Poor Walnut Crops In Italy And India

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 19

Poor Walnut Crops In Italy And India

IBy our Grocery Correspondent)

Overseas quotations for walnuts have been rising rapidly in recent weeks. Severe frost damage has affected Mediterranean crops, particularly those in Italy where a large proportion of the walnuts for the European market are produced. Indian crops in the Kashmir area have been affected by heavy rainfall. No information is yet available from China, one of the world's major producers. New Zealand walnuts have been freely available until now. Growers have not been paid high prices, because there has been little buying interest. If the world price for walnuts remains high, other nuts may also be affected.

Trade has again been quiet this week. Grocers are hoping that business will recover now that the weather has improved.

Cake Flour. A Christchurch miller is about to release in the South Island a high quality flour made by an American process. The flour has Increased power of absorption of sugar and Uquid, which improves the texture and keeping qualities. The flour is packed in an attractive carton, which weighs ijlb and will retail at 2s 6d. It also has recipes on the back of the carton.

Malted Milk.—A North Island milk treatment factory has now produced malted milk in lib packets which will retail at 3s ll)d, considerably cheaper than a competitive brand. Malted milk is not a oarticularly large seller today. Paua Soup.—Reports from the North Island have indicated that this type of shellfish soup has recently been exported to the United States. It is similar to toheroa. which has been

unprocurable for some time. Two canners in 'he North Island have been packing this product. The first, a Wellington firm, called its product "mock toheroa," but had to desist, as the wording of the label did not comply with the regulations. The price of a 16oz can is 2s 6d. Polish Prices Up.—A Wellington polish manufacturer has raised his prices. Floor wax, sizes 6,7, and 9. will retail at Is lOd, 2s lOd, and 4s 9d respectively—increases of Id to 3d. Furniture cream, medium and large sizes, 2s lOd and 4s 9d. and polishing oil (6oz and 12oz) 2s Id and 3s sd. These are increases of Id and 2d.

Canned Peaches.—A Hastings canner is now able to make a small delivery of chunk pieces in 30oz cans at 3s Bd. a tin, which is an increase of 2d on last year’s cost. This pack has always been popular. Wheaten Cornflour.—An English firm which has been marketing maize cornflour for many years in this country, but has been affected by import controls, will now market a wheaten cornflour. This has been brought about by the shortage of maize cornflour, which is now not available. Wheaten cornflours have become popular over the last few years, and this new 16oz pack will retail at 2s, which is a penny dearer than its competitors.

WOOL SHIPMENTS DOWN Export Entries For March Alter a sharp rise in February, New Zealand’s wool exports declined by a third to 143,507 bales in March this year. In March of last year 217.799 bales were entered for export. The ax European Economic Community countries took more wool than the United Kingdom in March and brought the season's purchases to date by the Six to 391,205 bales, nearly 3000 bales more than the United Kingdom purchases. The E.E.C. share of New Zealand’s exports this season, up to the end of March, is 35.8 per cent., compared with Britain’s 35.6 per. cent. At the same stage of the 1958-59 season the E.E.C. share was 31.8 per cent, and the United Kingdom share was 34.8 per cent. The United States share has fallen from 16.2 per cent, to 12.2 per cent., and the Communist countries’ share has risen from 2.6 per cent, to 7.7 per cent. Total exports up to the end of March were 1.090,922 bales, an increase of 83,209 bales or 8.3 per cent

AUSTRALIAN WOOL INDUSTRY

A (i Shake.Ouf 9 Forecast

(N.Z Press Association—copyright) MELBOURNE. June 23

Australia’s wool industry was heading for a “shake-out”—cut in the numbers of graziers, sheep and the size of the national chp —a wool official said today. He is Mr Gerard Chislett, who was making a statement on completing 10 years with the secretariat of the Graziers’ Federal Council and the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council, two of the most representative bodies among woolgrowers.

Mr Chislett said wool production was barely profitable for the average growers at current cost and return levels.

He said he thought wool outout would continue to rise for a time but with falling profits, the industry would stagnate and many farmers leave it In order to sustain Australia's main source of export income. Mr Chislett said, devaluation or payment of subsidy on wool production might be necessary. Mr Chislett said the Industry was suffering a decline <n prices owing to competition of other fibres and a rise in costs.

The average grazier was getting a net income of only £2OOO yearly on a £40.000 investment he said

Auckland Wool Cheque £12.5m

(New Zealand Press Aisoctattoni AUCKLAND, June 23. The value of the wool sold at the Auckland sales this season totals £12,534,608, the Auckland Woolbrokers’ Association reported today.

During the season 207.911 bales of wool from the province were offered and 205,785 bales sold. The total weight of the wool was 69,415,5551 b and the average weight of a bale was 337.321 b . average price per lb was 4334 d compared with 37.29 d tn the previous season. The average price a bale this season was £6O 18s 3d. The provincial wool cheque in the previous season was £9,800,000.

STUD ROMNEY SALE (New Zealand Press Association) K J TIMARU. June 23. One hundred and fifty-five guineas for a two-shear ewe was the top ?n' e Ti Pald a ! J? d * s P , enishing sale in Timaru today of Meadowslea Romney stud stock on account of Mr G. S. Giddings, of Fairlie. The V, uy T r '\ as Mr A R Murray, ol Morton Mains, Southland. * Mr N. Sim, of Carew, paid second best price of 110 guineas for a fiveshear ewe. Two hundred and ten two-tooth middle ased and aged ewes were offered at the sale which attracted a full bench of buyers from throughout New Zealand. The range of prices was: Oneshear ewes: sgns to 155 gns (average 24gns). Five-shear ewes: 17Jgns to llOgns (average 46gns).

LONDON METALS MARKET (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 22 Latest London metal prices are:— Buyers Sellers

Southland F.M.— Southland Frozen Meat interim dividend is Is per share on paid up capital, payable August 1, ex dividend July 18. Last year’s August interim was 9d followed by a final 2s making 2s 9d (13f per cent.) for the year.—(PA.)

a ton a ton Fine a <1 € 9 d Spot .. 796 b 0 797 0 0 LeadSpot .. 72 15 0 72 17 6 Zinc— Spot .. 90 5 0 90 7 6 Cooper— Spot .. 255 10 0 256 0 0