CANTERBURY MARKETS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 11

CANTERBURY MARKETS

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION,) CHRISTCHURCH, 25th May. Potatoes continue to monopolise the bulk of the interest in the produce trade, and prices are steadily advancing. In districts where the potatoes were covered only for a brief period, and where digging was more speedily resumed, the tubers were affected to a small extent only, but now that fields where the flood rested for a couple of days.or more are being dug, totally different reports are coming to hand. The potatoes appear all right, but rotting is setting in within three of four day 3, and quite a number of farmers report that their yields already, have depreciated by : 50 to 66 per cent., with no certainty that the picked tubers will retain their soundness. It has to.be remembered, of course, that the whole of Canterbury was not flooded, and on areas which escaped the yields will be up to the average previously expected. The growers so fortunately circumstanced are likely, with the prospect of higher prices later, to hold sound potatoes. In the meantime, Auckland merchants ■ are booking business at up to £9 per ton f.0.b., 5.1,, for prompt delivery, and up to £10 for July-August-Septem-ber delivery. The Kaitoke is due to leave for the North within a day or two, with, it is reported, something like 7000 sacks, but these estimates are not always found correct when the ship actually sails. Another vessel is due to leave on 31st May with further May deliveries. Values to farmers are hard to determine. Many growers are asking any price, and one or two sales have taken place for guaranteed sound tubers at up to £8 per ton on trucks. Merchants generally are not disposed to pay this figure, but for whites up to £7 10s is the general figure. The position altogether is very uncertain, but the anxiety of growers to find out the condition of their crops will so stimulate digging that the next fortnight _ should throw much light on the question of supplies and damage sustained.

Chaff is still appreciating in price, and from £5 10s tq. £5 12s 6d per ton is available for good oaten sheaf. There is very little of it available.

A remarkable feature, in view of the spirited chaff market, is the dullness of oats. There is a great disproportion between chaff at £5 10s per ton and oats at 2s 9d per bushel, and keen observers are of opinion that, oats will take a jump up shortly, or else that chaff will come down.

Peas are very firm, and for the first time this season the Home parity is equal to the local price to fanners. Perennial ryegrass has taken a sharp advance, good 27 to 281b seed being quoted at 7 S 3d f.0.b., 5.1., a rise of practically 6d per bushel in less than' a fortnight. Both Auckland and the South are inquiring. Italian is not showing any difference. '< , There is little doing in red clover. White clover is stagnant and linseed is quiet.