CANTERBURY MARKETS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 104, 3 May 1924, Page 10

CANTERBURY MARKETS

(BT TELEGRAPH.—PKESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 2nd May. After a fortnight's dislocation as the result of the holidays and strike, efforts are" being made to normalise trade. Wheat appears to be all in millers' and merchants1 hands, and the.shortage is more pronounced than expected. The monthly increment of J,d a bushel operates from the beginning of May. The month's values are :~ Tuscan 5s 3jd per bushel, Hunters 5s s|d, arid Pearl 5s 7gd. The price at which Victorian wheat is being purchased is' not disclosed, but it is believed to be not more than the figure quoted, due to the fact that the Dominion is insistent on a good standard being supplied. ■ But for this it is to be feared that Victorian sellers. would have lapsed into the bad- habit, not unknown previously, of supplying indifferent quality wheat. Poultrykeepers are being kept supplied with stocks of fowl wheat, but there is practically no fowl ' wheat about!

It is understood' that the North Island has been fully supplied from Australian shipments.

Oats arc in the peculiar position of not being wanted ancf yet being firm. This paradoxical position is due to settlers having to find oats and name the port of delivery, whilst the buyer does not know where he is going to place them. Potatoes are coming forward freely, but shipping space is very limited. Merchants seeking space for 2000 sacks have had to be content with several hundred. The explanation probably is that in anticipation of the strike lasting longer shipping was diverted elsewhere. The shipments this and last week have been nil. The.Alua and Flora are due next Tuesday and Wednesday „ respectively. Digging has been proceeding vigorously m Canterbury during the week, and had shipping been available, heavy supplies would have gone north. Values on trucks are quoted at £5 5s per ton.