TASMANIAN POTATOES.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 142, 16 June 1923, Page 10

TASMANIAN POTATOES.

(BX tEIEORAPn.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 15th Juno. Tho potato market has been excited by information from Auckland that 300 tons of Tasmanian potatoes had been bought by Auckland .merchants at £8 10s per ton, and were- being loaded by direct steamer for Auckland. ■ With, a freight of 355, and with tho duty of,£l per ton, this would make- the landed cost £11 ss, less brokerage or other incidental costs—practically .the same figure as Canterbury potatoes at £10 f.o.b. South Island, could be landed there (the freight to Auckland being £1 7s 6d). The report rather surprised merchants here, as inquiries from Christchiirch to Tasmania a little over a fortnight ago met with quotations varying from £11 to £12 for July-August shipment, and declining to quote' for later shipment. Something exceptional, therefore, must have happened to cause a drop of from £3 to £4 a ton in a fortnight. However, tha report temporarily checked activity, - though it was not given a great deal of credence, and this- evening the expected happened—i.e., Auckland reported that only a proportion of .Tasmanian business was confirmed, and that at £9 a ton, not £8 10s. Tho quotation was for Scotias, a medium,quality potato. It is apparent, however, that the Tasmanian market has eased, as potatoes in Melbourne on ,6th June were quoted at £9 to £9 10s for best, and medium £8 10s to £8 15s. Considering the loss of weight that is inevitable—probably also 5 per cent—this would make Tasmanian tubers £12 6s a ton c.i.f. Auckland), with a poor value for sacks, in comparison with-New Zealand quality, so that potatoes at'Lyttelton, £10 f.0.b., are quite 20a lower in value. Since the mid-week report the only vessel to sail North with potatoes was the Wingatui last night, with a small cargo of 1225 sacks. The next vessel in Bight will not sail until' well on in next week, so.that Auckland is destined to be very short -of tubers, as the previous heavy shipments went immediately into ,use. ••■ ■

Quotations to farmers are from £8 to '£8 5a for whites, and from £7 10s .to £7 15s for Dakotas, which is not being freely accepted. Any good milling wheat offered is being at once taken by millers. Fowl feed has firmed up, and is now. being quoted to farmers at 4s 3d, 4s 4d. It js Understood that the movement is duo to oversellers, who found that growers would not respond to offers_of 4s and lower.

Oats are very dull, and have cased, Leing worth from 2s 7d to 2s 8d at country stations.

There is a. brighter tons in the seed market. Both perennial and Italian ryegrass are worth 7s 6d f.0.b., South Island. Cowgrass is better, and worth from lOd to lid per Ib. Linseed is firmer, and some business has taken place at £19 f.0.b., South Island, equal to £17 at country stations. There is a shade healthier tone about cocksfoot, and some inquiries have been made. Farmers' undressed is worth from 4|d to s^d. Chaff about maintains late rates of £5 per ton.