CANTERBURY MARKETS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19114, 24 September 1927, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS

SAG IN POTATO VALUES. (AY 01-R COMMEHtUL EDITOE.) Friday Evening. The event ot the week lias been the heavy ilrop i" the potato market. With purchasers oi September potatoes forced to take delivery of their commitments an excess quantity is being dispatched north, and values have come back with u rattle. The Kurow, as an instance of the over suppliey, took 72UU backs on Wednesday from Lyttelton, as against an earlier estimate of about MOO. and the 'Wingatui, which left this afternoon, look 2074 sacks in addition to 1200 from Timnru. The Wiiiganii is the last boat scheduled for tins month. Any future the market pusncsscs depends on the extent of heptember holdings, and what is likely to he done with them this month. The next boat scheduled leaves for the north on October '2nd. Since .Monday the . market has rattled down by 10s to 20s a ton. September deliveries were sold this afternoon at £4 10s a ton, f.0.b., s.L, a drop from £o ss, and Octobers at £5, as against £6 a week ago. Jt was suggested some time ago in these columns when the official "revised estimate" was published, thut there was a probability of some growers understating their holdings for perfectly obvious reasons. The freedom with which potatoes have come to hand ever since suggests that this was not an entirely unwarranted assumption. At all events supplies, continue to come forward from districts that were understood some time ago to be "bare." However, it is still contended in oome quarters thnt supplies are in small compass in the country and a revival next month is far from improbable. However, by that time speculation . is deauU-the.market is then purely one.of supply and demand. Values to farmers are from £3 10s to £3 los on trukes. Oat Market Advances. Consequent on the weather _ conditions prevailing in New South Wales, a sharp enquiry has again set in from Sydney for oats, both A and B Gartons. It is estimated that by vessels leaving within the next week fully 27,000 sacks will be shipped to Sydney. Values here, as a result, have firmed substantially, and A's have been sold at up to 3s 6d f.0.b., s.i., and B's at 3s 3d to 3s.4cL Very little A's are offering. Further interest has been added by enquiries from England, where, apparently, the wet weather conditions have seriously affected the harvest. However, no actual business has eventuated so far. Values on trucks for ( A'Gartons are 2s lOd a bushel .and for B's 2s 7d to 2s 7-Jd. Chaff has' also firmed in sympathy, and the price has advanced, about 10s a ton during the week. The f.0.b., s.i., price is now £5 10s, and the on truck £3 10s. No actual business in chaff with Australia has been recorded, although enquiries have been made. Wheat Firm. Wheat is also firm. It slackened during the week to'6s 6d f.0.b., but is back again to 6s 70. Most of the business being done is in fowl wheat. Seeds. There is no change in'the seed market and there is a firm atmosphere, particularly in cowgrass and cocksfoot. The jlocal,enquiry has now set in. and therei has been quite an amount of farmers' business, The discussion in' the House of Representatives in regard to Danish •cocksfoot importation is regarded as opportune if the cocksfoot industry is to be maintained in the Banks Peninsula district. The Agricultural Department, by this time, should have been impressed with, if not the necessity of actual prohibition of Danish seed, at leastits staining, in order to protect the buyer of the superior local product. The putting off of the question until the return of Dr. Reakes (who is visiting the Old County) 14 months hence, is quite a needless delay. It is the knowledge possessed in the Dominion that should actuate the Department's policy, not what may be learned at the other end by the Department's officers Some export of bran lias taken place to Sydney. Quotations. The following are quotations for produce, to be paid to farmers, sacks extra, excent where otherwise stated : Wheat—6s 3d per bushel on trucks for Tuscan, and .6s 6d to 6s 8d for Hunters. Fowl Wheat—6s 7d, f.0.b., prompt; 6s 8d October.

Oats—Gartons 2s 9d to 2s . lOcl a bushel for A's, 2s 7d for B's; Algerians 2s Bd. Cliaff—£3 10s. Potatoes—£3 10s to £3 15s. •

Cowgrass—9d to lOd per !b White Clover—Bd.

Perennial Ryegrass—2s Gd to 2s i)d per bushel. Italian Ryegrass—ls 9d per bushel.. Partridge' Peas —8s 6d per bushel. Cocksfoot—6d to 6}d per lb." Linseed—£l3 10s p** 1 ton. Bran —£5 10s per ton, f.0.b., southern ports; 10s extra for smaller packings. Pollard—£7 10s per ton, f.0.b., southern ports; 10s extra for smaller'packings. Flour—Local -wholesale price, £l7 10s per ton for 2001b sacks; for shipment. ! £l7 freight paid to main New Zealand ports.

DUNEDIN. [THE PRESS Special Service] DU.N'EDIX, September 2:1. There are practically no offerings of wheat, but, on the other hand, millers are displaying little interest in the market. Stocks of wheat are, without doubt, now getting short, but local millers, at any rate, arc holding sufficient supplies to carry them through for some weeks, and they are quite content to keep off the market for the time being. In Canterbury prices are higher than in the Dunedin market. The recent alterations in the duty on wheat had 'temporarily weakened the market in the north, but tho new duty permits wheat to be landed from Australia at 7s 7Jd per bushel ex wharf, a lower price than that ruling formerly. The latest quotation is equivalent to 6s 6d f.0.b., sacks evtra, South Island ports. Previously sales had been made in Canterbury at 6s 7d to 6s Hd f.0.b., sacks extra, and, although tho price dropped to 6s 6d, quotations are back to the higher value. As a matter of fact, there is not a great deal of milling wheat now available in Canterbury. . , , ~ During tho past fortnight there was a marked change in the oat market. With a much increased volume of business passing, the market firmed, consequent on sales being made to London, and a fairly extensive buying from New South Wales merchants for September, October, and, November delivery. The demand from New South Wales has teen caused by drought conditions there, and stock owners have had to resort to dry feedings. This has brought about a demand for oats. New Zealand merchants are busy, sending away their commitments, and although Australia has now ceased buying the local markets continue firm as stocks arc limited, llie current quotation for A Gartons is 3s Bd fo.b,. s.i., and 3s ad for B's. Odd parcels, however, have changed hands between Acw, Zealand merchants at id to Id per bushel below these rates. In the absence of any offerings from growers, the prices on trucks are only nominal, at 2s 7d for A s and ~s 3d for B's. - The chafEmarket is still a purely local one, with merchants finding it difficult to secure supplies from Canterbury. Enquiries have been received from Australia for oaten sheaf, and although no sales have been reported, the enquiries have had a hardening effect on prices. Good quality is realising £5 per ton, sacks extra, ex truck. I „„ 4i f„i Freshly-dug potatoes are not plentiful. Good quality are worth £5 5s per ton, sacks in The market is still being supplemented with Canterbury grown. The Canterbury quotation is £i 15s per ton, sacks included, ° n The C export demand for seed has eased off, hut the New Zealand market continues firm. To-day's quotations for cocksfoot is lowet. but as Akaroa-grown it .a short aup-