COMMERCIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 39, 14 August 1940, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

LIFE ASSURANCE INCREASE

Statistics compiled by the Australian Government Statistician, Mr. S. R. Carver, show that in New South Wales the upward trend of life policies which commenced in 1936-37 after declining from 1930-31, continued into last year. The average of the new policies taken out on the ordinary side of life assurance was then £363, as against £341 in 1938-39, and £328 in 1935-36. On the industrial side the new policy average last year was £48, as against £47 the previous year, and £42 in 1935-36. Ordinary life policies taken out last year numbered 50,338, being 482 fewer than during 1938-39, but the amount assured was £944,120 higher at £18,273,910. Industrial life policies taken out in 1939-40 numbered 158,868 for a total of £7,619,076, as against 158,675 new policies for a total of £7,522,170 in 1938-39.

PROFITS FROM CREMATION.

New South Wales Cremation Co., Ltd. reports a net profit of £661 for the year ended June 30, compared with £1298 for the previous year. Dividends, however, continue at an unchanged rate of 8 per cent, in both preference and ordinary capital, and required £879 and with £3526 brought forward, £3308 is carried forward. Income was £9849, against £9626 in 1938-39. The directors report that gifts of £1050 for war relief purposes and reduced income from lower cremation charges resulted in a smaller profit. As it was never intended to pay dividends of more than 8 per cent., they anticipate that further reductions an tfte ; price of services will be possible ' because of the satisfactory■■■ provision for liability for perpetual care of memorials and consequent relief of charges against income hitherto necessary,

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES.

Market Gardeners, Ltd., of Wellington, report prices of fruit and vegetables sold yesterday:—Tomatoes Is to Is 6d per lb, N.Z. grapefruit 7s to 10s per bushel, turnips 2s to 3s, carrots 2s to 3s, beetroot 2s to 3s, leeks 4s to 6s, rhubarb 12s to 245, radish Is 6d to 2Si spring onions 12s to 245, all per dozen bunches, leeks 3s to 6s, marrows 2s to 3s 6d, parsnips 2s to 3s, carrots 3s to 4s, cabbage 2s to 5s 9d, swedes 3s to 4s cauliflower 4s to ss, silver beet 2s to 4s, sprouts 10s to 245, lettuce 2s 6d to Bs, celery 9s to 13s, beetroot 2s to 3s, spinach 6s to 12s 6d, all per case, cauliflower 8s to 14s 6d, cabbage 4s to 7s 6d carrots 6s, pumpkins 6s to 13s 6d, all per sack, potatoes £5 10s to £6 10s per ton, onions 10s to 14s per cental bag.

RABBITSKIN PRICES

The official range of prices at Dunedin rabbitskin sales, held yesterday, was as follows:—Small 17id to 21|d, runners 28d to 31£ d, racks 34d to 35|d, summers 33d to 35d, dawn autumns 38d, first early autumns 40d to 45d, first late autumn 51|d to 63& d, first incomings 73§d to 79d, second incomings 63d to 70d, first early winter bucks 94|d to 96d, first early winter does 74d to 77d, spotted winter bucks 88d to 93d, spotted winter does 68£ dto 70d, second winter bucks 104 dto 108 d, second winter does 70d to 75d, first winter bucks 115 dto 117 d first winter does 82d to 89Jd, outgoing winter^ bucks 76_d-to 81d outgoing winter does 59d to 65d, fu?rier does 76d .to 83d, spring.bucks 53d to 58id, spring does 36d to 49d, stained does 45|d to 54d, first milky 40d to 42d, milky S2_d to 34d, summer broken 32d to 33_d, autumn broken 35d to 36d, second winter broken 36d to 40M first winter broken 40Jd to 43d, summer fawns 34d to 36d, autumn £S5 65d to 69Jd, first winter fawns 811 dto 86d, summer black 25Jd to __ld autumn black 38d to 50d, first winter black 78d to 80d, first liareskins 32d to 37id, hareskins 20£ dto 24d, horsehair 26d to 21_d, first ferrety 10s lid to 13s 4d each, second ferrets 6s lOd to 10s 10d each. Thirds and damaged sold at low rates.

