MARKETS AT A GLANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 37, 14 February 1939, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

BUSINESS FAIR. TOBACCO AND CIGARETTE DELIVERIES THIS WEEK. TAPIOCA OFFERS ATTRACTIVE. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, February 14. Wholesale merchants opened up to fair trading yesterday. There is a keen demand being experienced on anything available in overseas lines, otherwise business is inclined to be a little bit easier than that of the preceding week. General News. The mid-month tobacco deliveries have been advised as commencing to-morrow (February 15) and in the town area on the following day. Tobacco deliveries for the Ist of next month will commence to the country districts on Tuesday (February 28), and in the town area on the following day. The very reasonable offer overseas of sago and tapioca is making this line excellent buying at the moment, with the 1 result that most retailers are taking advantage of same. g Most interest is again being taken in j merchants' offers of prunes, and in the several varieties of dried fruits still available ex stock. Preseu* rates quoted by wholesale merchants are exceptionally good, and in some instances represent a price that is lower thau present replacement cost. Following on the restrictions at present in force, merchants are advising the entire depletion of a well-known manufactured line of cake and powdered cleaning powder, further supplies now being definitely off the market. Many houses are advising their inability to supply further stocks of a well-known brand of Australian chewing gum, in this case no supplies being available until after June as their quota for the first six months i 9 exhausted. In a few cases there are sntall stocks still to arrive for the first period, but it is estimated consignments will be insufficient to last more than a few days' requirements. A line of assorted fruit which was commanding considerable interest with the retail is also out of stock. Norwegian sardines in one packing are out, with no further supplies expected before 'June. Australian millers report that orders can still be taken for Australian table rice at list prices for delivery within the next three months to suit buyer's « convenience. In spices they indicate that there has not been any change of importance since last month. Supplies of new season's Cochin ginger and tumeric should arrive about April. Prices this season are low. With the advent of the new crop of coffee, prices for mocha grade have eased slightly, but otherwise there is no change of importance to report. In seeds, present quotations for canary are below cost of replacement. Prices for millet and hemp seed have advanced considerably, with- a likelihood of further increases in the near future. Arrivals from overseas and coastal ports during the past ten days comprise shipments of proprietary brand breakfast foods, lamb tongues, wax matches, oatmeal in bulk and small bag packings, rolled oats< in 50's and 100's, tobacco, loaf sugar in cartons, malt extract, proprietary brand tea, cough remedies, boot polish, cigarettes, bulk tea, bulk salt, Canadian sockeye salmon in %'s and l's, pink %'s and l's, Cohoe %'s and l's,

tinned peas and beans in 2's tins, light amber walnut halves and pieces, Chinese peanuts in shell, infant's food, English meat--and fish pastes, greaseproof paper, white cotton twine, caustic soda, sixteenths sardines, 1-4's tins of salmon, chillies, " English; cornflour, medicinal salts, English table salt plain and iodised, bottled ink, sheeps tongues, baking powder, custard powder, jelly crystals, bar soap, tinned asparagus, coarse salt, etc., etc. Desiccated Coconut. Tn a cable report received last week, the market for desiccated coconut has registered a further advance, with shippers indicating that quotations are firm at the increase. A market report advises that there lias been sustained buying of copra by Indian shippers, and with the firm oil market prospects for the time, being of an" easier desiccated coconut market are negligible. A probable- reduction in the Indian import tariff on Ceylon copra and oil early next year is likely to improve the outlook for Ceylon copra, as India may take still lai"ger quantities than she is now absorbing. A further factor in the present situation is that nuts are in short supply, and many mills are closing down for the usual annual overhaul of machinery and equipment. There was a good demand during the early part of January for spot goods from the United Kingdom for immediate shipment, which ie rather unusual at this time of the year. Pineapples. Latest advices received during the week advise that the market for Singapore pineapples has shown a sharp advance. The marketing of Singapore pineapples is now controlled by a combine, and it is advised that certain lines are reported' to be oversold, with the result that they are refusing to sell for delivery earlier than March or April shipment at their option. Almogds. Sicily almonds have declined a further 3/ per hundredweight in the past week according to cables received. Handpicked Sicilies, in 281b boxes, are also quoted at the present time at very favourable rates. Nuts. Shippers advise that old season's Sicily filbert nuts are now available at slightly reduced prices. It is anticipated that the Spanish position, becoming clarified, will reduce most nut rates. Tinned And Dried Fruit. Quotations for Californian tinned and packet dried fruit are now offered for winter supplies at slightly reduced rates from last year's, with the exception of packet peaches, which show an advance of 10 per cent. Unfortunately, however, the position is that bulk requirements ordered last year will cover most merchants' full permits and preclude them from taking supplies of these now popular lines. j Wholesale Current Prices. February 14, 1939. Butter. —First grade pats, 1/4% per lb; first grade bulk, 1/4% per lb; second grade pats, 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, lOd per lb; less, 10% d pec lb. 20's: Crate lots, 10% d per lb; less, 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 ham, 1/4% p«r 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; pats, 9d per lb; dripping, pats, 4%d per lb. Honey.—First grade: lib cartons, 10/6 1 per dozen; 21b tins, 20/6 per dozen; 51b ! tins, 51/ per dozen. Second grade: lib cartons, 9/3 per dozen; 21b tins, 18/ per dozen; 51b tins, 43/6 per dozen. Third ■ grade* lib cartons, 8/ per dozen; 21b tins, 15/6 per dozen; 51b tins, 38/9 per dozen. Flour.—Local: 200 ib 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, 12/5 per bushel.