COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 15913, 20 September 1915, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

CANTERBURY FARMERS* COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION. [Per United Press Association.] TIMAEU, September 18. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Farmers' Co-operative Association, held 'ihis morning, was well attended.. Mr John Talbot presided. The report and chairman's statement showed that there were now 3,667 shareholders—an increase of 105 during the year—and the employees numbered 338. The capital paid up was £206,189, and the turnover for the year (sales of all kinds) was £1,039,000. The amount available for distribution was £334,486, and dividends were declared as follow : —6 per cent, on preference shares, 8 per cent, on ordinary shares, and a 5 per cent, bonus to purchasers and on salaries and wages. The average dividend on the ordinary capital for 22 years has been £7 6s 4d, and the average bonus £5 2s 3d. The directors decided in future to allow discounts to purchasers for cash and monthly payments, as well as a bonus at the end of the year. The meeting endorsed the action of the directors in voting amounts to the patriotic funds and half-pay to 25 employees who have enlisted, the total to the end of July being £1,581. Since July £I,OOO has been given to the wounded soldiers' fund, and half-pay for the current year will amount to £1,500. The Chairman stated that arrangements were in hand for the federation of all the farmers' co-operative associations in the Dominion, with a view to strengthening them and facilitating trade beyond the seas. He also referred to the unfortunate state of the district from drought, but urged farmers not to take too gloomy a view of it. THE WOOL SALES. LONDON, September 18. Wool is better in tone, and cross-breds' prices are hardening. Best wool is in more general competition, and there is good competition for all sorts, and prices are firm and unchanged. To date 86,704 bales have been catalogued and 70,321 sold. The following prices were realised for the fleece portions of the New Zealand clips named : —Kawa Kawa, top 17d, average 15|; St. Clair, top 19d, average 18§d; Ngaturi, top 17Jd, average 15d; Tuarua, top 17d, average 15£ d; Two Hearts, top 13|d, average ll|d; Two Hearts cross-bred, top 14d, average 13fd; Doondie, top 16d, average 14gd; Kiwakiwa, top average 16-fd; Westdome, top 19d, average 17fd. THE MARKETS. Press Awooiation—3y Telegraph—Copyright -LONDON, September 17. Copper.—Spot, £69; three months, £7O. Tin.—Spot, £152; three months, £154. Pig iron, 64s 9d. Lead.—Spot, £23 ss; three months, £22 10s, • Spelter.—Spot, £74; three months, £64. September 18. _ Wheat.—Firm. Chicago September options, 103 to 106 cents; December options, 954r to 97£ cents. Butter.—Danish. 178s to ,181s. Cotton.—September and October shipments, 6.23 d. .Tni-e.-i—September and October shipments, £26 12s 6d. Hemp.—Quiet. October to December shipments, £32. Copra.—September and October shipments. £22 7s 6d. Rubber.—Para, 2s 4|d; plantation and smoked, 2s 3 r ?d. Silver, d per oz. Quicksilver, £l6 10s. Frozen Mert.— Australian mutton, li"ht heavy 5-Jd r Australian ewes, 53d; Canterbury lamb, light B'-d. second quality 7?d. medium 7|. heavy 7f d: North Island lamb, selected. 8d: Southland lamb, ordinary, 72 d ; Australian lamb, best brands 7Sd. fair duality inferior 7d: River Plate beef, chilled fores 5Ad, hinds 6#d : South American sheep, light 6£d, heavy 6d; ewes, s|d. LONDON, September 19. (Received September 20, at 8.35 a.m.) The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the* United Kingdom is 720.000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,450,000 charters. The Atlantic shipments were 842.000 quarters, and the Pacific 57.000 quarters. Total, Europe 815,000 quarters, including -Russian 10,000 and India 5,000 quarters, and all others 27.000 quarters.