Trade Ready For Last Buying Rush

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 22

Trade Ready For Last Buying Rush

IBf Our Grocerg KeporterJ

Grocers are lining up for the last week of trading before Christmas. They report that trade is booming and next week should be better than ever.

Warm weather over the last few days has pushed up sales .of eoid meats, salad dressings, cordials and other summer lines.

Raspberry and strawberry crops have been helped along by the wanner weather and this means that jam-making may start earlier this season. There are good supplies of jars, sugar and everything that the early jam-maker will need.

Last-minute ordering is likely to keep most merchants busy right up until Christmas.

Slow deliveries from Lyttelton are not helping the trade and some importers have paid extra freight to have goods unloaded at other ports to get here in time for Christmas.

Australlaa Dried Fruit*.—Some agent* have been booking forward order* for Auitrellan dried apricots. But report* »ey that the crop may be smaller than last year. The position will remain uncertain until cannen’ requirements are known. Prices are not expected until early in

the New Year. Some packers are prepared to take orders subject to confirmation, and will spread delivery until AugustSeptember next year. New Season's Date*.—News has been received that Iranian dates are aboard a direct vessel due In Auckland on January 18, and then at Wellington and Lyttelton. Stock should be expected into merchants' warehouses some time in February. Iranian date* are a'major seller on the New Zealand market.

Tree Ternate Chutney.—A new brand of tree . tomato chutney is being marketed under the "Hibiscus" label—already seen on cans and jars of tree tomatoes introduced earlier thia year. The chutney comes from the Bay of Islands, and will be available in a 13ox jar, expected to retail at about 3s »d. Grapefruit Segments.—For some years grapefruit segments were imported, but, because of Import licensing have been quite scarce. However, several weeks ago a North Island packer of grapefruit and orange juice introduced segments in a 15-ounce can to sell at about Is »d under the Goldfrute brand. This has since been followed by another pack under the "Hibiscus" brand to sell at about 3s 3d for a 13ot can.

Honey.—Two new types of honey are being introduced to the Christchurch market by the New Zealand Honey Marketing Authority. They are to be known as “Pohutukawa” and "Bewa Bewa." One is slightly darker than the other and both have a fine flavour. They are attractively labelled and will retail at 3s Id per lib jar. Fletchers Buy Flooring Firm (N.Z. Press Association! AUCKLAND, Dec. 16. Fletcher Trust and Investment Company, Ltd., has purchased the remaining halfinterest in Nairn-Williamson (N.Z.), Ltd, manufacturer of vinyl flooring and leathercloth. The company was previously owned equally by Fletcher Trust and Nairn and Williamson (Holdings), Ltd., of Kirkcaldy, Scotland. Tax Changes The decision was made as a result of recent tax changes in Britain and New Zealand, which have made it no longer economically attractive for the British company to own equity capital in a New Zealand firm.

Millers Brew. Doubles Profit (N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright) SYDNEY, Dec. 16. Millers Brewery Proprietary, Ltd., almost doubled its net profit from £62,697 to £120,930 for the year ended June 30. The company is a subsidiary of R. W. Miller (Holdings), Ltd., and runs the group's brewing interests. It does not operate any of the groups hotels. Dividend for the year is raised from £32,000 to £92,000. The latest profit is after tax £85,000 (up £33,300) and depreciation £57,713. It excludes capital items. Kanieri Gold (From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, December 16. The Kanieri gold dredge won 387 ounces of bullion from 127,000 yards of material in the half-mouth to December 15. During the period the dredge worked for 242 hours. Unit Trusts

Buy i. d. Sell s. d. 1st N.Z. Unit ... 4 11 5 3 N.Z. Accum. ..6 1 8 5 N.Z. Accum. x.d. ..6 1 6 5 N.Z. Income x.d. .. 4 10 5 2 1st Dom. .. ..4 8 5 0 2nd Dom .. 5 10 6 2 Mut. Fund ... 8 1 8 5 Inv. Unit ..8 1 5 7 Sec. First .88 t 3