FIJI GOLD MINES.

The directors of Loloma (Fi]i) Gold Mines, N.L., and Emperor Mines, Ltd., have announced future working pplicie* A new main shaft will be sunk in the Emperor to 650 feet, and later to 1000 feet. This will be equipped for large-scale and underground production, which will be necessary when open-cut operations are completed. Additional treatment plant will be installed to maintain throughput, of the harder sulphide and semi-sulphide ore. Developments at Loloma, the directors state, warrant increased plant to treat lower grade ore by flotation. Extensions to the present plant are necessary, for which generating sets and a compressor set have been ordered from England. Difficulty in obtaining supplies from overseas has prompted the director to accumulate additional stores, including fuel oil, timber, and spare parts. The directors desire to meet capital expenses out of profits, which policy may result in a temporary reduction of dividend or bonus distributions to shareholders.

THE VALUE OF STOCKS.

"Our stocks have risen substantially," said Lord McGowan, chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries, at the annual meeting of that company. "Rising values of stocks have an element of danger in them, for there can be few who remember the Great War who will not be conscious of the heavy slump in the value of stocks that took place following its termination. We are watching this item carefully, and it may be that if prices of materials continue their present upward trend we shall have to make appropriate reserve provisions against the possibility of a repetition of events."

MAIL NOTICE

Malls (except parcel mails) will be closed at Chief Post Office, Wellington, Cl, as under: — Mails close at Post Office, Te Aro, C 2, and Wellington East, C 3, and half-hourly prior to the closing of mails at the Chief Post Office, between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. (Mails for Auckland per "Limited" express close at these offices at 4.30 p.m.) For closing times of parcel mails, books, etc., see footnote. OVERSEAS (OUTWARD). THURSDAY, AUGUST 15. j Australian States and countries via Australia (including air-mail correspondence for services in and beyond Australia), 11 a.m. Other overseas mails will be dispatched as opportunity offers. TRANS-TASMAN AIR SERVICE. Mails will close at Wellington at noon on the following dates:—Thursday, August 15; Tuesday, August 20. Postage Kates. —Australia (Including air services in Australia) : Letters, 5d each halfounce ; postcards, 3d. Egypt, Africa, and intermediate Empire countries, Is 6d each halfounce; postcards, 9d. Foreign countries intermediate between Australia and Egypt: Special rates apply; inquire at Post Office. Note. —Postage rates include air services in New Zealand when necessary. TRANS-PACIFIC AIR MAIL. The closing times for mails from Wellington will be at noon on alternate Thursdays. Next mail, noon, Thursday, August 15. Postage rates: Letters, Hawaii, 2s 6d each half-ouncp; United States and Canada (Including air in America), 4s each half-ounce; Great Britain, 6s 3d each half-ounce. For further particulars apply -at Post Office. AIR-MAIL SERVICES TO GREAT BRITAIN. Route.—Via Australia and Cape Town (air and surface means) (by trans-Tasman air mail or' Australian dispatches), normal transit time, 32 days; postage rates (each half ounce), Is 6d. Route.—x via Honolulu (air and surface means), (as opportunity offers), normal transit time, approx. 3 weeks; postage rates (each half oz), Is 9d. Route.—s via Honolulu and Lisbon (air and surface means) (as opportunity offers), normal transit time, under 3 weeks; postage rates (each half oz), 4s. Route. —Via America (air and surface means) (by trans-Pacific air mail), normal transit time, approx. 2 weeks; postage rates (each half oz), 4s. Route. —Via America (by air) (by transpacific and trans-Atlantic air mail), normal transit time, 12 days; postage rates (each half oz), 6s 3d. xConnections uncertain, letters accepted sender's risk. INLAND MAILS, (Unless otherwise indicated, mails are closed daily.) j BY AIE MAIL. \ Auckland, Hamilton, and Thames Districts.— Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 11 a.m. Palmerston North and District. —Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 11 a.m. New Plymouth.—Tuesday, Thursday, Satur- j day, 11 a.m. | Southern Offices (except Marlborough and Nelson districts). —Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10.20 a.m. Blenheim.—Monday to Saturday, 8.30 a.m., 1.30 p.m. Nelson, Greymouth, Hokitika, Westport, and Reefton. —Monday to Saturday, 6.35 a.m. Nelson. —Monday to Saturday, 10.45 a.m. Parcels for dispatch by air will be accepted up to the time of closing of letter-mails. BY STEAMER. Picton, Havelock, and Blenheim, via Picton, per Tamahine (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), 1.30 p.m.; C.P.O. late fee, 1.45 p.m.; steamer, 2.30 p.m. Nelson, Westport, and Havelock; letter-malls for Blenheim and Reefton; letter-mails for Greymouth (Tuesday and Thursday); lettermails for Picton (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) ; also all mails for offices in Pelorus Sound (Wednesday and Saturday), Monday, Wednesday, Friday, per Kaitoa, 4.45 p.m.; C.P.O. late fee, 5.15 p.m.; at steamer 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, per Matangi, 5 p.m.; C.P.O. late fee, 6 p.m.; at steamer, 6.30 p.m.

