GROCERY TRADE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21464, 4 May 1935, Page 13

GROCERY TRADE

PROSPECTS AND PRICES Grocers report a very satisfactory week's trading, Wednesday being a particularly good day. There is at present a good steady demand for all general lines, with a tendency for this to run more with luxury articles. There have been no outstanding price movements during the week. The opening of the shooting season brought with it a substantial demand for ammunition and shooting requisites, but this trade is purely temporary- . . Seeded Raisms There is at present an acute shortage of seeded raisins locally, some houses being without stocks. This position has arisen because importers expected to have supplies of new season's Australian seeded raisins by this time, but delivery has been delayed through wet weather in Mildura. It is now practically certain that no new seeded raisins will arrive from Australia until about the end of the month. Seeded raisins could have been imported from California, but importers are anxious to avoid this source of supply, as American raisins carry Id per lb duty, which adis considerably to the cost. Woolpacks and Cornsacks Calcutta cablegrams notify a steady and firm market for sacks and woolpacks, the market after the holidays exhibiting some firmness. Pepper The white pepper market is still very weak, and further declines are expected. It now appears from London reports just to hand by mail that a pepper sales control committee is operating in London to en eavour to prevent further weakness developing in white pepper prices. It is also stated in the same report that the committee approached the Dutch Government with a request that legislation be passed to restrict pepper production in the Dutch East Indies. This request has been refused, and with full supplies coming on to the market from Dutch East Indies each year, the outlook as regards price for the Singapore article looks very depressing. Australian Canned Fruits It is stated in a London report just received by mail that the revised estimates of this season's pack of Australian canned fruits have increased the expected output to a million cases, all of which has been sold forward It is stated that all Australian fruit companies will earn improved profits this year. particularly Shepparton. Rosella, and Henry Jones, whose plants are particularly efficient. The bounty on the sugar contest, however,! is expected to be only 4?; d a dozen tins exported this season, as against Is last year, but a net profit of about 9d a dozen is anticipated. Peaches are the main line of export, air.l canners will probably receive about 7s 5d net f.o.b. a dozen, against about 0s 7Ad last season. It will be noticed that the packers are expected to net about 7s 5d f.o.b. for peaches, which price is on a par with values quoted for export to New Zealand by Australian ranners this season. Maize and Peas Late quotations from Australia name maize at 4s and milling peas 5s 2d. both f.o.b. Melbourne. Brazil Nuts New crop September arrival Brazil nuts have advanced by Is 6d per cw.. for orders now being dispatched. There is a quantity afloat at the old price, but further orders must pay the advance now current in London. Almonds New crop Jordan almonds have advanced since the opening quotations by Gs per cwt. Sicily almonds remain the same as at the previous notification, and the same applies to Valencia almonds. . Attention is now being paid by Importers to ground almonds, a favourable quotation now being available for the usual sized tins, vacuum packed. Madagascar Butter Beans This lino to arrive about June is available at a favourable price, and is worth buyers' attention. Haricots will land here about the end of May. but these cannot displace Madagascar*, as there is such a big difference m quality. I'runcs The Australian prune is the chief source of supply for the local market and most of the orders have been placed, therefore a cable message this week from San Francisco notifying a fall in prunes there of Is Gd per cwt. for several grades is of no interest. In any case the Australian shippers usually lower their values to compete against the Californian article Dried Fruits The Commonwealth Dried Fruit Control Board has notified its New Zealand selling agents that all grades of sultanas (except one crown) and currants, as well as lexias, can bo booked now at present prices for shipment up to the end of May. After the end of May prices might rcmc.in as before, but on the other hand they may be altered. Crown sultanas arcnow unprocurable, all available supplies having been sold. .Brazil Kernels A very attractive price has been cabled from London and is now being offered to buyers for June to November shipment for brazil kernels. For confectionery and general retail purposes this opportunity seems to offer a safe avenue for supplies. CLYDESDALE HORSES SOLD IMPORTED STOCK AT RANGIORA FAIR Two pedigree Clydesdale brood mares and two foals, foaled towards the end of last year, were sold at prices tolalling 685 guineas, by Messrs 11. Matson and Company, at the Rangiora Horse i?air yesterday. The horses were offered on account of the estate of Mr B. Ferguson, Oxford road, Rangiora, who. before his death, was a well-known breeder and importer of Clydesdale horses. ' An imported registered bay mare, Ishbel, foaled on April 18, 1927, the sire of which was Fyvie Enterprise, and which was bred by Mr E. G, Thompson. Callands. West Linton, Peebleshire, Scotland, was sold to Mr G. S. Ferguson, of Roundhill, Loburn, a son of the late Mr Ferguson, for 250 guineas. In 1929 this mare was second in the Highland Agricultural and Pastoral Show, in the class for two-year-oh" fillies. She was also (he dam of Scotland's Farewell, champion zt the Otago Stallion Show, in 1932, and of Seabam, which, as a two-year-old. won that class at the Otago Stallion Show. in 1933. She is stinted to Bonnie Kincardine. The other mare, Etta, which was sold 1o Mr A. Carruthers, of Middlemarch. for 185 guineas, was foaled on A <nl :i3. 1927, and bred by Mr Jas. Gray. "Crawfordston," Kinpen Station, Stirling, Scotland. Her sire was Botha. lay Baron's Buchlyvie. She is also stinted to Bonnie Kincardine (imported), and is registered in the Stud book. A well-grown bay colt foal, which was foaled in October, 1934. and was sold to Mr Jno. Wyllie. of Omihi, for 170 guineas, is the last foal of Ishbel, his sire being Bonnie Kincardine. Mr' Wyllie also bought the other foal for 80 guineas. It was a filly foaled in October, 1934, and was the last, foal of Etta, the sire being Bonnie Kincardine,

Bonnie Kincardine is owned by Mr Jnp, Wyljie.