WHOLESALE MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 43, 20 February 1940, Page 4

WHOLESALE MARKETS.

ACTIVE SUMMER TRADE. APPROACH OF MARCH DELIVERIES. KEEN DEMAND FOR SALT. All grocery departments handled a fair volume of business during the past week —tlte general feeling among merchants being that, notwithstanding the many shortages advised from time to time, business has stood up very well since the opening of the New Year. Tobacco business was excellent lasrt week, the midmonth booking acting as an additional incentive for retailers to replenish stocks. Business for the commencement of this week opened up rather quietly, although trade is expected to improve as the week progresses, owing to the arrival of mail order bookings for March account, which commence to the country districts next Monday. Bookings for the town area will be made on the following day. Supplies of salt in all varieties have been in very short compass for some considerable time, so that a very keen demand is being experienced for the shipments of both English and Australian which have just come to hand. Paper Bags Dearer. Following the recent increases in the price of kraft paper due to higher cost of raw material, advice has been received from the local bag manufacturers that an increase has been authorised for fruit bags, satchel bags and block bottom bags. Owing to lack of supplies of the heavy block bottom type, this is still a quota •line and consignments are being distributed as widely as possible immediately fresh stocks arrive. Further supplies of a well-known brand of English clothes wringers, which have been unprocurable for some time, have now reached this port, and as the quantity available is extremely limited a heavy demand is expected. Already advance bookings have been received against this shipment, and the parcel is expected to move into retailers' hands immediately. Shipments to band comprise a new model, which has not previously been offered, and will retail at 72/6 each. The better type model received in previous shipments proved a very popular type and enjoyed a wide popularity, but it is expected this new model, which is still further improved, will be equally well received. Latest Price Increases. The Price Investigation Tribunal have this week authorised new selling rates for second-grade Singapore pineapples I%'s, English fine salt, seidlitz powders, 2oz and 4oz English capers, loz packets senna leaves, 7's, 14's and 28's drained cherries, 7's and 14's crystallised cherries, 7's, 14's, 28's and 56's preserved ginger, Chinese peanuts in shell, 3Hlb, 41b and 4%1b plum axes, a well-known brand of English fluid magnesia, 7's, 14's and 281b bags Smyrna figs, quarters unwrapped Canadian sardines, V&'n, l's and 2's English caustic soda, a local packing of tomato and apple sauce and Worcester sauce in all sizes, prunes both bulk and tins. 21b packets unpolished rice, bulk white pepper, ground cinnamon, ground mace, ground nutmegs and loz packets mixed spice. Recent Shipments Landed. Recent arrivals from overseas and coastal ports during the past week comprise the following consignments:—slb bags English iodised salt, English packet cornflour, %'s and l's, wringers, walnut meat and light amber walnut halves, packet isinglass, seidlitz powders, 2oz and 4oz capers, senna leaves, Epsom salts, smokers' pipes, Singapore piceapples in 12oz and l%lb cubes and slices, white pepper, Java peanut kernels, malt extract, rolled oats in various packings, boot polish, milk of magnesia, peroxide of hydrogen, prunes, whiting, English bulk fine salt, Worcester sauce, magnesia fluid, Australian maca; roni, safety matches, rice, brown and broken, chewing gum, Greek currants, resin, etc. Cigarette Papers and Canned Fruit. With supplies of popular brands of Australian cigarette papers very short and almost unprocurable, merchants are featuring brands mostly of local manufacture, of which they are carrying fair stocks. A very popular brand previously manufactured in France is now being made in Wellington. Merchants are offering limited quantities of imported canned strawberries, raspberries and loganberries at prices which show a slight increase on last year's offerings. These offerings are likely to be in demand as no local packs will be available this year. Eastern Mar Vets With the exception of Penang seed, Penang medium pearl and flake tapioca, which were listed at slight advances in cables received last week, all other lines sago flour, nutmegs 110's and sound shrivelled and pineapples remain unaltered. Shortages. The following lines are in short supply, most merchants being sold out: —English Worcester sauce, % pint and % pint, We English herrings in sauce, Plunket feeding bottles, all jam pulp except apricot, ground tumeric, los packets cayenne pepper, Long Torn, pint tqper and A.B.C. corks, l-16th Norwegian sardines, 2oz English meat extract, 25's apple and raspberry jam, English vanilla essence, A number of lines of cigarette tobacco and cigarettes are also withdrawn with further supplies unprocurable. Whetosale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade pats, 1/4% per lb; first grade bulk, 1/4% per lb; second grade pats, 1/4% per lb; whey pats, 1/3% per lb. Oheese.—-Export (80's) crate lots: 9%d ■per lb; less, lOd per lb. Medium (40's) crate lots, lOd per lb; less, 10% d per lb. 20's crate lots: 10% d per lb; less. 10% d per lb not. Loaf crate lots: 10% d per lb; less, ll%d per lb net. Bacon. —Ham, 1/2 per lb; rolled boneleas ham, 1/4% per lb; cooked whole ham, 1/5% per lb; cooked rolled, 1/8 per lb; cooked pressed ham, 1/10 per lb and 2/ 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 per doz; 21b tins, 22/9 pes, doz; 51b tins, 56/6 per doz. Second grade: lib cartons, 9/3 per doz; 21b tins, 18/ per doz; 51b tins, 43/6 per doe. Third grade: lib cartons, 8/ per doz; 21b tins, 15/6 per doe; 51b tana, 38/9 per doz. Flour. —Local: 2001b 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%'e, £17 17/6 per ton. Malt.—Crushed, 11/6 per bushel; whole white 11/3 per bushel; whole black, 12/3 per bushel.