CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 15, 17 July 1929, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

(By. Telegraph.—Press Association.)

'". . . CHEISTCHURCH, 16th July. . 'The potato market has jumped substantially since the week-end. The firming set in yesterday morning and to-day potatoes were sold for shipment by the Katoa next week at £7 5s a ton f.0.b., s.i. At the week-end the quotation was £6 12s 6d to £6 15s. For July-September delivery values have advanced from £6 15s to £7 30s a ton f.0.b., s.i. The cause of the sudden jump in values is twofold. Auckland inquiries on account of the scarcity 5n the Northern centre had hardened the market substantially and a further fillip was given by a cablegram in this morning's papers to the effect that the removal or the embargo against New Zealand tubers entering Australia was being urged in Sydney. Though there is not much to support this possibility the proposal had an effect in further hardening the mark*. Prompt potatoes are up to £2 a ton better than they were a fortnight ago—£7 ss— as against £5 5s to £5 10s f.0.b., B.i. The Wingatui will be loading at Lyttelion to-morrow. She took round about 4000 sacks from Timaru and it is expected that ■ between 4500 and 5000 sacks ■will be lifted from Lyttelton or in the aggregate up to 9000 sacks. The Katoa ■win not be leaving until next Monday or Tuesday. Values on trucks have advanced from £4 5s a fortnight ago to £6 to£ay. Farmers are not offering freely and in jny-case the burst of wet weather is holding up the bagging of potatoes from pits.

Onions have taken a sharp advance and are worth £6 a ton on trucks. Buying, however, is of a hand-to-mouth order as the quality is not very dependable. The shipment to Sydney per the Karetu is due to arrive, and as the market is very firm there at the moment satisfactory prices are anticipated. The shipment comprised about 60 tons.

All the market interest is concentrated <m potatoes, other branches of produce being "as they were."