CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18183, 20 September 1924, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

<sr ctrs coiaixs.ciii zuiioa) Friday Evening. "Paper'' potatoes have jumped in value to an amazing extent during the past few days. On Tuesday the f.0.b., si., price was £6 10s to £-6 15s; yesterday it was £-7 to £7 as; and today it is The operations of a forward seller a month ago at low prices are responsible for this extravagant advance. Buyers demanded the actual goods, and good money (or cancellations) had to be paid to get them. It ir. now reported that these forward sales have been covered, and the operator is buying at as high as £S, f.0.b,. r-.i., after selling a month ago at £4 10s. To the' farmer, trade prices are a fai'ce. Temporarily, at ..all events, this manoeuvring of the market has been reflected in a firming of values to farmers of about 20s a- ton over the last week or two, and they can secure at the moment from £. r > to £5 10s on trucks. It is 3. very good price, and wisdom prompts its acceptance in prefere'neo to judging the idiosyncracies of the wholesale market, which would be tantamount to pricking 3. race-card with a pin. Even the most unsophisticated of potato-growers knows what that means.

The position is solely dependent on the "Victorian importations. From Auckland it is reported that the last big shipment by the Kawatiri "proved first-class. 3 ' Private information received in Christeirarch was to the effect that a proportion did not. Secondly, Auckland reckoned "fortunately prices in Australia were , low 5 ' (which they certainly are), but . the Kawatixi will bring smaller quantities next trip, and Auckland will require "old potatoes for some weeks yet." If the. potatoes are good, the price low, and potatoes are wanted for some weeks yet, it is surprising that future importations should be smaller. It would take a Philadelphia lawyer and a column of space to detail the reasons of the present leap in values. What should' concern the grower is that local potatoes at £B, f.0.b., s.i., are costing £9 15s_in Auckland, whilst Victorian are being quoted at .£7 10s in Auckland. A few instances of big quantities being held by growers are -reported. Three holdings are stated to represent near 400 , tons between them, but there arc always a. few growers whose price is 10s a head of offers, and who eventually have to take a slump price or see their potatoes rot. In estimating actual resources, there is a tendency nowadayS to cut eucli growers out of the calculation.' If potatoes were £2O they would want £2O 10s. Apart from this, however, it should not be forgotten that the Victorian crop this season was 90,000 tons above last (the total New Zealand crop exceeds this quantity by less thaji 20 percent.), the price is low and tho shipping available. The grower should think hard, before he refuses present prices. "Paper" potatoes at £8 should be worth £6 15s on trucks. Instead, actually, potatoes are worth £5 10s. The Wingatui is due to leave on Monday with a very small consignment, and the Ivavua is to sail on the 24.th. If all September deliveries have to bo taken by this vessel there will not be much room for anything else. Imported oats are filling local orders. IB Gartons are a little easier in consequence. , There is a brisk Home enquiry for best classes of white clover and cowgrass. The wet season. <Lt Homo has spoiled many of the seed crops. lor white clover, best samples, with nodarkness in them, arc worth up to Is 6d to farmers, and the best cowgrass to d. Little of tho best, however, is offering. ... Partridge peas havo "been meeting with a littlo enquiry for export. Substantial quantities arc still held in store. . A Home demand has set in for dogstail, and for good quality 9Ad f.0.b., s.i., is quoted. The Irish crop has been spoiled by the weather. Though the wholesale _ market 111 seeds is very slow, there is a fair retail business with_ farmers. A good rain would va.stly increase it. Chaff is. firm, consequent on sales to Auckland. Up to £7 5s is being quoted to farmers. - , The following are tlie quotations to bo paid to farmers at country stations, frco of commission, oxtia, except whore otherwise stated - Wheat/-—'Tuscan os sd, Hunters' as 7d, Pearl 5s 9d, f.o.b. Lytic Hon. Fowl wheat (nominal)— 6s f.o.b.

Chaff—£7. Oats —B Gar tons 5s 6d. Whito Clover —Is "d to Is Gd, Cowgrass—Sd to 9id. Partridge Peas —os 9d to 6s. Italian Ryegrass—6s. Perennial Ryegrass— Cocksfoot —Bcl to 9d. Linseed-—£17 15s.

Barley—os. . Potatoes—£o to 10s (nominal). Flour—£l3 10s a ton. Pollard—£6 10s f.o.b. main ports; 10s extra for smaller packing. Bran—£-5 10s per ton f.o.b. main ports; 10s extra for smaller packing.

POULTRY AND EGGS.

Fairly large entries of poultry, carce forward, this week, but. tho supply was not equal to tho demand and consequently high prices ruled. Following are prices per pair: Table chickens 8s to 16s 6d, liens'ss to 10s, ducks 6s to lis, sreeso 7s to 9s, turkeys 18s to 455. . ■Tho market was again well supplied with eggs this week, but', with t-ho export trado and local orders, a- good clearance of supplies was made. The Canterbury Co-operativo Poultry' Producers Ltd. quote tho following prices per dozen for "Chain"' brand: First grade hen eggs Is <ld, second grade Is 3d. ASHBURTON. Wiieat —Fowl wheat sold to West, Coast during tie. week at 6s_ '3d per bushel. Oats—Quiet enquiry fo:r Gartons from 5s 6d to 5s 9d per bushel. Steady demand for Algerians for eeedl Some farmers aro placing their orders for autumn sowing and tire paying from -Gs 3d to &s €d r~r bushel according to quality. There is; aleo enquiry from Timaru and Chri6tchujcli far this class of Med. ChaS—The dry wraiher is making the farmers refrain from felling ,'.flrir holdings, thus very few lines have been offered for* e-aie, and 'to-<xays valuo is £7 per ton ior grood,. bright, oat-sheai, on trucks, sacks estra. 1

Potatoes have liken a- sbarp rise, and whites and Dakotaa are worth. about £3 per ton on trucks, packs extra-. P-rac—The . price to : farmers for 1 quality is 63 per bneiifl. Grass se«*i and clovers—So -far as the 10tail demand is concerned; thia is very unsatisfactory. The dry spell of weather experienced has checked , (lie demand. There has been a improvement :u ro-vprass, the value io-diy boiu- to (>d per lb -to farmer.-. TALLOW. l£essj» A. H. Turobnll anji Co. are in receipt of the following cablegram from TV. Wedael and Co., L".d., dated London, September 17th: —"Tallo'* - market has" advanced <M. a3O casks irere affixed and £-50 cold. Gut tallo-r 26 extira.''