BOARD OF TRADE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19286, 16 April 1928, Page 10

BOARD OF TRADE.

' MARCH - 'STATISTICS. ■ i' ' ' 'J ' • i ti l " • ' IUKITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BY ELECTRIC TZLEQRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) • ■ (Received - April 15th, 11 , V-LONDON, April 14. The Board of Tradle figures ' for March show that imports decreased by £2,989,000, exports increased by £2,844,0C0, and reexports decreased by £496,000. The principal decreases . -were :—. •V.' IMPORTS. , •*■ *' * * j■' ,* v £■ Dutiable food and dru?k ... 1i206,0(K) Oil, seecb, fete; ... ••• 1,392,000 Iron and steel, and manu- • factures thereof ... 1,428,000 EXPORTS. • - Coal' ... ... ... 1,211,000 INCREASED IMPORTS. Grain and flour .... jfiS'JSK Raw wool ... ••• 1,855,000 . INCREASED EXPORTS. Machinery ... ... 678,000 Cotton yarns and manufactures ... ... 809,0W Vehicles...- ... ~..1,184,000 —Australian Press Association.

N.Z. APPLES. •——* i. POOR PRICES IN LONDON. . (UNITED PMBB ASSOCIATION—BY ELSCTRIC •TELXOBAFH—COPIBIOHT.) (Received April 15th, 11 p.m.) • LONDON, April 14. Fruit ' traders are disappointed at prices realised for Australian and New Zealand apples. This is v attributed partly to" heavy supplies of good, cheap oranges, and also to unexpected competition from Oregon Newtons. Recently thes* have been comparatively Kcarce, ahd'only of.moderate quality, but the Americans;apparently reserved some of their best and dumped many thousand cases of good quality on the English markets this week.—Australian Press Association. WHEAT. (OKITID JMS3 ASSOCIATION—BI ELBCTBIO ' TSLIGRAPH—COPTRIOHT.) ('Received April 15th, 11 p.m.) ,-■•■■■ NEW YORK, April 14. Chicago wheat quotations are: May 134 cants, July 1531 cents, September 1601 cents •'- bushtl.—Australian Press Association. POULTRY AND EGGS. The Canterbury Co-op. Poultry Producers, ltd, report that good entries o( poultry came forward tor the week's markets and prices remain about the same as before tbo holidays. The following prices were realised per pair:—Table chickens, light 4s 0d to ui ed, heavy 8s to lis; hens, light 8a to 4i, heavy 5s 6d to 6s 6d; ducks, light 6s 04 to 6s 6d, heavy 7s to 8s; geese, 7s to »s; turkey, bens 14s to 20s, gobblers 20s to aOi. ; ~7

AUSTRALIAN WHEAT. OUTSTANDING QUALITY. The wheat markets have shown more activity during the last few weeks, and there has been a good demand for Australian', says the "Banking Record." More business has been done in Australian than in other wheats on account of its good quality, which has placed it at a high premium in comparison with other classes. Canadian wheat available includes a considerable proportion of off-grades, and virtually no No. 1 or No. 2 Manitoba. In addition, last year's European crops were harvested under very bad weather conditions. Australian farmers have been taking advantage of the situation, and have been selling steadily in all States. With more business for export, the freight market has steadied, and for full cargoes owners are quoting 35s a ton, while parcel space is heavily engaged until June.

Owing to the relatively high prices ruling for Australian wheat, Australian flour is now out of line with flour produced in other countries from cheaper wheat, and the flonr milling business is at present in anything but a satisfactory condition, and most of the plants throughout Australia are working "short time.

Shipments and commitments of wheat and flour so far this season represent approximately 50 per cent, of the exportable surplus, and the Continental demand for Australian wheat has been of considerable value in affording an outlet.

TRADE WITH THE ISLANDS. DELEGATION'S VISIT POSTPONED. Advice has been received from the Department of Industries and Commerce by the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association, suggesting that the visit of the delegation of business men to Samoa on the first trip of the Government motor-ship Mam Poniare to the island, should be postponed owing to the position of things in Samoa. .■■ It is probable that the Manufacturers' Association and the other organisations interested will fall in with the idea. . .

