CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 14

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

COMPARISON OF POTATO FIGURES. (EI OUR COMMERCIAL EDITOB.) Friday Evening. There is very little to report concerning the Canterbury grain and produce i.arkct, and among both merchants and idlers there is a marked disinclination towards forward business. As far as the potato market for next, /car is concerned there is little interest being taken. There is still a definite offer by sellers to-day of £4 2s Cd a ton f.0.b., s.i., for April-May delivery, but buyers' idea of values is £4 a ton. Supplies for April-May-Juno delivery are quoted by sellers at £4 ss, but there iigain they are above the figure at which buyers wish to do business. Odd iots of old potatoes are being sold still, and the price ranges from 30s to 35s a ton on trucks to growers. The following table comparing the quantities of potatoes (in sacks) shipped from Lyttclton in the 1929 and ■930 seasons is of special interest:— 1929. 1930. Auckland .. 123,-124 133,152 Wellington .. 96,833 80,229 Napicr-Gisborno .. 29,001 30,194 Wanganui-New Plymouth . . 75,937 72,699 West Coast, South Island .. 8,264 15,108 Totals .. 833,519 331,382 The decrease in 1930 amounts to 2137 sacks. In regard to oats there is very little to report, except that sellers' quotations foi forward business nre 3s i.o.b. s.i., for A's and 2s lld for B's. The market continues lifeless. ASHBURTON MARKET. Very little change has bcon experienced in the grain and produce market since lust week, and generally speaking business is quiet. The general opinion in regard to vhtid.l appears to be that there will be no shortugd in the eniiply and that there will be a carry-over. At present there is a fair enquiry for fowl wheat from the North Inland. Clean broken seconds arc also enquired for. Oats arc in poor demand. This also applies to chaff, as quantities of Tismanian d-aff have arrived in Auckland. Potatoes are almost over for tho season, nnd it is difficu't obtain a grader's certificate for any lines shipped. Merchants are endeavouring to clean up all stocks for the new season. The following are quotations for produce to be paid to farmers on truck*: Wheat—Tuscan, uood milling 5s lid to 6b, Hunters 6s 2d, Velvet 6s 3d. Fowl whsat ."r 0d seconds 4s Gd to «is od. Oats—A Cartons B Onrfons lid, Alcerinns 3s rd to 3s f)d, Duns Gd to 4s 3d per bushel, according to qua r ity. Grass Sred—Perennial Es 3d to 5e fid, Western WVths and Ita-ian 4s 3d to -i<* <kl, 'cd clover 4d to M. cork.s'oofc 7d to Od per lb. \vb?tf> clover 7d to Bd. Chaff—Oood bright onts'-eaf XI per ton. Partndro T>e»s— No. l's 4s Od, f.a.q. 4s rd. Potatoes—£l 10s per ton (nominal value). DUNEDIN. [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, December 5. Markets are now beginning to develop a ho idcy tone, so far as mi linp wheat is concerned. Little business is passing in tho local mark-et, as millers are ho'ding ample stocks, and are not prepared to operate further till the new ccason's wheat commences to como forward. Market prices are unaltered. Tuscan is worth 6s GJd, f.0.b., tacks extra, with the usual advance for other Varieties. Stocks of fowl wheat are getting into small compass, and tho market is firm. Sales have been made at up to Gs 6d per bushel, sacks extra, ex store, for good quality. Littlo business is passing in oats. A small line is occasionally wanted for shipment to tho North Island. Current quotations for shipment are 3s 6d. f.0.b., s.i. for A Gartons and 3s 4d for B's. Prices quoted for new season's oats spread delivery, #April to September, are 3s for A's, f.0.b., s.i., and 2s lid for B's. Tho demand for chaff on the local market is very limited. Tnere are ample supplies iri stores to meet all requirements, but al though prices have declined in other centres, there is no appreciable change here. Good quality is selling at £5 10s per ton, sackF; exfn, ex store. Farmers who are holding stocks for chaffing have been unable to cut owing to the broken weather, and now that th-e weather shows signs of improvement they have to devote their attention to other farming operations. There is still a market for old potatoes, but it is not very buoyant. Buyers ai« obtaining supplies from Canterbury, and freshly picked over lots are worth about' £3 10s per ton, sacks included, cx truck.

Now that the weather is more seasonable for sowing, tho retail demand for seeds is increasing, and deliveries to the country during the week have been good.

SOUTHLAND. N , (SPECIAX TO TIIR PB*SS.) INVERCAROILL, December 5. Oats—This market shows no great improvement. Shipping • buyers aro indicating about 3s 6d per bushel lor A's and 3s 5d for B's, but in most cases local merchants have no stocks to Bell at these figures. A gjod number of oats are being dispatched by the Wingatui (at present at Bluff), but these to a large extent will bo stocks held in store which had been Bold earlier to northern buyers. Local merchants are ask* i ing from 3s 7d to 3s 8d per bushel for j A fc>, and due ponny per buuhel loss for B's. 1 There are enquiries for spread delivery next | season, the prices indicated being 3s Id to I 3s 2d bushel for A's f.0.b., s.i., and one | penny per bushel less for B's, but local mcr- ; ciiants are not sellers at these prices. If these figures are to be taken as an indication of the values ruling for next season, it will mean that the on trucks price to farmers will be in the vicinity of 2s 5d to 2s 6d per bushel for A'b. Wheat—There is no change to report in tl»is market. Business is still coniincd to sales to supply the local poultry trade. Values to farmers are nominally from 5s lOd per bushel for Tuscan to 6s 4d for Velvet. Fowl wheat is realising prices not exceeding 5h 7d per oushcl. Chaff—Mainly due to the slackening off of the shipping demand, this market has weakened considerably. Earlier in the season it was possible to command up to £6 17s 6d per ton for good, bright* quality chaff, but to day it is difficult to get more than £5 12s Gd f.0.b., a.i., and even at this price the demand is restricted. The local market is fairly fully supplied, and merchants to-day are not anxious to buy the best lines at beyond £3 15s per ton on trucks country stations. Ryegrass—There is very little business doing. Most merchants have only sufficient for the local seed trade. There is a steady shipping demand at from Cs 9d to 7s. 3d per bushel. It is rather early yet to forecast prospects for the new season's crop, and a good deal will depend on what areas have been shut up for seed throughout the South Island. Italian is in demand at 6s 9d per bushel, while export quality crested dogstail is saleable at 8d to B?.d per lb f.o.b. Potatoes—The market for old potatoes is practically finished, although it is probable owing to the unsatisfactory weather for the production of new potatoes that supplies will be wanted till after the holidays. Local supplies seem to be practically exhausted, and Canterbury has been drawn upon lately to fill requirements. There are still occasional enquiries for seed potatoes. DAIRY PRODUCE. LONDON QUOTATIONS. The National Mortgage and Agency Co. of New Zealand, Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their principals, A. J. Mills and Co., Ltd., London:— Butter —Market lirin. New Zealand, finest 105s to 106s, firsts 104s f unsalted 110s to 112s; Danish, 126s to 128s; Australian, 100s to 104s. Cheese—Market very slow. New Zealand, wh : te 59s to 625, coloured 58s to 61s. A. S Paterson and Co., Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London representatives, J. and J. Lonsdale and Co., Ltd : Butter—Market steady. Better demand. Danish, 128; New Zealand, 104s, 106s; Australian, 100s, 102s. Cheese —Market dull. Prices irregular. White cheese, 58s, 60s; coloured cheesy 19a.