GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27018, 18 April 1953, Page 8

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS

(By Our Commercial Editor.) Small seeds markets are firm, arid with more main crop seed coming on to the markets, trading » at present fairly brisk. Values for H.l have appreciated by about Is a bushel, and up to 3s 3d per lb is being offered for mother white clover and 3s Id for p.p. seed. Slightly higher prices are also being paid for red clover. The market for Italian remains lifeless. Trading is certainly freer all round, and there is a good tone to the markets. Some seed is going to Australia, but most of the trading is between merchants whs are taking the opportunity of building up their stocks. As far as merchants are able to judge, there will be no appreciable increase in autumn wheat sowings. The new price announcement has met with a very unfavourable reception among farmers, some of whom hold the view that it would have been wiser to have left this year’s price unaltered rather than offer a niggardly increase of 6d a bushel The announcement of the cessation of linseed contracts will leave a number of farmers without a profitable, though sometimes risky, sideline. The effect of this decision would have been more pronounced in a season of lean years. As it is so many farmers have stocked up to capacity with sheep, the high prices paid for fat lambs and wool tending to divert attention from cropping. Quotations to Farmery Quotations to farmers for various lines of small seeds and other produce are as . follows; Potatoes.—Sutton Supreme, £2O a ton; Red Dakota, £l9 15s; any other variety, £lB 15s. All prices f.0.b., sacks extra. Wheat.—Tuscan varieties, Ils a bushel on trucks. Premium of 6d for Marquis and Is for Hilgendorf. Ordinary price increments: April, Id a bushel; May, 2d; June, 3d; July, 4d; August, 4id; September. sd. Special increments, inclusive ot ordinary increments for wheat held on the farm and delivered to the mills direct from the farm on which it has been grown: April, 3d a bushel; May, 4d; June, sd; July, 6d; August, 6d; September, 6d. Ryegrass (M.D.). —Certified perennial mother seed, 17s 6d a bushel; p.p., 16s; uncertified, 10s. H.l mother seed. 17s 6d. a bushel: standard, 16s 6d; uncertified, 10s. Italian, mother seed, 12s 6d a bushel; standard, Ils 6d; uncertified, 7s 6d. White Clover.—(M.D.) Mother seed. 3a 3d per lb; p.p., 3s Id; uncertified, 2s lOd. Red Clover (Cowgrass).—ls 6d to Is 9d per lb, machine dressed. Cocksfoot.—li to is 6d per lb, certified I depending on quality. Browntop.—(M.D.) 98/99’s, 2s 6d per lb. Lupins.—7s to 7s 6d a bushel, on trucks , (sacks extra). Onions.—£2o a ton (sacks extra); prio4r nominal. Malting Barley.—Preferred varieties, 8s 6y 2 d a bushel; other varieties, 8s O&d (all prices f.0.r.. sacks extra). Cape Barley.—Bs OVgd a bushel (Lox., sacks extra). DUNEDIN (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 17. i White clover has been the centre of interest this week, and a fair amount of business has been recorded. More inquiries have come from overseas, but, as if often the case, local values firmed as a result, apd the added price has precluded much business being recorded. Broken weather has delayed the harvesting of Montgomery red clover crops. The new season's seed will come on to a bare market. FRENCH GOLD PRICES (N.Ze Press Association Copyright)

PARIS, April 13. Gold prices continued their fortnightold upward movement on the Paris market today, In contrast with other world markets, where prices have remained steady since the Russian peace move. Dollar and sterling prices for French francs in the black market followed suit. The difficulties of the French Treasury tax revenue receipts being below the estimates in March, and renewed market rumours of devaluation were believed to explain these movements. A dollar note fetched 409 francs, against 391 francs, and sterling 1070 against 1035 francs on April MINING Gold Mines of N.Z., Ltd.—The two units of the Gold Mines *of New Zealand, Ltd., the Arahura and Kanieri gold dredges, during the first half of April won a total of 2940 z of gold. Arahura won 103bz from 94,000 yards of material excavated in 189 hours, and Kanieri 191 oz of gold from 76,000 yards in 182 hours.—(F.O.O.R.)