FINANCE AND COMMERCE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22355, 19 March 1938, Page 15

FINANCE AND COMMERCE

CANTERBURY MARKETS

better inquiry for small SEEDS

(nr oua couMEaciAt, editor.)

, Friday evening. There has been a considerable imjTjs»?'ed volume of business in the small ■Ttv >' rket this week, after several (vecks, but apart from this, the Jain and produce trade is extremely v quiet. Interest in potatoes is weakening, as time goes by without any sign of South American business developing. The blight has been checked. in most districts by the weather, and damage to crops will apparently not be nearly as serious as was at first thought. Farmers are not as determined to hold as they were a week ago, and offers .have been more plentiful, with the result that the market is definitely weaker. A few samples of cowgrass and white clover have been handled, but the quality has not been impressive. Stocks are fairly heavy from last season.

Quotations

The following are the prices quoted to farmers, on trucks at country sidings, unless otherwise indicated:

' Wheat—Milling, f.0.b., Tuscan 5s 6d Hunters 5s Bd, Pearl 5s lOd. *

Oats —New season’s A Cartons to 2s lOd, B Gartons to 2s 6d, Algerians 2s 9d to 3s.

„ Ryegrass—Perennial (new season’s) 3s 9d, Italian 2s 9d to 3s.

Cocksfoot—Plains 8d to 9d. Akaroa 8d to 9£d per lb. Cowgrass—6d to 7d per lb. , White Clover—Bd to lOd per lb i; Potatoes—Forward. £3 10s a ton. ( Chaff—£4 a ton.

Barley—Malting 4s 7 id. feed 3s 6d a bushel.

. Browntop—M.d., 9d to lOd per lb Partridge Peas—4s 3d to 5s 3d a bushel.

Bran—Large. £4 15s: small. £5 ss. Pollard—Large. £6 5s a ton; small, £6 15s.

ASHBURTON MARKET

A quieter period is reported by Asnburton grain, seed, and produce merchants. Milling wheat is still being delivered, and millers are accepting all lines in good condition. There is a strong demand for good, •whole fowl wheat, but supplies are not plentiful. Garton oats of good weight are inquired for, but light and discoloured lines are neglected. Good, dark heavy Duns are saleable, but supplies are scarce.

Old Algerians are still in demand at recent quotations. An exceptionally good demand is being experienced for certified ryegrass, and prices are firmer. Well marked lines of Italian are also in demand. Practically all cocksfoot is now out of growers’ hands, and prices remain firm.

. Blight is reported in potato crops, end growers are most keen sellers, but merchants are taking little interest in the market.

Several lines of Partridge peas have been marketed, but in most cases the quality and yield are disappointing, Practically no grade peas are available, and sales are being made on sample.

The following are prices quoted to farmers, on trucks at country stations unless otherwise indicated, sacks extra, free of commission. . Wheat—Milling Tuscan 5s 6d, Hunters 5s Bd, Pearl 5s lOd; fowl wheat. 5s 5d (all f.0.b.).

Oats—A Gartons 2s 10d.,B’s 2s 6d; Algerians, 2s 9d to 3s. Grass Seeds—Perennial ryegrass 3s 9d to 4s 3d, Italian 2s 9d to 3s, cocksfoot 7d to BJd, red clover 6d to 7d; white clover, 8d to 10s. Chaff—£3 15s to £4 a ton. • Partridge Peas—ss for No.' 1 grade, undergrade 3s 6d to 4s a bushel. Barley—Malting 4s 7Jd, feed 3s 6d. DUNEDIN i, fPREfes ASSOCIATION TEIJtOBAH.I DUNEDIN, March 18. Threshing of wheat is being carried Gut in all districts, and millers are readily accepting lines suitable for milling. Quality is excellent. Most of the wheat is being jthreshed from stock, and in odd cases from stack. It should not be long before all wheat in Otago is marketed. Fowl wheat is unaltered. Practically all of this season’s crop is so far of milling quality and is not available as fowl wheat, \Oats continue to be offered. Quality is good, but the market is inclined to case as both millers and merchants have already purchased a fair quantity. The demand from the North Island is not big, and merchants generally are not prepared to lay in stocks in view of the poor demand. Some sales of heavy Gartons have been made at up to 2s lid a bushel on y trucks, and ordinary A Gartons have been sold at 2s 9d and 2s lOd. B Gartons are worth 3d less. Yields in Otago and _ Southland are very good, and quality is the best for many years. The demand for chaff is quiet. Stocks held here are light, and merchants are drawing'supplies from Canterbury to fill small orders. The value, ex store, is £6 a ton. Potatoes are still in plentiful supply. and sales are difficult to effect, it is noticeable this year that King Edwards are not keeping so well as m previous seasons. King Edwards of sound quality are selling at £5 ton ox truck. The main crop of Arran Chiefs is not yet appearing on the market, and when supplies commence v to come in it seems that there will he an easing in values. ~ -AH seed markets are firm and there h|a distinct shortage in some lines. Inis applies more, particularly to certified ryegrass, and prices for this variety are well maintained. Oidin®£y ryegrass is also not over plentiful. The market for both Chewings fescue and dogstail is unchanged.