The original idtea was lhat the delegation should leave in March, but owing to the Maui Pomare not being ready, it was put off till May. It is now'likely that the trip will be postponed till the spring. The Maui Pomare is due in NewZealand waters about the middle ot next month.

WEST AUSTRALIAN SETTLEMENT. INCREASING DEMAND FOR LAND. In order to satisfy" the increasing demand for land suitable for wheat-grow-ing and sheep-raising m West Australia, the Government of that State has for some time past been operating with a maximum staff of surveyors in c6untry within the recognised rainfall areas. The Minister for Lands, Mr M. IV Troy, announced last month .the gazetting of, 200 blocks\available for settlement, and stated that it was expected that an average of 50/ blocks per week would be made available henceforward, with a total~bf at least 1000 blocks by the end of June. Negotiations are proceeding, a's a result of which it is expected that the British and Commonwealth Governments will agree to finance the development of these new areas under the migration agreement. During February 47 surveyors were employed, 26 in subdivisional surveys, 4 in, classification sur; v>ys and 17/ in surveying blocks selects ed. prior; -.'an"d / subject to vey. •; > .... ;\;: "■ The probability, that, the annual rate of-increase in' the area to.be placed under Meat in the State, with a resultant increased yield, will be maintained this year, is forecast in a state; menfrmade by the Minister of Eailways. Mr .J. ,0. Will'cock, who bases his esj tiniate on. the quantity of \ siiperphos; phate transported over the railways since the beginning of the'year, compared with the quantity transported for the same period of last year. The increase in faveur of this year has been so great that, calculating on. the, basiß that farmers intend using on an average the same quantity of superphosphate to the acre as lart year, an additional area of 30,000 acres, is represented. Assuming further, that the average yield an acre! for next harvest will not be less

than the average yield obtained for the season, just closed, approximately 40,000,000 bushels, of wheat, should be harvested next year.: DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs A. H. Turnbull and Co. are'in receipt of the following cablegram from their principals, W. Weddel and Co., Ltd., dated London, 13th inst,: — I Butter.—Danish 180s to 182s (last week 188s to 190s); New Zealand unsalted 168s to 176s (170s to 1765); New Zealand salted 166s to 168s (166s tovl7os). Market Blow. Cheese.—New Zealand white and coloured 96s to 97s (last week 97s to 995). Market steady. Canadian cheese, white 108s to 113 (108s to 112s). Canadian cheese, coloured 104s to 106s (106s to 108s).

MARKING OF IMPORTED EGGS. DISCUSSION IN BRITAIN. The proposed compulsory marking of eggs has occasioned some concern in British cold storage circles. At a recent meeting of the Association of Refrigeration, Mr J. F. Hooper, who represents the association on the Poultry Advisory Committee of the Ministry Of Agriculture, informed the members that he did not think the Ministry would concern itself with marking imported eggs "C.5.," but would insist upon all imported eggs being marked with the name of the country of origin. Mr Hooper said he hardly thought that any responsibility could be placed on the cold storage proprietors for marking their customers' goods, but he did think the Ministry would ask that eggs should be marked .before going into store. Unless a cheap egg could be put on the market, a large section of the community, especially in London, was not going Ho see an egg. In the course of discussion the balance of opinion was that marking would tend to make . all eggs dearer, with a resultant lallingoff in the consumptive demand.

HAURAKI MINES, LTD. The manager report* a a follow*: At Iht seaward end of tho 400 ft lore) the drive ou tho crow root Into tho hanging well country to locate the Oreen Harp reel ha* been driven to ■ total distance of 40ft. A considerable (low of water I* coming from the face, and the country continues of tho tame favourable nature. All the air plpea are In position for the ventilation of the seaward face and for the rise to connect with the Union Ucach hoction. Rising wilt be resumed to-day, mid when connected Mopping operation* van bo commenced over the level where the gold was got. Thin block will he 100 ft In length, with a reasonable ehance of It going to the surface * The Haurakl abaft U now 80ft below the 800 ft chamber. The reef mentioned In lait report ia a big formation composed of ribs of atrong quartz and band* of pug and gritty quart*. fin far no gold ha* been teen. By the dip and strike of tho reef it will continue In the shaft for some dlitanco down.