COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 14963, 24 August 1912, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

THE PRICE OF MEAT. 'ress Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY. August 23. The president of the Master Butchers' j Association informed the Food Conimis- j ;ion that there was no chance of a. decrease in the price of moat, owing to the supply of stock not keeping pace with he increase in population. MONEY' AND MARKETS. 'ress Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, August 23. —Bank Returns and Discounts.— The Bank of England returns show the tock of gold coin and bullion to be 339.534,000; reserve, £30.108,000: prowrtion of reserve to liabilities, 49.80 per ■ent. The notee in circulation total D 29.254.000: public, deposits. £17,544.000; ther deposits, £42,890,000; Government ecurities, £13,363,000: other securities, 235.103.000. The Bank rate of discount is 3 per rent. Short loans are discounted at 1J per ■ent., and three months' bills as folovr :—London. 3 3-16 per cent. ; Paris, !£ per cent. : Berlin, 4 per rent. Console are quoted at £75 12s 6d. —Colonial Stocks.— The following are the quotations for ■olonial Government stocks, compared vith those ruling a week previous : Aug. 16. Aug. 23 "sew South Wales 4's 102 "102.1 "sew South Wale.; 3A\s 97 97 S'ew South Wales 3"s Victorian 4's 101 101 Victorian Victorian 3's ■ 82' 82" Jueensland 4's 100& 100J Queensland 3A's 95 95 Queensland 3's 82 82 South Australian 3J's 94i 94A South Australian 3's 79 79 NTew Zealand 4's 102 102J S'ew Zealand 3t's 94 94 few Zealand s's 84 84 Fasmanian 3i's 93 93 rasmanian 3's 84 84 West Australian 3Vs 9-JJ 94J West Australian 3's 86 86 —Wheat, Flour, and Oats.— Wheat : The market is steady, but buyers are reserved. Liverpool futures : October. 7s ■•tim of 38s 6d has been paid for a parcel of South Australian and Victorian due next week. Spot prices are unchanged. Flour : The market is quiet, but steady. Australian, 27s 9d ex store, and 26s 9d afloat. Oats : The market is quiet. La Plata, August-September shipment, 17s 6d. —Butter and Cheese.— Butter : The market is quiet, and prices are nominally unchanged. The demand for colonial *is limited to the choicest. Some purchases of New Zealand butter at Is f.o.b.. are reported, which most importers consider excessive. Cheese : The market is steady. New Zealand, 65s to 665. —Metals.— Silver. 28gd - per oz. Copper : Spot, £79 7s 6d ; three months, £79 12s 6d. Tin : Spot. £2lO ss: three months, £2OB 15s. Lead. £2O. Pig iron, 62s 2d. —Sugar.— German, lis 6d; first marks, 14s Id. —Wool.— The Bradford wool market is firm, and business is improving. RISE IN PERIODICALS. Pr>=es AsauCTAtion—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, August 24. (Received August 24, at 9.45 a.m.) In consequence of the increased cost of handling, freight, wages, and cartage on English periodicals, those which are now selling in New South Wales for Id will be raised by J,<l. The Queensland agents will shortly follow the New South Wales example. SOUTH AFRICAN FRUIT FREIGHTS. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. CAPE TOWN. August 23. (Received August 24, at 9.45 a.m.) The mail contract fixes the freight on fruit at a flat rate of 40s a ton for apples, plums, grapes, and nectarines, and 25s for citrus fruits. NEW ZEALAND DAIRYING ASSOCIATION. HAMILTON, August 24. The twelfth annual meeting of the NewZealand Dairy Association was held at Hamilton yesterday. The balance-sheet showed a big increa.se in business and provision for a 6 per cent, dividend. The total payment to shareholders in a butterfat basis, including a dividend during July and August, was Is 2j,d per lb. The report forecasted an excellent season, with record prices.