Southern Offices (except Marlborough and Nelson Districts). —Monday, Wednesday, Friday, per Rangatira, 5 p.m.; C.P.O. late fee, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, per Maori, 5 p.m.; C.P.O. late fee, 6 p.m.; late fee box at gates to Ferry Wharf, 7.30 p.m. BY TRAIN. Auckland and District. —Monday to Saturday, mails are closed C.P.0., 1.30 p.m.; late fee, 2 p.m.; late fee railway, 2.50 p.m. Sunday to Friday (letters only), mails are closed C.P.O. 5 p.m.; late fee, 6 p.m.; late fee railway, 7 p.m. Thames, Hamilton, and Main Trunk Districts. —Mails are closed C.P.0., 1.30 p.m., 5 p.m.; late fee C.P.0., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.; late fee railway, 2.50 p.m., 7 p.m. Gisborne and District. — Mails are closed C.P.O. 8.30 a.m., 5 p.m.; late fee C.P.0., 8.45 a.m., 6 p.m.; late fee railway, 9.30 a.m Napier and Hawke's Bay Districts—Maila are closed C.P.O. at 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m.; late fee C.P.0., 8.45 a.m., 6 p.m.; late fee railway, 9.30 a.m. New Plymouth and Taranakl Districts.— Mails are closed C.P.O. at 9 a.m., 1.30 p.m., 5 p.m. (letters only); late fee C.P.0., 9.15 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m.; late fee railway, 10.15 a.m., 2.50 p.m., 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, | Friday (letters only), 3.45 p.m.; C.P.O. late fee, 4 p.m. Wanganui and District.—9 a.m., 1.30 p.m., I 5 p.m.; late fee C.P.0., 9.15 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m.; late fee railway, 10.5 a.m., 2.50 p.m., 7 p.m. Eangitikei District—Mails are closed C.P.O. 9 a.m., 1.30 p.m., 5 p.m.; late fee C.P.0., 9.15 a.m., 2 p.m.; late fee railway, 10.5 a.m., 2.50 p.m. Palmerston North.—Mails are closed C.P.O. 7.30 a.m., 9 a.m., 1.30 p.m., 5 p.m.; late fee, I C.P.0., 7.45 a.m., 9.15 a.m., 2 p.m, 6 p.m.; late fee railway, 8.20 a.m., 10.5 a.m, 2.50 1 p.m., 7 p.m. Manawatu District.—Malls are closed C.P.O. 7.30 a.m., 5 p.m.; late fee C.P.0., 7.45 a.m., 6 p.m.; late fee railway, 8.20 a.m. Wairarapa District.—Mails are closed C.P.O. 2.30 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m.; late fee C.P.O. 2.45 p.m.; late fee railway, 7.40 a.m. Inland parcel mails are closed daily at C.P.O. 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. (For particulars of districts served, etc., ring 44-702 or 44-165, or call at counter.) Express transit parcels received up to time of closing letter-mails. Note. —Express transit parcels cannot be forwarded to Auckland by "Limited" express, V. G. NIND, Chief Postmaster. Wednesday, August 14, .1940.