CANTERBURY MARKETS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18969, 6 April 1927, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS

POTATOES MORE LIVELY. (BY Ol'R COMMERCIAL EDITOR.) Tuesday Erening. While there is any quantity of wheat about for millers' requirements, as is j the case at present, only small lots aro I changing hands, for the reason that there is a good deal in store. One miller claims to have at least six or eight months' supply on hand. "The present prices are not to our liking/ he said to-day. "As a matter of fact, we would be pleased to see an advance, which would give us a chanco to mako something out of the wheat we bought earlier in the season." The North Island demand for seeds has just about run its course this season and a period of quietness may now be expected. New crops of cowgrass are coming on to the market and are turning out weli. Growers, however, are asking lOd per lb for seed that prospective buyers consider is not worth any more than 8d at the present time. There is no demand at all for white clover, buyers not being interested in it at any price, most of them having a fair carry over from last year. With regard to cocksfoot a similar position obtains. A few odd lots are coming in from growers, who are prepared to accept od per lb for good quality seed on trucks.* The values for ryegrass are unchanged. Southern sellers have a big lot on hand from last season and apparently North Tsland buyers are getting their requirements from them. For new season's crop southern seed is being offered at 3s 9d to 4s 9d and 1926 crop at from 3s to 3s 9d f.o.b. machine dressed. These .are regarded as give-away prices, and the result is disastrous'so far as business in .Canterbury seed is concerned-. The southern prices are too low, while those ruling in Canterbury are too high.

More interest has been shown lti potatoes during the last few days, the quotation being, now from. £3 .10s to £3 15s per ton. In fact a buyer was endeavouring to pet a parcel yesterday at £4 per ton. While the demand for prompt stuff is better than it was, it was possible a day or two ago to buy back from Auckland purchasers at a 10-sver rate than ivas paid. It is stated that owing to there being a good crop in Tasmania this season there is a possibility of potatoes from that country coming in to the Dominion if local prices should advance beyond a certain limit. Not much digging Has been done up to the present ana it is probable that it will not be indulged in extensively until after the Easter holidays. By the Kurow some 600 sacks of potatoes were taken to Auckland, a similar quantity going away by the Katoa. A bigger loft will probably be dispatched by tht: Wingatui to-day, and a further supply will go north by the Waipiata on Saturday or Monday. ■The onion market is a quiet one and practically the only stuff going forward is. that which was ordered some time ago. . In any case there is not/much offering at present.

Quotations. The following are quotations for produce to be paid to farmer's, sacks extra, free of commission except' where otherwise stated:— Wheat —5s Id to 5s 2d for Tuscan, and 5s 3d Hunters, on trucks; Oats—Gartons 2s to 2s 3d per bushel; Algerians 2s; Duns, 2s' 3d. Chaff—£3 per ton. Potatoes—£3 10s to £3 15s per ton. Onions—£2 7s 6d per ton. Red Clover—Bd per lb. White Clover—9d per lb. Perennial Ryegrass—2s 9d per bushel. Partridge Peas—To 6s 9d. Barley—3s to 3s 3d per bushel. Italian Ryegrass—ls 6d to Is 9d per bushel. Cocksfoot—od to 5.Jd per lb. Linseed—£l3' per ton. Bran—£6 per ton f.o.b. southern ports; 10s extra for smaller packing.' Pollard—£B per ton f.o.b.- southern ports; 10s extra' for smaller packing. Flour—Local wholesale price £l7 per ton basis for 2001b sacks.

TEMUKA MARKETS. The local wheat "market is very brisk, and sales are taking place every day. The majority of farmers are now prepared to meet the market, and~ are selling freely. However, as storage at.reasonable rates is being offered, a number .of farmers are taking advantage of it and are prepared to leave their wheat in store for some time. Farmers generally are waiting to plough their land, and this, to some extent, accounts for the brisk business at the present time. The oat market is qui%t, and present prices do not offer much inducement to farmers to sell. Several growers have already put their oats in store in anticipation of a rise in values in the late autumn. There are very few good, heavy samples of Algerians or Duns about, and these are enquired for at a slight increase in values. The chaff market is firm, and good light samples are being readily sold at late rates. Partridge peas are quiet, and there iB little business to report. A few sales were made last week at about a penny drop. Ryegrass is dull, no business taking place. Clover is' now coming on to the market, but apparently merchants still have a fair amount of last year's seed on hand, and are not keen buyers. The potato market is steady, and numerous sales for prompt delivery are taking place daily. The main crop will not be ready for about a month, and forward sales for May-June delivery are frequent at up to £3 15s per ton. Nominal quotations on trucks, sacks extra, unless otherwise stated, are:— Wheat—Tuscan 5s 3d, Hunters Ss sd, Velvet; 5s 9d. Oats—A Gartons 2s 3d, Algerians 2s 6d, Duns 2s 6d, B grade 3d less. Chaff —Good light oatsheaf £3 2s 6d per ton. Partridge Peas—No. l's 6s Sd, f.a.q.'s 6s 2d. Grass Seeds—Perennial 2s 9d, Western Wolths Is Bd. Clover —Red Bd, white 9d, cowgrass Bd, Potatoes—£3 15s per ton, sacks in.

WAIMATE STOCK MARKET. There was renewed life in the market during the week for good young ewes, a rise of from 3s to 5s taking place at the Studholme ewe fair. Those farmers, who have left thi' purchasing of their requirements to the moment have now to pay the penalty of buying in a dearer market than has been the case for some, weeks. ..The last Studholme sal© was much in favour of buyers, prices then -being considered to bo as low as it was possible for them to go. This was borne out by the recent e*e fair at Studholme, when young sheep showed a sharp upward tendency, and all classes were much firmer, with sales much easier to make. Prices from now on should be stabilised. Several sales have been made at sale values, and quotations are: —Two-tooth ewes from 28s 6d to 80s, extra choice lines up to dss, four and six-tooth ewes from 28s 6d to' 6d, guaranteed sound-mouthed ewes 20s to 22s 6d, full-monthcd ewes, if in good condition, realised 12s to 15s, cull ewes 6s to ys 6d.

Throughout the season, a fairly steadv demand has been experienced for rape lambs, and. sales are still being 'made, though they are • fewer, now both in the number of sales made and the number of lambs. The price of 208 to 21s 6d can be quoted for good rape lambs. Ewe lambs are bringing very little more than wether lambs of a similar class and condition, and are not in very ereat demand. Extra well-bred lots- realise a shilling more. The range of prices runs from about 21s to 23s 6d for ordinarv lines to 24s for the best. A few selected lines nave been sold at 255. Fat sheep, and lambs have drafted off the feed well, and the prices realised for these lines at recent sales have been from 24s to -6s for lambs. Ewos have brought 13a 6d to 15s 6d.