MARKET REPORTS

Evening Star, Issue 23657, 17 August 1940, Page 15

MARKET REPORTS

THE POTATO GLUT [Per United Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, August 16. According to advice received from the Minister of Marketing (Mr Nash) by Mr VV. J. Fletcher, who was a member of a deputation of potato growers and merchants which waited on " the Minister recently, the Government has decided not to fix a minimum price for potatoes. It would appear, however, from other reports, that the possibility of shipping some of the Dominion’s surplus potatoes to South America is being investigated. There is apparently a market there for both seed and table potatoes since European sources of supply have been cut off, but the main difficulty would seem to be obtaining ships to carry them. An advertising campaign to promote the sale of potatoes has begun, and it is reported that recommendations have been made to the Government to reduce railway charges on supplies of'potatoes for stock food where necessary. In the meantime the local market has reached a state approaching stagnation. Reports from the North Island indicate that there are still plenty of potatoes to be marketed there, and with the likelihood of an early spring, prospects of getting more consignments away from Canterbury, apart from those bought earlier for spread delivery, do not appear bright. The quotation to farmers remains nominally at £2 per ton. The inquiry has been a little better for certified white clover, but practically all stocks seem now to have changed hands. Cowgrass also has had some inquiry, but it appears that there has been no stabilisation of prices yet. The inquiry for grass seed’s has begun, and stocks seem to be in small compass. A fair amount of chaff has been offering lately, but the demand is small and quotations remain nominally at £5 10s. The market for onions is firm, although there is not a great deal of inquiry. Quotation to farmers is £lO a ton. sacks extra. / ______ DIVIDENDS AND CALLS. The following is a list of shares on which dividends will shortly be payable:— Dominion Rubber Half-yearly, 6d a share ... ... Aug. 21 Commercial Bank of Australia— Interim, 4 per cent, per annum on pref shares, 7j per cent, per annum on ord. shares. Australian currency ... Aug. 22 Dominion Investment —Final, 2} per cent Aug 22 Bank of N.S.W.—Quarterly, 6s a share. Australian currency ... Aug 29 Emperor Mines—6d a share Aug 31 Electrolytic Zinc Ltd Halfyearly, 8 per cent, pref and ord. shares Sept. 20