GROCERY TRADE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21744, 28 March 1936, Page 12

GROCERY TRADE

PRICES AND PROSPECTS There have been no price movements of moment in the grocery trade during the week. Retail trade has been a little quiet, but quite up to this period ox the year. Buyers of some imported lines are acting very cautiously, as there is in some quarters a feeling of uncertainty as to what the nevr Government’s policy is, and accordingly some importers are marking time until the political position is more denned. Although alterations in the tariff are not at present expected, the lack of information as to the financial proposals of the Government has brought about in some quarters a feeling that It would be wise to postpone heavy ordering in the meantime from overseas. Dried Apricots A very good sample of* new _slab dried apricots is being offered from Australia, the sample generally being better than the I. crown graded. Prices are attractive, and the line is worth grocers’ attention, where stocks are required in the near future. Walnuts The outlook for new season’s walnuts is not bright, as the wet weather has, it is stated, in some areas affected trie nuts. Other reports state that the crop this season does not appear as if it will produce the same quantity as last year. Sultanas and Currants The local market at present is very short of Australian sultanas, and some retailers are having difficulty m getting supplies. This position seems very peculiar, when new crop sultanas are available in Australia at the time, and are being sold to the trade there. So far the control board there has not offered any sultanas (new crop) to New Zealand buyers, who are m this respect at the mercy of the Australian shippers. The same remark applies to new crop currants, but local stocks of these are not short like suite nas, but here again ample supplies are available in Australia and being sold there, yet no prices or offers of this fruit have been made to New Zealand buyers up to yesterday. American Golden Bleached are taking the place of Australian sultanas, and this line offers a satisfactory substitute at reasonable prices. The sample is good, and the line sells easily. Eggs There has been a marked falling off during the week of the supply of fresh eggs, and retail prices have accordingly been advanced by 2d a dozen for seconds and 3d a dozen for firsts. The outlook is for smaller supplies and this will bring about firmer prices again. Biscuits A new list has been issued for Cabin Bread, and it discloses an advance of 2s per cwt. It is believed that the rearrangement of wages and flour prices may in the near future bring about an increase in the prices of certain lines of biscuits. Tea The usual weekly auction of Ceylon teas was held in Colombo last week, when 2,500,0001 b were offered. Quality was irregular, but the demand was brisk. Commons attracted most attention and were firm or a trifle higher. The better grades were a shade easier bv one to two cents. At this sale the following prices were obtained;— Broken Orange Pekoe common 58-60 cents, medium 68-88 cents, fine 1 rupee to 1 rupee 10 cents. Broken Pekoe common 57-59 cents, medium 62-68 cents, fine 75-85 cents. Broken tea common 54-57 cents, medium 59-61 cents. The recent fairly heavy entries of tea at the Colombo auctions is stated to be because the current export licenses will expire on March 31. On this date they have to be surrendered, to be issued again under any new conditions for the 1 year commencing April 1. Exporters who have still any tea quota unshipped, for which their license allows shipment out of Ceylon, have only a very short time to quit it. hence the heavy selling. The Java tea market is reported by cablegram to be very strong with some sorts up 1 cent. Quality is beginning to show improvement, and all tea offered is being readily sold. Mace Prices for mace at present in Singapore are very high, and the value at the moment is the highest for several years. Although no reason has been cabled for the high market, it is thought that.it is owing to crop shortage. Asparagus Factory stocks of this line in Australia are reported to be sold out, and any small parcels available are in the hands of merchants. New season’s canning is not expected to commence again until December. , The only other source of supply is California, whence favourable quotations have recently been received. Strawberry Conserve One well known line of Australian strawberry conserve has been adivanced by the makers by/ 6d a doz. for 12oz, and Is a doz for 240 z. Stacks are limited and are not expected to last very long. Canary Seed Reports from Queensland state that the crop of'canary seed there was very short, and prices accordingly have advanced considerably. This line is too dear to import into New Zealand, as Argentine seed offers far better buying value. Seeded Raisins Recent arrivals of Californian seeded raisins disclose a higher landed cost. The increase works out at about 5Jd a dozen. * Cheese The demand for cheese is fairly good at the'present time. The market is reported'to be weak, but it is the quantity of cheese the factories are holding for domestic requirements until next season, and not the London values, that will influence prices to the trade here during the winter. COMPANY REGISTRATIONS The following notices of company registrations are contained in the latest issue of the "Mercantile Gazette":— Mair and Company, Ltd. Registered as a private company March 17. Office, corner Worcester and Manchester streets. Capital; £2500 into 2500 shares of £1 each. Subscribers: Christchurch, S. E. Mair 2287, A. H. Fitts 212, A. B. Hobbs 1. Objects: General merchants and manufacturers, exporters, and importers of wool and Incidental. Kumara Gold Mining Company, Ltd. Registered as a private Company March 13. Office, office of Cottrell and Lovell, 5 Brougham street, Westport. Capital: £IO2B into 1028 shares of £1 each. Subscribers —Kumara: W. H. G. Stewart 69. Greymouth: S. Stewart 69. Blackball: A. O'DonneU 57. Westpofl: M. A. Neill 30, M. Moynihan 153. H. LoveU 25, Seddonvllle: T. Moynihan 127. Cobden: R. Quinn 35, P. R. Quinn 22. Ngahere: B. R. Winstone 28, A. Miller 28. Auckland: C. F. Gardner 57, G. Winstone 57, W. P. Winstone 57. H- Isherwood 28, F. M. Winstone 28, R. H. Milbum 79. H. G. Milbum 79. Objects: Mining and incidental.