similar to those here. It is stated that only in exceptional seasonx has thero been any considerable amount t>f, honey produced after midJanuary in the Waikato and nothing short of a very hot epell in the latter half of the present month is likely to improve the position to any extent. Arrivals from overseas and coastal ports during the week comprise shipments of lCnglish safety matches, Finnish safety matches, Norwegian sardines and kippered snacks, greaseproof paper, herrings in sauce, fresh and kippered herrings, Australian fine and coarse salt, currants and sultanas, Australian bulk cocoa, tobacco and cigarettes, oatmeal, rolled oats, split peas, patent medicines of various kinds, bulk and packet tea, etc. Tasmanian Mutton Birds.

Advice to ihand from Tasmania indicates that there will possibly be a shortage of this line on the local market for the coming season. Arrangements are in hand for the discontinuance of packing the birds in barrels for export. A freezing works has now been established on one of the inlands in Bass Strait where the birds will be frozen and shipped to the mainland centres in Australia. Experimental shipments under this process were made last year and in view of the popularity of the mutton bird in frozen state as against the cured bird it is now anticipated by the packers that no difficulty will be experienced in disposing of the normal catch of 100,000 birds to Australia. Australian Green Peas (Canned). One of the principal packers who recently withdrew prices for the new seasons pack states that if further rainfalls are experienced in their area, shipments should be available for New Zealand buyers this season. Due to the drought conditions the season's pack is already over 50.000 cases short. The New Zealand market will be supplied on a. proportionate basis to last year's shipments, providing the crops now maturing yield the estimated pack. Local Canned Peas. One local packer advises that they have completed their pack, and will be able to i make a pro rata delivery of 80 per cent' lof the orders in hand. Another packer expects to be canning for about another two weeks, and at the moment is unable to say to what extent orders will l>e cut down, although it is quite apparent that they will be unable to confirm in full. Canned Fruit. An early survey as to the possibilities of the local canned fruit pack of the season indicates that apricots are likely to be in good supply, pears are anticipated to be short of last year's pack, and for peaches it is far too early to make a forecast as so much will depend on the weather conditions in the next month or so. Sicily Almonds. Last cable quotations indicate an advance of 1/6 per cwt. with the tone of the market still firm. Cut Green Beans. Shipments of the Canadian pack which arrived last year proved very and this season a local pack is being offered. The price is considerably higher than the imported line, but a good demand is anticipated. due to restricted imports from Canada. Tomatoes. Indications are that the local pack of canned tomatoes should be quite good, but it is anticipated that a small advance in price will take place owing to increased casta.

Matches. Advice h*s "been received from the local manufacturers for safety matches that on accoiint of the vastly increased demand due to the reduction in imports they are unable at the moment to execute orders in full. It is anticipated that it will be Bome weeks before this position is rectified. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter. —First pratle pats, 1/4% ll>; first grade bulk. 1, 4% lb; second grade pats 1/4% lb; necoml grade bulk, 1/4 V& lb; whey, pats. 1/3% lb. Clieene. —Export (80's), crate lots 9%d lb. lese lOd lb; medium (40's), crate lots lOd lb, less 10%.d lb; 120Vl crate lots 10'4<1 lb, less 10?4d lb; loaf, crate lots lid lb. less ll%d lb. Baoon—Ham, 1/2 lb; rolled boneless ham, 1/4% lb; cooked whole ham, 1 /5V4 lb; cooked rolled ham, 2/ ll>; cooked pressed ham. 1/10 lb; bacon sides. U lb: rolled middles. 1/4 lb. Lard, bulk 8d lb, pats 9d lb. Dripping, pats, V6d lb. Honey.—First grade: lib cartons. 10/0 dozen; 211> tins. 20/6 dozen; .51b tins, .51/ dozen. Second urade: lib cartons, 0 3 dozen; 21b tins, 18/ dozen; 51b tins, 43 6 dozen. Third grade: lib cartons, 8/ dozen; 21b tins, 15/6 dozen ; 51b tins, 38/9 dozen. Flour.—-Local. 2001b sacks. £14 1,5 6 ton; 100 s. £15 12/6 ton; 50's. £15 17 6 ton; 25V £16 7/6 ton; 12%'s, £17 ton; 6H's. £17 17/6 ton. Malt. —Crushed. 11/3 bushel: whole white, 11/ bushel; whole black, 12/6.