WHOLESALE MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1940, Page 4

WHOLESALE MARKETS.

TRADE IMPROVEMENTS. SMALL SUPPLIES OF CORNFLOUR. KEROSENE PKICKS FIHM. Auckland wlinli's.ilo grocery merchants 10port tluiL as nil 11 avcllers hail recommenced their calls after the holidays for the first time last week, a very heavy volume at ordeis lias been received iro.ni the retail, 1 ('placing flocks sold over the holiday period. In the tobacco section the mid-month deliveries were commenced to the roiintr} districts yesterday and in the town area to-day. General News. Advice wan riveived from the local supplier last week <«f an increase of 4fed per case in the price of lighting kerosene. This advance has been expected for some time. ilu» to higher costs involved in lauding new consignments. Although in au attempt to economise in the use of materials, tobacco manufacturers navn been withdrawing the loz packings of various brands of tobacco, a new line is now being ottered in this pack. The manufacturers, however, advise that they intend marketing only the quantity for which the necessary containers are now available, and as soon as these are sold up supplies will not be replenished. After a long period without supplies of cornflour some Auckland merchants received small welcome supplies last week. It is,not expected that stocks of packets will be available until early next month, but the situation should be eased considerably by their ability to supply limited quantities of bulk. Advice has been received from the manufacturers of a well-known brand of fish and meat paste packed in 4oz tins of an advance in the price of 3d per dozen. Owing to considerably increased costs of seeds of all kinds, local blenders have been forced to increase their prices, the advance so far being approximately £2 per ton. At the moment no stocks of a well-known brand of cocoa are available on »pot. Further supplies are on the water, but no definite advice is available as to when these will come to hand. In the meantime alternative brands are still available. Supplies of bicarl>onate of soda and cream of tartar have been unprocurable for some weeks, causing embarrassment not only to the baking industry, but also to other sections of the grocer} - trade. Fortunately a small shipment has nowcome to hand, and although this will have to be very severely rationed it will relieve the position somewhat until further supplies, which are expected in about - a month's time, come to hand. General. English manufacturers advise that a much more extensive range of commodities are now available for export permits. Sardines are permissible, but unfortunately no supplies are available. Herrings in tomato sauce are one of the chief lines still on the prohibited list and it is not anticipated, on account of restricted fishing in the North Sea. that export supplies will be available in the near future. In the event of a more comprehensive range of English foodstuffs being permitted under the New Zealand import regulations, English packers now 6eem most desirous of arranging indents and have advised that the British Government desire this in order to maintain exports and obtain credits to assist Britain's war effort. Preserving jars are available in all sizes from most merchants who are selling well as the preserving season is now in full swing. The factory is finding it difficult to supply orders promptly already and customers will be well advised to cover early. Extra top 6 are unprocurable this Mason.

Lines out of stock and unprocurable meantime are as follow: —30oz apricots, 3'e sliced pines, all wooden matches, all wax matches, spare jar lids (unprocurable), RTeaaeproof paper, English fluid magnesia, % sliced pines, l's carton prunes, medicinal toilet soap, 16oz pears and 16oz peaches, 16oz Australian apricots (only 17oa available), packets iodised salt, 50ft •nd 100 ft wire clothes lines, Barcelona irotft, certain brands of English cocoa (all sizes), currants (all grades), sultanas (all grades), unseen ted soap (temporarily unprocurable), Castile soap, 6's raspberry pulp, coffee vegetable turps, long Plunket teats. SJ Arrivals from overseas and coastal ports comprise the following consignments: — Proprietary brand breakfast food, malt extracts, custard powder, boot polish, whiting, batteries, medicinal pills, prunes, proprietary brand tea, tobacco, bulk Ceylon tea, Singapore pineapples (cubcs, sliced and crushed), etc., etc. Dried Apricots. The Australian Dried Fruits Association have advised new season's prices for dried apricots. Top'grades are quoted at Id per lb above last year's opening rates, lower grades show '/id per lb only advance. The New Zealand import regulations permit 50 per cent of the 1038 imports, out in any case the indications are that very few apricots will be available from Australia for New Zealand, so that it is highly probable that merchants will be fortunate if they are able to secure supplies up to the amount of their import licenses. Almonds. Mediterranean almonds have «hown, according to latest cables received, an advance of 13/ per cwt in t'lie past week, and the possibility of securing supplies,' even at the increased rate is doubtful. It is anticipated, however, that Fartugu«se supplies will be available, shipment via London, at reasonable rates. The restriction on nut permits, however, will not permit merchants to operate freely, and in many instances it is anticipated that licenses issued Will barely cover the requirements of shelled peanuts. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter. —First grade pats, 1/4% per lb; first grade bulk, l/4%d per lb; secoi.d grade pats, l/4Vi 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'f.): Crate lots, lOd per lb; less, 10% d per lb. 20's: Crate lots, 10% d per lb; less, 10% d per lb net. Loaf: Crate lots, 10% d per lb; less, 1 VAd per lb net. Bacon.—Ham, 1/2 per lb; rolled boneless ham, l/4%d per lb; cooked whole ham, 1/5% per lb; cooked rolled ham, 1/8 per lb; cooked pressed ham, 1/10 per lb and 2/ 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, 11/6 pe>r dozen; 21b tins, 22/0 per dozen; 51b tins, 56/6 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: 2001b sacks, £14 15/6 per ton: 100'g, £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, 11/6 Per bushel; whole white, 11/3 per bushel; whole black, 12/3 per bushel.