CANTERBURY MARKETS

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19691, 7 August 1929, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS

POTATOES FLUCTUATE. (bt or a COMMERCIAL KDITOB.) Tuesday Evening. The potato market has fluctuated considerably since the week-end report. On Friday evening a firming was toted in August-fcicptember deliveries, which were quoteu at t.0.b., s.i. Jsext morning there was a sudden jump to £,& 7s tid, over-seliers coming on tiie market. There was an easing back again yesterday morning, but to-day an upward tendency developed, and the price this afternoon was £8 10s. The remarkable feature about the market is that "prompt" potatoes failed to reflect the August-September position. As a matter of fact, the movement tended the other way. Prompts dropped to £ 7 12s 6d, and to-day are quoted at £7 15s. Prices to farmers are about £6 llis 6d. The widening oi the values of prompt and forward tubers, which deliveries were practically the same price last week, may be partly accounted for by the heavy shipments of the last week or two. The Waipiata, which sailed last week with 10,500 sacks from Timaru and Lyttelton, had something of a surprise packet for merchants here, in that she took 1600 sacks from south ern ports, 800 from the Bluff, 500 from Dunedin, and 300 from Oamaru. The two first-named ports were not regarded as probable contributors to northern needs. The consignment, however, had the effect of slightly swelling thj heavy arrivals for the fortnight, and the delivery of 12,000 odd sacks in one cargo had the effect of immediately depressing the market. Consigned tubers formed a fair proportion of the Lyttelton shipment. The position in the northern city has brought about a cessation of orders. The Kurow and Wingatui will be loading this week for the north, but there is no idea as to the quantities they will take. Dakotas have eased for prompt delivery in sympathy with whites. They were being sold at £9 a ton f.0.b., s.i.. but are now being re-offered by Welling ton merchants at £8 10s. Although the incident should have no direct influence on values here, the drop of £4 a ton in Sydney, notified in this morning's cables, is something of a factor in the stimate the trade has of the position. The state of the market is somewhat puzzling, and merchants who are not holding stocks are disposed to tread warily until matters clarify. An Auckland Complaint. The Auckland "Star" of last Saturday has the following:— "A strong protest is being voiced by produce dealers about the poor quality of all varieties of southern potatoes. 'The quality has been poor all the season,' said one dealer, 'but the last shipment was particularly bad.' He produced a line of 350 sacks graded as fair average quality, and any sack could be opened with the surety of a very large percentage having the disease known as the ' brown rust.' "It is the general opinion among merchants that, had the same quality of potato been shipped to Australia this season that has been sent to Auckland, every class of New Zealand potato would have been prohibited in Australia altogether." Other Products. Fowl wheat continues firm, there being a fair amount of business at 5s 9d f.o.b. Milling wheat cannot be bought to any extent at less than 5s 9}d on trucks, but there is little business doing. Oats are very quiet at 3s 4id to 3s fid a bushel f.0.b., s.i., for A Gartons, and lsd less for B's. Chaff has been bought at £4 10s a ton from farmers at near-by stations. Quotations. The following are quotations for produce to be paid to farmers, on trucks free of commission, sacks exjtra, except where otherwise stated:— Wheat—to 5s 9sd a bushel for Tuscan, to 6s for Hunters; fowl wheat 5s 9d for prompt. Oats—Gartons 2s 5d to 2s lOd a bushel; Algerians to 2s 6d; Duns 2s 8d to 3s. Chaff—£4 5s to £4 10s a ton. Potatoes —£6 12s 6d to £6 15s. Onions—£7 10s a ton. xted Clover—sjd to 7Jd per lb. White Clover —9d to 12d per lb. Partridge Peas —4s 6d a bushel. Perennial Ryegrass—To 4s 6d a bushel. Italian Ryegrass—3s 9d to 4s a bushel. Cocksfoot—Bd to Bjd per lb. Linseed —To £ls 10s a ton. Bran—£6 10s a ton, f.0.b., sonthern ports; 10s extra for smaller packings. Pollard—£B a ton, f.0.b., southern ports; 10s extra for smaller packings. Flour—Local wholesale prices £l6 5s a ton for 2001b sacks, with the usual increments for smaller packings Price for shipment, £l6 5s a ton, f.o.b. AUCKLAND MARKETS. [THB PBEBS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, August 6. The produce markets are beginning to show a Dnut tendency, which is usual at this season of the year, when the Dominion pro dnction is at its lowest point. There are (air quantities of potatoes on hand, but in view ot the stronger position in the south there is no disposition here to lower prices, which run at abont £lO 10s per ton, ex store. There are still many complaints as to the quality, not only in regard to lines that have been sent here on consignment, but also in respect of lota that have passed the Government grader at Lyttelton. There is no change in the onion market, which is steady at about 17s 6d per cwt for locals and Japanese. A shipment which came forward from Japan last week was irregular in quality, some of the onions showing signs of sweating in the centres. A fresh consignment is due to-day. The oats market is firmer than it was, though B Gartons are unchanged in price at 4s 6d per bushel, ex store. Good chaff, too. is distinctly short, and up to £lO 10s is being paid for special quality. Fowl wheat is verr firm just now, and ? rices have been raised Id per bushel to s Bd, in sympathy with the increased rates now demanded by southern holders. There are plentiful supplies of maize at the present time, with a keen demand for this popular winter grain. Bay of Plenty consignments are being purchased for dispatch to the Waikato and other centres, brought direct by steamer for the City trade. Though the current price is steady at 6s 9d per bushel ex store, the market is inclined to weakness. j The continued wet weather and occasional colder temperatures have brought about a brisk demand both tor bran and pollard, with the result that both lines are scarce on spot Merchants report difficulty in ob taining supplies from the south, and to continue ordering from Australia involves an increased cost of 108 per ton. Local prices are unaltered meanwhile. Wholesale current prices are:—Sharpa and bran—Mill prices: Sharps £9 10s per ton, bran £8 per ton; merchants' quotations ex Btore: Southern and Australian pollard £lO 10s to £lO 15s, bran £8 10s. Oats—Feed: B Gnrtons 4s 6d per bushel. A Gartons 4s 9d. clipped Dunns 6s 3d to 6s 6d. clipped Algerians 5s 9d. clipped Gartons 5s 3d' fowl wheat 7s 8d per bushel. Maize: Old. ex store 7s. new season's 6s 9d. Barley— Feed 5s 9d per bushel, seed. Cape Barley 6s fid per bushel. Maize meal 14s 6d per 1001b; barlev meal 13s per lOOIb; chaff G.8.0.S PIO to £lO 10s per ton, Blenheim or Canterbury. Potatoes—Prime Cnnter bury £ll 10s per ton. Onions, local 17s to 17b 6d per cwt, Japanese 17s 6d.

EGG AUCTION.

Measrs Harris Bros.. 'Ltd.. renort that *he usual weekly auction Kale of "Foather Brand" guaranteed fresh eggs was held yesterday afternoon. The fol'owine prices were realised:—Hen epgn. first prude (2o* or over) Is Td, second trade (under 2oz) la 84. 0