INVERCARGILL

INVERCARGILL. March 18. , Oats are offering steadily from farmners. The quality is very satisfactory and many of the lines are .of good . weight. The demand is rather dull, ' however, and values to farmers are 2s 7- to 2s 9d. Most wheat has been satisfactory for milling purposes. It seems probable that a good proportion of the wheat grown this season will pass milling grade. Chaff is dull. There is no shipping business and because of ‘fie increase in values the local deniand has eased off. The only chaff in demand is good, bright quality, for ; Which the maximum price to farmers is £4.

. A good deal of ryegrass has made its appearance on the market. The crop has not been a big one and as most of the old seed has been cleared tip there has been a satisfactory demand. The value to farmers for good Quality seed ranges from 4s to 4s 3d. Supplies of Italian are more plentiful. Most of this season’s production uf chewing’s fescue is in merchants? ' hands. Values for lines off the mill fun from lid to Is Id. and for machine dressed seed of export quality VP to Is 6d. Hie overseas market is , inactive. Brown top is dull, prices for i machine-dressed seed of export quality are about lOd uncertified, and IOJd to lid for .certified. There has been .■-•little interest in potatoes.

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

CHRISTCHURCH MARKET

Cauliflowers are very scarce, on the Christchurch markets, but all other varieties are in good supply. Values are as follows:—Cauliflowers: Any good quality lines are- realising exceptionally high prices. Cabbages: 2s to 5s a dozen, according to quality. Lettuces: Up to 2s 3d a dozen.' Celery; Up to 4s a dozen. Peas: Supplies scarce, realising 2s 6d to 3s 4d a peck. Spinach; Up to 2s 6d a dozen. Onions: Best quality 4s 6d a sugar-bag. Potatoes; Supplies plentiful, realising 2s 6d a sugar-bag.

Fruit—Apples: Good supplies coming forward, best quality dessert up to 8s 6d a case. Interior grades, lower. Cooking apples 3s to 5s a case, according to quality. Pears: Good supplies available, realising up to 4s a halfcase. Stone Fruits—Peaches: Supplies scarce, realising from 4s to 7s a case. Plums: Good quality scarce, realising high prices. . Tomatoes: Good supplies coming forward, best quality 2%d to 3d per lb, other grades 2s to 3s a case.. Grapes: Good supplies coming forward. Choice lines realising Is 3d i P er lb; inferior grades Is to Is 2d per lb. Strawberries: Supplies scarce realising up to Is 9|d a punnet. New Zealand passion fruit: 8s to 10s a half-case. New Zealand lemons: Up to 16s a case.

Imported Fruits—A shipment of Queensland pineapples arrived during the week and realised up to 20s 6d a case. A shipment of Samoan and Niue bananas, also Niue kumeras, aj> rived on Tuesday, and a shipment of Australian oranges ex Maunganui arrived on Thursday. A further shipment of Jamaican oranges and grapefruit is expected next week, also Californian navels and lemons. Eggs—First grade Is Bd, seconds la 6d; duck eggs up to Is 7d a dozen.

DUNEDIN

(PRIJIIS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

DUNEDIN, March 18. Apples, mainly from Nelson, are in heavy supply. Sound Cox’s Orange pippins are taken up by retailers on arrival, but poor quality are hard to place. Cookers are in good supply with low prices ruling. Bon Chretien pears are about finished for the season. Winter Coles are now arriving from Nelson. Supplies of pears were short at the week-end. Dessert plums have good inquiry, but small lots only are on offer. Peaches, chiefly of the Lady Palmerston variety, are on offer in small lots. Quinces are in fair supply. Jam melons are on offer from Nelson. The tomato market is firmer, the wet season in Christchurch having caused an easing in supplies towards the end of the week. A small quantity of oranges arrived ex Maunganui from Melbourne, and high prices were realised. A considerable quantity, of the shipment was condemned on the wharf at Melbourne, and this resulted in a greater shortage than would otherwise have been the case. A shipment of Californian navels arrived from Auckland to-day. Californian lemons and grapefruit are on the Mariposa. A shipment of bananas arrived during the week, transhiped ex Maui Pomare at Lyttelton.

BRITISH WHEAT MARKETS

LONDON, March 18. Wheat cargoes are dearer and parcels higher. The spot trade is Futures are quoted;— 1 Mar. 14. Mar. 18. London (a qr.)— s. d. s. d. March .. .. 42 2 413* May .. .. 40 9 40 1* Liverpool (a cental) — March . .. 7 1 6 10 May .. 7 Oy 6 lOg July .. .. 6 10* 6 10* CHICAGO FUTURES NEW YORK, March 18. Cents a bushel:— Mar. 14. Mar. 18. May .. .. 855 87* July .. .. 82* 843 September .. 82g 85* PRICE OF SILVER (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, March 17. Spot silver is quoted at 20* d a fine ounce, and forward at 20 l-16d. BRITISH WAR LOAN (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY. March 17. War Loan, 3* per cent., is quoted at £IOO ss.