MARKETS AT A GLANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

BUSINESS MAINTAINED. RETAIL TRADE IMPROVES. NUT MARKETS WEAKEN.' "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, February 7, 1939. Distributing business in wholesale grocery circles has been maintained at good volume throughout the week and present conditions since business was leopened again yesterday show evidence of a continuance of the excellent business previously transacted. With the public i schools reopening again after their summer vacation, most families have returned from their holidays and the retail grocery stores are reporting a general all-round improvement in trading conditions, the warm and humid weather experienced during the past few days stimulating the demand for all summer commodities. Prior to this warm spell, it looked as if there would be a certain amount of carryover on many of these lines, but general j reports are that the greater proportion I of retail stocks were quickly cleared, with I the result that further replacement ordering has taken place.

General News. Preserving jars are still selling well, with one or two temporary shortages in evidence. Preserving jar lids in some sizes are definitely short and it is doubtful if further supplies will be available this season.

There is already evidence of a scarcity taking place in numerous oversea lines, but. the experience of wholesalers is that the retail trade are fully realising the j position, and therefore are quite recep- | tive to the inevitable shortages of some lines that are bound to occur from now j on. Merchants at the moment are not in a position,, owing to the uncertainties in the future stock position, to offer to book forward as they usually do on many imported lines. A further reason is the fact that licenses granted so far do not go beyond .Tune, and quotas for the following six months are not likely to be known for some considerable time yet, which is preventing merchants and the retail alike from taking advantage of spread overseas offers. Shortages are advised from some quarters of a number of grades of salmon, particularly in the smaller sizes, and pending the arrival of the next shipment a fair amount of interhouse buying has taken place. Canadian herrings in sauce, which have been completely sold out in some quarters, have just come to hand, and these are expected to move out rapidly.

A well-known brand of English safety | matches which, on account of heavy retail I buying, due to the advised restriction of | imports, has been completely sold out ] for some weeks, has now arrived and is ! being distributed. This shipment comprises orders placed prior to the import regulations becoming effective. A shortage of supply has developed in some quarters for cream of tartar, with the result that a fair amount of interhouse buying has taken place. A further shipment, however, will be here shortly, when the position will be rectified. During last week merchants were offering the new season's pack of Australian canned fruit, with delivery spread to October. Prices are approximately on the same basis as last year and in view of the restriction of the quantity which will be available most retailers are taking advantage of the offers and are covering their requirements throughout.the year. Prices were announced at the end of last week ■ for loeal pack of canned fruit, one packer offering delivery until the end of August, the other only offering to supply immediate requirements when the pack is available. advising that they will be offering for forward delivery as eooit as the pack is completed and the exact quantity available is known, .f The reason for this, of course, is that in previous years dirders received have invariably been in excess of the stock available, so that it has been necessary to make a pro rata delivery. As compared with last year, local prices show an advance of 6d per dozen for peaches, 1/ per dozen for pears, while apricots are quoted at no alteration. Stocks of Boz sizes of Californian canned fruit, for which a lair tfade has developed, are now depleted in some quarters with no further stocks coming to hand.

[u the meantime, however, last season's local pack of 12oz cans at a competitive price are still available in some quarters ind these will help to meet the demand. Arrivals from coastal and overseas ports [luring the past few days comprise consignments of English safety*, Norwegian sardines and kippered snacks in various packings, greaseproof paper, English herrings, both fresh and kippered and in sauce, Australian bulk fine and coarse salt, 3-Crown currants, bulk cocoa, Rangoon rice, bulk tea, both Ceylon and Indian, case kerosene, boracic acid, powdered borax, canned peas and beans, sockeye salmon in various well-known brand*, pink and Cohoe salmon, pilchards, breakfast fopds in various proprietary brands, bath cleaner, sheeps' tongues, fruit salts, oatmeal, fine and coarse, rolled oats, lamb tongues, Singapore pineapples, cubes and slices, baked beans, toilet soaps, arrowroot, water containers, .Scotch Marmalade, Worcester sauce, Siam rice, both whole and unpolished, 2-Crown sultanas, etc., etc. Nuts. The tendency with most nuts is to weaken at the present time, with the

