WHOLESALE MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 143, 18 June 1940, Page 4

WHOLESALE MARKETS.

i TRADE MAINTAINED. DRIED APRICOTS ARRIVE. MANY PRICE INCREASES. Latest reports from Auckland wholesale grocery merchants indicate a continuance of good trading conditions. In the tobacco section the mid-month deliveries were commenced to both town and country yesterday, and this department is working at full pressure in getting orders ready. In the general section August 1 deliveries will be made to the country on Tuesday, June 25, and in the city and suburban area on the following day. Australian Dried Apricots: A further shipment of several grades of Australian dried apricots have just lauded and are being distributed to the retail. The vast bulk of these were purchased under "no remission" licenses, with the result that the prices ruling have advanced somewhat. At tho moment no further supplies are being offered by Australian packers, and it appeam evident that an extreme shoitage will be felt before very long. The first supplies of the local packing of a wellknown brand of English caustic soda have now reached Auckland, and are being distributed. As the market has been completely bare for some time a very heavy demand is beyig experienced. Local packers have advised an advance of 8d per case for four-gallon tins of kerosene. Miscellaneous Items. Miscellaneous.—Packet peas:, Advice has been received from a local packer of an advance of approximately 20 per cent in this line. Starch: An advance of £6 10/ per ton has been advised by local manufacturers, operating from last Thursday. Breakfast foods: Two lines of packet breakfast foods manufactured in the South have been advanced in price by about 10 per cent. Tinned milk: One line of tinned milk which has been in short supply is now available in quantities to meet full requirement®. Wrapping paper: Merchants are still experiencing great difficulty in meeting the demand from retailers for wrapping paper. Supplies of both Kraft and cap paper are very' limited and .the demand has not slackened very much. _ Price Alteration*: The Price Investigation Tribunal have authorised new selling rates for Australian apricots 30oz both first and second grade, Australian Epsom salts _ bplk, Epsom cults loz packets, caustic soda, Seidlitz powders, a wellknown brand of poultry spice in Boz and 16oa packets, Sicily almonds, desiccated coconut and starch. Arrivals: Arrivals from overseas and coastal ports during the past week comprise the following consignments: — Glassware, tobacco, Canadian sardines, Singapore safety matches, Biam rice, seed tapioca, medium pearl tapioca, powdered borax, etc., etc. Some Tobaccos Short. Tobacco: Certain brands of English and Dominion pack tobaccos are temporarily in short supply. A certain brand of rice cigarette papers will in future be available in boxes of 100 packets instead of 50's. Olive oil: A small shipment of olive oil 'which came to hand recently was soon distributed to a fairly bare market and most packers are now out of stock until- the pext shipment arrives. Californian Prunes: Calif ornian prunes, i both bulk and 51b tins, are being quoted at the present time at very attractive rates, and merchants are hopeful that gome arrangements will be made to enable early importations to relieve the present shortage. Australian tinned fruit: Shippers advisa all stocks are now on the light side ip #11 grades and tl)ey do not anticipate being able to cover further New Zealand requirements after the end of this month. Wholesale Current Prices. » Butter: First grade pats, 1/4% per lb; first grade bulk. 1/494 per lb; second grade pate, 1/4% per lb; whey pate, 1/3% per lb. Cheese: Export (80's)—Crate lots. 9%d per lb; less, lOd per lb. Medium (40's) —Crate lota, lOd per lb; less, 10% d per lb. 20's— Crate lots, 10% d per lb; less, 10% d per lb net. Loaf—Crate lota, 10% d per lb; less, ll%d per lb. Bacon: Ham, 1/2% per lb; rolled boneless ham, 1/5 per lb; cooked whole ham, 1/(J par lb; cooked rolled, 1/8% per lb; cooked pressed hani, 1/10% and 2/0% per lb; rolled middles. l/a% per lb; lard, bulk, ?d Per lb; pats, Dd per lb; dripping, pats, 4%d per lb. Honey—First grade: lib cartone, 11/9 per do?en; 2lb tins, 23/3 per do?en; 51b ting, 57/6 per dozen. Second grade: lib cartons, 0/fi per dozen; 21b tins, JB/7 per dozen; 51b tips, 45/ per dos;eu. Flour: Local—2oolb sacks, £14 15/6 per ton; loo's, £15 12/6 per ton; 50's, £15 17/fl per ton; 25's. £16 7/6 per ton; 12%' a, £17 per ton; 6%'s, £17 17/6 per ton. Malt; Crushed, 11/6 per bushel; 'whole white, 11/3 per bueliel; whole black, 12/3 per bushel.