FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 18690, 19 July 1924, Page 9

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros., Dunedin, Ltd., report as follows for the week ended to-day:— Consignments of chaff coming to hand are about equal to the demand, and the market is steady round about £8 5s per ton, sacks extra, for best quality. Most of the consignments are coming forward from Canterbury. Feeders are looking for lower rates, but unless chaff can be landed in Dunedin from outside ports there is little prospect of the market easing. The oat market is keeping steady, and very few local-grown oats are procurable, but the market has been influenced by the arrival of Canadians, and it is reported that further shipments are expected about the end of the month, and that Canadian oats are likely to be discharged at Dunedin and Timani. A small parcel of Canadian oats was sold by auction, and realised 5s per bushel. Canadian oats arriving are mostly feed varieties, and owdng to the feeders not using oats it is difficult to find a market for them. The present quotation for A grade Cartons is round about Ss 6cl per bushel, and B grade 5s 3d f.0.b., s.i. The wheat market is keeping steady, and the demand for fowl wheat is strong round about 6s per bushel, sacks extra, on trucks. There is very little offering, and from now onwards poultry feeders may have to depend on Australian supplies. The Government allows a certain quantity of imported milling wheat to bo used for fowl wheat. The potato market has eased in Canterbury districts, but the local market is keeping steady, and any first-class lines, are worth round about £7 15s per ton. The North Island has been importing largo quantities from Australia. The latest quote from Australia is round about £4 per ton, and while the North Island merchants maintain that the . southern growers have been holding their potatoes for increased prices, we do not thmk this is justified, as Canterbury has been quoting £6 to £6 5s per ton f.0.b., s.i. southern ports, and this quotation compares favorably with what it costs to land Australians, and it is difficult to find a South Island grower who has pitted his potatoes this year. Most of the growers have ofpotatoes off the fork, and when everything is taken into consideration _ the cost of growing potatoes leaves very little to the grower unless he gets about £5 a ton for them. Australia has had a record crop this season, and while most of the northern merchants prefer South Islandgrown potatoes, they are _ ever ready to make use of the imported lines to discount the South Island article. The Australian supply generally falls off at the beginning of August, and there is a fair amount of blight in the potatoes held locally; and it yet remains to bo seen if potatoes will be plentiful before the new crop is available. The onion market is keeping firm. Wo are depending on Australia for our supplies, ami they are quoted in Australia round about £l2 10s a ton. Business in the fruit marts has been quiet during the week. A shipment of Australian fruit came to baud on Thursday, and the quality of the shipment was first class and found ready sales at satisfactory prices. Some beautiful navel oranges sold round about 24s per case. Apples have been short of supply, and all good sound lines have been readily cleared at satisfactory prices. Lemons are in good supply. Sorne fine samples of grapes are still coming forward from Christchurch. Poorman oranges are now starting to come forward more freely. The bananas that came forward are only fair quality, and are proving unprofitable to all concerned. Cauliflower’s and cabbage are still in keen demand, and all consignments of choice quality are readily sold at high prices. Swede turnips and carrots are in good supply, and prices reasonable. Hams and bacon are offering freely, and the cheese market has firmed a little. Dairy pat butter is wanted. Honey is also a little firmer in price. Any good clean lines are readily placed round about 51d per lb. The egg market is keeping steady, and supplies are getting more plentiful. There is a good steady demand for all good clean lines- of produce, fruit and vegetables. The following prices were realised during the week; —

Chaff.—Prime oaten, £8 to £8 10s; oaten straw, £5; whcate'n, £4. Beeswax, Is 6d. Honey.—Bulk, SJi-d; 101 b tins, 6s 6d; Alb pats, 4s 3cl dozen. Cheese, BJid to lOd. Hams, Is 2d. Bason, —rlitchon’s, Is Id. Butter,—Bulk, Is 7d; separator pats, Is 4d. Apples.—Delicious, 10s to 14s; Starmers, 10s 6d; cookers, 6s to Bs. Pears.—Winter Coles, 3d to 4cl. Lemons.—American, 40s. Pines, 255. Oranges.—Australian navels, 245; American, 33?; Tahiti, 15s 6d. Passions, 30s. Grapes.—Local, Is to Is 6d. Bananas.—Ripe, 275. Potatoes, £6 10s to £7 10s. Onions.—Melbourne, £l9. Walnuts, 8d to lOd. Carrots, 6s 6d cwt. ' Swedes, 4s cwt. Cauliflowers. —Firsts, 10s to 12s dozen. Cabbage, 3s 6d to 7s dozen. Lettuce, Is 6d to 2s dozen. Rhubarb, 2d. Tomatoes. —Local, Is to 2s. Green peas, 6d. Cucumbers. —Hothouse, 7s to 8s dozen; outside grown, 6s case. Pigs.—Best porkers, 6ld to 7d; baconers, 7d; overweight, 3|-cf. Eggs.—Stamped, Is XOd; preserved, Is 6d,