CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18674, 24 April 1926, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

(sr ont COMMTRCIAL IKIIOB.) Friday Evening. AH classes of produce, Trith the exception of peas, are meeting -with dull enquiry. The Potato Market. The Sydney boat, the Kawatiri, left Lyttelton on Wednesday night, her departure being expedited on account of the uncertainty of the •waterside position. • Her quick departure shut out about 40 trucks of potatoes, or about 240 tons. The total taken aboard •was 0232 sacks, or .100 odd tons, so that under ordinary circumstances the cargo would have been heavier than expected. The Waikouaiti, from Timaru direct this week, also took a fair consignment. With the departure of the Sydney boat • and the increasing waterside trouble, the market has eased. Merchants have deemed it wise to notify growers to curtail their digging. It is suggested that a direct boat may be put on before the middle of May, and if labour troubles disappear, such a vessel would be assured of a good cargo. Reliable reports from Auckland state that local potatoes will be about exhausted by the.end of this month, a report given some confirmation by the fact that this afternoon enquiries were being received asking for quotations. Apart) from the question of whether these enquiries will lead to business, the prompt market is easier by ss-to 10s a ton. Quotations on trucks aro £5 10s a ton. Digging results so far have only been moderate, but the later crops are promising well. Decline in Oats. The Canadian oats coming to hand have brought down the values of local offerings to a competitive basis. The few lines that have been sold are on a basis of 3s 6d to 3s 7d on trucks for A'g and 3s 3d for B's. Yesterday 4g 4d f.0.b., s.i., was paid for A's, to-day a halfpenny less; and B's have passed at 4s OJd. These prices can compete with the Canadian importations, and more business may now result. The outlet has been restricted for some time. The Seed Market. White clover has weakened in price as a result of low Home quotations, which are on the basis of 121s per cwt, or Is 3d alb for dressed seed. This depresses local values to about 9irl to 10d to farmers, who are now selling at these prices. Cowgrass samples are coming to hand freely, but the quality varies from medium downwards. Merchants arc not anxiouß to pperate owing to the Home quotations. English can be landed at lOd a lb c.i.f., for machine-dressed which makes local values 8d to 9d on trucks. '■ '' ' Ryegrass values have sagged in the South, and 271b soed is quoted at 'the Bluff at 5s 2d f.0.b., s.i. Tho equivalent price here on trucks is 3s 6d to 3s 9(1. It is understood that a good deal is held in farmers' hands, and a big proportion of the crop bought by merchants is still in store. There has been practically ho outlet this year. The Australian market did not materialise cn account of Irish seed being landed there. This, with'.'the North Island dullness, has practically closed the outlet for the time being. Italian ryegrass is "offering freely, quotations beitg at 2s 9d t6 3s on trucks, or 4s- 6d to 4s 9d f.0.b., s.i. The market is sick. The linseed market is Weak; ,and" £l3 to £l3 7s 6d is quoted on. trucks; , Reports from the South are to - the effect that the ddgstail crop is light and there is a gp.od demand at Is ( 6d to Is 7d for machine-dressed. The fescue crop has been a fairly good one, and dressed lines fange about 9d to lOd per lb. The export, demand for the time being, is nil. The to fill the' April vessel has * resulted in-- peas| - jumping •in price, up to 7s lOd f.0.b., <s.i., being paid for export quality. The proportion .of undergrade peas, however; is extraordinarily heavy, which embarrassed merchants who had bought amply. It is hoped that the later, threshings will-show a heavier proportion of .export quality. London parity is from 6s 3d to 6s 6d on trucks. . Wheat, at the moment, is selling very slowly, and it is reported that some mills are working short time. Though onion prices are easier locally—£l3 on. trucks—the price in Sydney for Victorians is high—£23 a ton. About £5 10s a ton covers charges over. The Kawatiri took 2596 centals for Sydney, a little over 110 tons. A few consignments were rejected at; port, and others were not got down to the boat in time. Quotations. The following are nominal quotations free of commission, on trucks at wayside stations, sacks extra, except where otherwise stated:— Wheat (new season) —Millers', -oilers, 6s Bd, 6s lOd, and 7s f.0.b., sacks extra; fowl wheat 7s. Oats —Gartons 3s 6 ( ] to 3s 7rl for A's, and 3s 3d to 3s 4d for B's; Algerians 3s 6d; Dunj 3s 9d to 4s for good quality. Chaff—Good bright £5 10s. White Clover (new season)—9d to lOd. Barley—6s.' , Cowgrass—Bd to 9d. Italian Ryegrass—2s 9d to 3s. | Perennial Ryegrass—3s 6d to 3s Od. [ Cocksfoot {nominal)—7d to 7id. Partridge Peas—To 6s 6d. Onions—£l3. Potatoes—£s 10s. Flour—£lß a ton f.o.b. nearest port; smaller packing, 1001b £l9; 50's, £11) 12s 6d; 2o's, £2O. ' Pollard—£9 f.o.b. nearest port, 10s extra for smaller packing. Bran—£B per ton f.o.b. nearest port, 10s extra for smaller packing. POULTRY AND EGGS. ~ ' A medium entry of poultry cam* forward 'or the sale this week. On account of j dealers trade not being so brisk, prices have steadied somewhat. Following are prices per pair: Table chickens .5s to 12b, hens (lizht) -s 6d to 4s, hens (heavy) 4s 6d to 6s 6d, ducks 5s Cd to 8s 6d, geese 7s to Bs, tur--1 keys 16s to 425. The supply of eggs is very short, and nuother rice in prices, vas recorded during th© week. Tho Canterbury Co-operative Producers, Ltd.. quote the following prices per dozen: Kjrst grade hen egga 2s lOd, second grade hen eggs 2s Bd. DINEDIN MARKETS. ISPECrAL TO "the MESS.' : ) DUNEDIX, April 23 i Oats—Threshing operations ara now general throughout the district. The yield promises to be an exceptionally heavy* one. and as merchants are not keen operator*, values are inclined to ease. A Gartons 3g 4<J, B Gartons 3s 2d on trucks at country stations sacks extra, are the prices quoted." ' •Wheat.—The market remains in much-the same position. Wheat sold before the present rates were fixed is coming forward, and in the majority ot'Cases is-in good milling condition. Fowl wheat is changing hands at values slightly in excess of the fixed rates. •' • Chaff.—The market is well supplied, and » fair quantity remains in store. Prima £5 10s to £5 15s, ex truck-Dutredin; medium nnd inferior £3, to £4: 1s ex store, sacks extra. Potatoes. —Consignments are arriving freely, and Taieri-grown iijies in particular are of exceptionally good quality; £7 to £-7 5# ex trucks, eaclss in, is qtiottd. i