CANTERBURY MARKETS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 56, 7 March 1923, Page 11

CANTERBURY MARKETS

<»T TliilGJUre.-^PJIIIS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 6th March. A good tone. continues to be maintained in bußJness .circles. As far aB ■can be seen the prices which were agreed upon to be paid by the millers to wheat growers are not having the effect that was anticipated. Merchants contend that the figures are in all instances too high, and state that'the farmers themselves are selling their cereals at considerably below these. . They state that the agreement is far from.being.watertight, and that should there be an increase in the price of wheat outside New Zealand there would be nothing to prevent the farmer from taking advantage of the situation. They also draw attention to the position that might arise with regard to the wheat that is 'left over after the millers have satisfied their requirements. Before the agreement can. be considered satisfactory,-they state, it must: have Government backing. There is at present nothing in the agreement to make farmers sell at the prices set out. Meanwhile farmers are sending in wheat as fast as, and in many cases faster than, it can be handled, leaving the price open. Oats are still in demand; although they are,'if anything, a little, easier than they were a week,ago. ... Chaff is firm as far as good stuff is concerned, this being due to the large quantity" of inferior seed. that is about. For inferior chaff there'is very little demand.

Barley continues to be asked for, and many sales are being made at ss. > Peas are .dull, and. in some cases 6s is being paid to growers by merchants above contracts to meet, but generally the prices paid are , from 5s 6d to 5s 9d. Most of the business done so far is paper business, the-peas concerned being turned over again and again. It is considered that when peas come forward in earnest there will be a reduction, in values.

Potatoes-are firm, the price for April and May delivery being from £3 10s to £3 15s perton. At thsse prices, however, a good number of farmers are reluctant to sell, preferring to await developments. White clover is firm at late rates, some good parcels being disposed of. Cocksfoot is still dull, and shows no indication of improving. The importation of Danish seed is adversely affecting it.

Fair business is being done in onions, despite the fact that the Auckland district is consuming larg§ quantities of its locally-grown lines.