CANTERBURY MARKETS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 4, 6 January 1926, Page 14

CANTERBURY MARKETS

(IT TILIOMPI — PUH USOCMTtOR.)

CHRISTCHURCH, sth January.

Merchants have not been rushed since resuming business after the holidays, there being no accumulation of orders to handle. However, crop developments are creating a good deal of discussion and expectancy. Reports are that the week-end rain will do a great amount of good in filling out the wheat. The drying winds subsequently nullified some of the good effects, but the rain got well* into" the ground. Yields as a result will be better than was expected, though, of course well below last season's. 'Though the market is dull it is firm. . Oats are likely to be a very short crop in North and most of Mid-Can-terbury, but further south the position is good and normal yields are expected. A good deal of the crop in the northern end of the province is already, in stook. At the moment forward quotations for A gartons is 4s 6d f.o.b. 8.i., arid for B's 4s 3d. Chaff has firmed up during the past few weeks, and good quality chaff is worth, on trucks, at country stations, from £4 10s to £4 15s per ton, secondary £4 to £4 7s 6d. There has been a fair local demand. There is very httle offering from farmers. An influence in the seed market is the heavy floods'in England and on the Continent. Reports arc that a good deal of damage has been done to crops and that instead of much exportation importation is possible. ' Perennial ryegrass is in firm demand at 6s f.0.b., 8.i., for 27-28U> seed, and to 6s 3d for 30-3Ub seed, equal to 4s 3d to 4s 6d on trucks to farmers. Italian and Western Wolths are quoted at 4s 9d f.0.b., s.i., or ,3s 3d on trucks. The general opinion is that Canterbury crops will be light. Cowfjrass is firm at lOd on trucks with little doing. , Cocksfoot is very quiet. The Peninsula crop will again be small, but the quality will be much better. Up to 12d for machine-dressed and to 7d on trucks are quoted. Potatoes generally are looking well after the.rain, of which they were much in need. Merchants are offering £4 per ton on trucks for the main crop (AprilJune), but there is little response at this fiptire.' Another 10s a ton would probably lead to business.