GRAIN, SEED PRODUCE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 15

GRAIN, SEED PRODUCE

Floods Affect Trade (By Out Commercial. Editor) Trade in small seeds in Canterbury has suffered this week through two outside influences, the waterside strike in Melbourne and the heavy flooding in the North Island. Both these matters have served to confuse the already uncertain position regarding many small seeds in Canterbury, but a clearer picture is expected by the end of this month. In Melbourne the waterside workers have only this week recommenced unloading ships Irom overseas. There is normally a lull in the trade immediately after the departure of such a shipload, and future orders from Australia will be further delayed this month, according to the length of the disturbance on the waterfront. The recent heavy flooding in parts of the North Island has contributed further to the slackness in the market in Canterbury this week. Until the flood waters disperse, and farming conditions return to normal, Canterbury merchants can expect few inquiries from their North Island colleagues for small seeds. Partridge peas continue to be slow in arriving into store. Prices generally have been firmer for peas in Christchurch, and from 24s 6d to 25s a bushel has been paid in the city this week. Cocksfoot Harvest The cocksfoot harvest promises to be good, and several lines have already found their way into store in Christchurch. Normally, the New Zealand crop is supplemented, for home use, by imports from Aberystwyth, England and Denmark, but the opinion has been expressed in Christchurch this week that the local crop

should prove sufficient this year. The continued fine weather in Christchurch this week has caused further falls in the price of white clover. Reports from growers and merchants indicate that crops are varying considerably from district to district in Canterbury. Some farmers are reporting good harvests, while others ■'have aoandoned their crops. Some areas have yielded considerably more seed than was expected. Towards the end of the week, the price steadied slightly. The ryegrass harvests are still disappointing, and most merchants are resigned to the 1958 crops being almost useless. The seed which has so far been harvested has been of poor germination and little commercial value. New Zealand farmers will be depending upon the carry-over from 1957. Canterbury farmers’ delight at their unusually large crops of barley have been tempered lately with concern at their inability to dispose of all the seed. It has been found difficult to sell grain which has not previously been contracted for. New Zealand has in the past imported grain from Australia, but opinion is that this will not be necessary this year. Prices to Growers The following prices to growers were quoted yesterday by the Canterbury Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants’ Association:— Ryegrass: mother perennial, 23s 6d per bushel, p.p. 22s 6d; uncertified 13s 6d. Hl mother 225, standard 21s. Italian mother 21s, standard 20s. White clover: mother 3s per lb, P.P. 2s lid. Cowgrass: Certified 2s per lb, uncertified Is 9d. Browntop (nominal): Certified 2s 6d per lb, uncertified 2s 3d. Partridge peas: No. 1,21 s 6d per bushel. The president of the association (Mr F. F. Reading), in announcing these prices, said they were those which could be justified by the basic market situation for each variety of seed. They did not take into account day-to-day fluctuations of a speculative nature. MILDURA FRUIT CROPS Fear Of Fruit Fly (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MILDURA, March 7. Mildura fruit are anxiously watching their crops hoping that within the next week the costly year-long ban on their exports to New Zealand will be lifted. A ban on exports to New Zealand was imposed in March last year when, for the first time in 33 years, the destructive Queensland fruit fly was found in home gardens in the district. If no fruit fly is found in the next six days, the Victorian Government will lift the ban. Almost a third of the Mildura Valencia orange crop of 300,000 bushel cases normally goes to New Zealand, as well as about 70,000 bushel cases of navel oranges—a quarter of Mildura’s harvest. Both these totals were drastically cut last year because New Zealand will not accept fruit from within 50 miles of a fruit fly outbreak. SYDENHAM MONEY CLUB Profit Up For Half-Year The Sydenham and Suburban Co-operative Money Club earned a net profit of £7396 for the year to December 31. This compares with £6874 for the December, 1956, half-year. Subscriptions and deposits received amounted to £21,787 against £16,321 in the previous December period. Loan repayments rose from £36.631 to £41.332, while loans advanced rose from £41,532 to £48,366. Dividend credited to members is up from £5721 to £6355. The club now has 562 advances current and since its foundation has advanced £1,622,856.