exception of Brazil nuts, which have firmed 1/ during the past week. Sicily almonds have weakened 2/ per hundredweight. ground almonds 2/6 and Pecan nuts 1/ per hundreweight with this week's quotations. Grape Juice. The first shipment of American tinned grape juice has just appeared on this market. The quality is reported to be excellent and the price very much lower than it has hitherto been able to be imported. It is not expected with the import restrictions that any more will be coming into the country. Canned Fruit. As previously indicated, new season's prices for Australian canned fruit are advised on the same basis as last year. One of the large New Zealand packers is offering peaches, pears'and apricots spread to August, although if the purchasing exceeds the pack available, a pro rata delivery will require to be made. Another , well-known firm are offering pie fruits as well as dessert. These comprise apples | solid pack, also apples in syrup, halves | apricots, halves peaches, sliced peaches, I plums, greengaces, Bartlett pears, etc. I In this case bookings for forward delivery lup to August are being accepted, and buyers will be advised in April when the pack is completed what quantity will be available.

Desiccated Coconut. The market for desiccated coconut, according to recent cables received from Colombo, hag taken a much firmer tone. Business is steady at the moment. Australian Dried FruiJ. The Australian Dried Fruit Control Board advise that quotations have been extended to February shipment at the j same rates as previously. This applies to j currants, sultanas and Lexia raisins in the . various grades. , j Canary Seed. ; Late quotations for Argentine canary ! seed indicate a firm tone and in compari--1 son with prices ruling at the close of last year represent an advance of 22/ per ton. Additional business, however, put up at a counter offer was accepted and represents an attractive level. > Resin. | The American market for rerin ha# been showing a somewhat firmer tone recently, last cables received advising an j increase of 4/ per ton on G and 15/ per ' ton on N,

Turpentine. Quotations for Pine Tree turpentine havetbeen very stable for some pnonths, and'latestjquotations received advise that the market is active 4 and present rates show an increase of Id per gallon. Nutmegs and Maee. Nutmegs. according to last cables received, were fractionally easier, 110's showing a reduction of 3**l6ths of a penny per ipound. Broken and sound shrivelled were listed at a reduction of l-16th of a penny per-pound. Mace on the other hand-is quoted'at firm rates. One seller adviseds the trade last week that no supplies were available for • immediate shipment. Tapioca. Quotations for tapioca are remaining very steady at last ruling rates. To-day's level is to be considered very attractive and a fair quantity of business has been put through both for prompt and forward shipment. Manufactured Stationery and Envelopes. Owing to increaseis in costs which have taken place from time to time, it has been found necessary to make certain increases in the prices of manufactured stationery and envelopes. Manufacturing stationers have been reluctant further to advance prices and increases arising out of the reduction of hours (effective some months back) and other costs have been post* poned whilst an effort was made to offset them against economies in other directions. These increases have no connection whatsoever with the import restrictions and are due solely to the above-mentioned causes. Wholesale Current Prices. February 7, 1939.

Butter. —First grade pats, 1/4% per lb; first grade bulk, 1/4% per lb; second grade pate, 1/4% per lb; second grade bulk, 1/4% per lb; whey pats, 1/3% per lb. Cheese. —Export, 80's: Crate .lots, 9%d per lb; less. lOd per lb. Medium, 40's: Crate lots, 10d per lb; less, 10% d per lb. 20's: Crate lots, 10% d per lb; lees, 10% d per lb net. Loaf: Crate lots, lid per lb net; less, ll%d per lb net. Bacon. —Ham, 1/2 per lb; rolled boneless liam, 1/4% per lb; cooked whole ham, 1/5% per lb; cooked rolled ham, 2/ per lb; cooked pressed ham, 1/10 per lb; bacon sides, 1/0% per lb; rolled middles, 1/5 per lb; lard, bulk, 8d per lb; pate, 9d per lb; dripping, pats, 4%d per_ lb. i Honey.—First grade: lib cartons, 10/6 per dozen; 21b tins, 20/6 per dozen; 51b tins, 51/ per dozen. Second grade: lib eartons, 9/3 per dozen; 21b tine, 18/ per dozen; 51b tins, 43/6 per dozen. Third grade: lib cartons, 8/ per dozen; 21b tins, 15/6 per dozen; slb tins, 38/9 per dozen.

Flour.—Local: 200"lb sacks, £14 15/6 per ton; 100's, £15 12/6 per ton; 50's. £15 17/6 per ton; 25's, £16 7/6 per ton; 12%'s, £17 per ton; 6%'s, £17 17/6 per ton.

Malt. —Crushed, 11/3 per bushel; whole white, 11/ per bushel; whole black, 12/6 per bushel.