WHOLESALE MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 191, 13 August 1940, Page 4

WHOLESALE MARKETS.

GENERAL TRADE STEADY. TOBACCO DEPARTMENTS BUSY. NEW LOAF SUGAR PACK. Mid-month~ deliveries in the tobacco sections are being commenced to the country on Thursday and in the city and suburban area on the following day, so that this department is now being kept busy assembling the orders which are coming to hand. In the general section the deliveries on September account will be made to the country on Monday, August 26, and in the city and suburban ! area on the following Wednesday. A temporary lull in the volume of business coming to hand is being felt, as the orders for September booking will not be arriving in any quantity until next week. A new pack of loaf sugar in 21b cartons is now being offered to the trade. Only bulk has been available for some months, so that .no doubt the refail generally will appreciate the convenience of the new pack, which will retail at 1/5 in the city. Supplies of sago and tapioca available on the market have been particularly short for some time, so that a shipment just to hand on an Eastern boat will move out rapidly. The overseas market is firm. Further, supplies of peanut kernels have arrived on a boat from the East, being the first of, tfoz new crop to reach this market. Spot stocks have been practically bare, and a heavy demand is being felt. As a result of' the shortage of peanut kernels most manufacturers have been unable to cope with the demand, and supplies have been particularly short. It is anticipated, however, that further stocks will be available within the course of the next week or so. Price Alterations. The Price Investigation Tribunal this week has authorised new selling rates for Rangoon rice, crepe toilet rolls lOoz, caustic soda %'s, l's and 2's tins. A local brand of loz essence has been increased slightly, and a well-known line of Southern packed pickles has been advanced 1/ per dozen. General price advances have taken place on confectionery, and new lists will be available shortly. Meanwhile aH* tablet lines have been reduced in order to absorb the recently imposed additional sales tax. The packers of a well-known brand of kerosene have advised the trade of authorised increases taking effect immediately. A further shipment of Englisjj salt, both in bulk and 51b bags, came to hand at the end of last week. Costs from now on are likely to show substantial increases, so that retailers generally are taking advantage of merchants' spot offers. The recent boat from the East this week has brought a small shipment of safety matches to this market, but the quantity available is by no means sufficient to meet the demand coming from all quarters. Commodities in short supply <Jhis week are: Apricots, 30oz; blue seal honey, all sizes, no further supplies available this season; canned loganberries; certain brands of tobacco in lib tins out of stock and withdrawn; American bag cleaning powder withdrawn; household oil in various overseas brands withdrawn; walnut pieces and halves, bath bricks, crystallised cherries. Figs and Nuts.

; Just at the moment there appears little possibility of new season's figs and nuts feeing shipped from the Mediterranean this year. Merchants expect to have a limited supply of Californian figs, but rates are expected to be higher than last year. An extra import duty of 2%d per lb has been imposed on dates in Australia. As a result Australian orders are certain to be very considerably reduced so that it is considered extremely unlikely that even Australian and New Zealand orders combined will total sufficient tonnage to warrant the usual special direct boat. Under the circumstances new season's costs must include a very much heavier freight rate, and it is extremely doubtful whether supplies will reach here in time for Christmas trade. • Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—First grade, pats 1/4% lb, bulk 1/4% lb; second grade, pats, 1/4% lb; wthey, pats, 1/3% lb. Cheese.—Export (80's), crate lots 9%d lb, less lOd lb; medium (40's), crate lots lOd, less 10% d lb; (20's), crate lots 10% d, less 10% d lb net; loaf, crate lots 10% d, less ll%d lb. BaconJr-Ham, 1/2% lb; rolled boneless ham, 1/5; cooked whole 'ham, 1/6; cooked Tolled, 1/8%; cooked pressed ham, 1/10% and 2/0%; rolled middles, 1/5%. Lard, bulk 8d lb, pats Od; dripping, pate, 4%d lb. Honey.—First grade: lib cartons, 11/9 .dozen; 2lb tins, 23/3; 51b tins. 57/6. Flour .-~Eocal. 2001b sacks. £14 15/6 ton: 100's, £15 12/6: 50's. £15 17/6: 23's, £16 7/6: 12%'*. £17: 6%V £17 17/6. Malt.—Crushed. 11/6 bushel; whole white, 11/3: whole black, 12/3.