WHOLESALE MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 90, 16 April 1940, Page 4

WHOLESALE MARKETS.

TRADE IS WELL MAINTAINED LIKELY SHORTAGE OF CANNED FRUIT. TOBACCO DELIVERIES HEAVY. Auckland wholesale grocery merchants report that business continues to coine tc hand in good volume. Tobacco departments particularly have been very active during the past week wit'll the mid-month deliveries, which were commenced to tlu country yesterday and were made in tflic town area to-day. Paint and Seeds. Supplies of various brands of aluminium paint are reported to be in short supply, and merchants arc having difficulty in obtaining adequate stocks to keep the retail fully supplied. Latest landings of various varieties of bird seed have been showing heavily advanced costs, which must be reflected very shortly in the price of the mixtures offered on this market. Canned Fruit. Latest information available on the local canned fruit position indicates that there 'will be available only approximately onethird of last year's peaches, 110 apricots, and about the 3ame quantity of pears. With 110 licenses yet' available for importations, it seems apparent that an extreme shortage will be experienced before long. The proportion or halves to sliced is said to be two to one. Mother's Day Offers. A well-known brand oi chocolates in %lb, lib and 21b boxes, and t"wo wellknown brands of toilet soap arc now being offered to the retail iu special "Mother's Day" wrappers. Mother's Day has become increasingly popular during the past few years, and the above offers should have a distinct appeal to the trade. Apples and Chewing Gum. Supplies of dried apples which have been unprocurable tor some months are now available. In previous years Auckland's local supply of dried apples was augmented by supplies fix>m Tasmania, but with importations from this quarter now prohibited the trade is 'having to rely on Dominion cured, which is of particularly good quality, with stocks considered sufficient to cover ordinary trade requirement's. Supplies of a well-known brand of chewing gum previously imported from Australia will be available from the local factory from the Ist May, according to latest advices received from the manu- | facturer. As wholesalers have been experiencing some difficulty in securing adequate supplies from Australia, this latest advice is welcome news to the trade. Miscellaneous. Some supplies of sago and tapioca came to hand by last week's Eastern boat, relieving an extreme shortage whicfli had been felt earlier. Further supplies are expected next month. Cashew kernels, which have been short in some quarters, are again available. Certain merchants advise being out of stock of twine in tine cotton and fine jute, with no apparent improvement expected in the stock situation for some time. In the meantime they have limited supplies of medium cotton. The bonus of a knitting book free with a well-known brand of toilet soap has now been withdrawn owing to supplies of books being depleted. A 60ut)hern brand of pickles is being offered under a special 'bonus offer of one free to the dozen. Arrivals. Arrivals to hand from overseas and coastal ports during the past week comprise consignments of cough remedies, jelly crystals, cake powder, custard powder, cigarette papers, laundry soap, breakfast foods, boot polish, chewing gum, bulk tea, Singapore*:white pepper, sago, tapioca, Java peanut kernels, Haricot beans, butter beans, rolled oaits, malt extract, oatmeal, gelatine, pills, infants' food, tobacco, cigarettes, powdered alum, etc., etc. Australian Cann6d Fruit. Although no import licenses have been issued, Australian prices for new season's canned fruit have been advised at an advance of approximately 1/3 per dozen for 30oz and 9d per dozen for 16oz on last year's store prices. Dried Fruit. The A.D.F.A., Melbourne, has advised new season's prices for dried pears, which show an increase of a penny per lb for 2, 3, and 4-Crown grades, and a %d per lb for 1-Crown, over last y?ar's rates. There is, however, little prospect of importation owing to the fact that the bulk of dried fruit licenses have already been used for the importation of dried apricots. With reference to dried peaches and dried nectarines, the board advises fhat there will .be no prospect of its quoting this year on account of t'he short crop and the 'heavy demand in Australia. Fish and Meat Pastes. English f.o.b. prices for meat and fish pastes have shown a very considerable advance, according to advices received some time ago, and shipments just arrived are now quoted by merchants at approximately 4/ per gross advance. Tne position of local pack meat pasfes is particularly firm. Latest Price Increases. The Price Investigation Tribunal has this week authorised new selling- rates for a well-known brand of curry powder packed in 4oz tins and 4oz botties, cashew kernels, chloride of lime, %'s and l's, tartaric acid, caustic soda l's and 2's. Baby Powder. A well-known brand of English baby powder now in short supply is expected •to be available about the end of the month. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade, pats 1/4% lb, bulk 1/4% lb; second grade, pats, 1/4% lb: whey pats, 1/3% lb. Cheese.—Export fßo's), crate lots 9%d lb, less lOd lb; medium (40's), crate lots 10c! lb, less lO'/id lb; (20's) crate lots 10% d lb, less 10% d lb net; loaf, crate lotfe 10% d lb, less ll%d lb. Bacon.—Ham, 1/2% lb; rolled boneless ham, 1/5 lb: cooked whole ham. 1/6 lb; cooked rolled. 1/8 lb; cooked pressed ham. 1/10% and 2/0% !b: rolled middles. 1/5% lb. Lard, bulk 8d lb, pats 9d. Dripping, pats, 4%d lb. Honey.—First grade: lib cartons, 11/6 dozen; 21b tins, 32/9 dozen; 51b tins, 56/6 dozen. Second grade: lib cartons, 9/3 dozen; 21b tins, 18/ dozen; 51b tins, 43/6 dozen. Flour.—Local: 2001b sacks, .£l4 15/6 ton; 100's, £15 12/6 ton: 50's, £15 17/6 ton; 25's. £16 7/6 ton; 12%'s, £17 ton; 6%'s. £17 17/6 ton. Malt.—Crushed. 11/6 bushel; whole white. 11/3 bushel; whole black, 12/3 bushel.