FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Evening Star, Issue 23729, 9 November 1940, Page 15

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

IMPROVED DEMAND RULING CITRUS VARIETIES TO ARRIVE Reilly’s report that during the week a good demand has been experienced for all fines coming to hand. Fair supplies of Stunner and Delicious apples are being marketed. Apples are now being sold at action as against fixed prices, and fair values are being secured. Oranges are meeting with an excellent demand. Lemons arc in short supply, a further consignment of New Zealand grown being scheduled to arrive. A shipment of pineapples is also duo, and this consignment should meet with a satisfactory demand. Samoan bananas are readily placed. Ripe bananas will bo available at the beginning of next week. Island kumeras are selling at high values. Fair supplies of Christchurch tomatoes came to hand at the beginning of the week, but with the high values prevailing in Christchurch, only small consignments are arriving, and values have firmed. Local hothouse grown have a good inquiry at satisfactory prices. Some nice quality gooseberries from local growers are netting satisfactory values. There is an excellent demand for rhubarb, and values have l >med.

Fresh vegetables are in demand, and with the dry weather conditions, supplies are short of requirements. Good quality lettuces and cabbages have an excellent inquiry, and cauliflowers show a considerable firming in values. A better demand has been experienced for new potatoes, and only limited supplies of those are being received at present. Increased supplies of green peas are coming to hand, and values remain satisfactory. Asparagus is in short supply, with a consequent firming in prices. There is a much betier demand for carrots and parsnips carrots in particular bringing more oavahlo values Canterbury onions have shown a big increase in price during the week. limited supplies coming to hand. There is a good inquiry being maintained for eggs, and values remain unaltered. Fair’ consignments of poultry were forward for the, weekly sale, with good values for table birds. IMMEDIATE MARKET REACTION TREASURY SECRETARY’S ANNOUNCEMENT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, November 7. Mr Morgcnthau’s request for an increase in the debt limit and elimination of tax exemption privileges in future bond issues brought a spurt in stocks and sent United Slates bonds to the year’s record high level, and induced wide commodity gains. Trading was most active since the end of May. Stocks spurted 100 to 600 cents. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE Press A-.sooiatiou—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 7. The Stock Exchange maintained its good tone on the war news and the United States elections. DREDGE RETURNS fPEti United Pieess Association.] WELLINGTON, November S. The Stock Exchange is advised that the Grey River dredging return fur the week ended November 0 was; 123 hours, 85,11-1 yards worked. 3200 k obtained. The Austral-Now Zealand dredging return for the fid days to midnight of November 2 was 1,4520 z of bullion from 319,000 yards, in -103 hours.

VALUES EASIER

OPOSSUM SKINS DOWN At the supplementary sale of opossum skins held yesterday a total of approximately 14,000 skins was submitted to a good attendance of buyers. There was a fair demand for all descriptions, and good clear ances were effected. The majority of the skins on offer were from northern districts and comprised some nice lines of blues .greys, browns, and blacks. As the season is so advanced and orders for the United States of America are practically filled, it was noticeable at the commencement of the sale that values would rule easier, and this was the case throughout the auction Furriers were principally interested in three-quartor-grown skins, and these grades sold extremely well. Blues sold to Bs, greys to 7s fid. red necks to 4s 7d, browns to 6s 9d, blacks to 4s lid. The following is the official range of prices:—

Blues, Super, 7s fid to 8s; first, fis 3d to 7s lid; second, 3s lOd to 4s 4d; third. 2,-: fid to 3s.

Greys.—Super, 6s fid to 7s fid ; first, 5s 5d to fis fid; second, 3s fid to 4s 5d ; third. 2s fid to 2s lid.

Greys (rusty).-—Super, to fis 9d; first, to fis 3d; second, to 5s 8d ; third, to 3s 3d. Blacks. —Super, 4s 4d to 4s lid; first. 3s 4d to 3s 8d: socoud, 2s 8d to 2s lOd; third. Ud to Is 8(1.

Browns (red). —Super, fis 2d to fis 9d first, 5s lOd to fis Id; second. 4s to 4s id third, to 2s 4d.

Browns (dark). —Super, 4s 8d to 4s lid first, 4s 3d to 4s sd; second, 2s lid to 3s third, Is 8d to 2s Id.

Red Necks. —Super, 6s B<l to 7s 4d; first, 6s 3d to 6s 9d; second, 4s 6d to 6s sd: third, 2s 5d to 3s sd. Thrce-quarler-grown blues, 2s 8d to 4s Id; three-quarter-growu greys, 2s 4d to 3s 4<l; three-quartcr-grown blacks. Is 6d to 3s sd. Badly-damaged, stale, and wcevily skins sold at low rates.

MEAT PRICES

NEGOTIATIONS COMPLETED [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON. November 8. The Minister of Marketing, Mr Nash, announced to-day that negotiations had now been completed with the United Kingdom Government in regard to the prices of meat for the 1940-41 season. The f.e.b. prices payable by the Marketing Department will be the same as for last season, with the exception of minor adjustments in respect of edible offals and bacon cuts. Full details of these adjustments will be published as soon as possible.

MINING NEWS

DREDGE RETURNS. The Stock Exchange Association is advised that the Grey River dredging return for the week ended November 6 was:—l23 hours. 85,144 yards worked, 320 ounces obtained. The Austral-New Zealand dredging return for the 33 days to midnight of November 2 was 1,452 ounces of bullion -from 319,000 yards, in 4b3 hours. WORKSOP EXTENDED. The directors of the Worksop Extended Gold Dredging Company, in their report on the operations of the company for the year ended September 30, state that the full reasons for causing the cessation of operations on August 6 were set out in a circular to shareholders. An extraordinary general meeting discussed the position and passed a resolution recommending the directors to a new dredging area, which the dredging plant could work efficiently. Later the directors inspected various dredging areas for which the dredge appeared to bo suitable, but of the areas inspected only one appeared to be suitable. The directors hope to be able shortly to convey to shareholders more information about tliis area.

During the period commencing on October 1, 1939, and ending on August 6 last 9140 z sdwt of gold were won, which realised £9.138 13s lOd. Gold export duty absorbed £561 13s 10d, gold duty war tax £783 14s lid, and realisation expenses £l3l 10s sd, leaving net receipts from gold £7.661 12s. The total amount of gold duty paid (including gold duty war taxi on its total production is £6.778 18s lid. During the vear a dividend (No. 14) of 10 per cent, (free of income' tax), representing £1,600. was declared.

COMPANY* NEWS

WILSONS CEMENT. ■Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Cement announces an interim half-yearly dividend" of 4£d a share (an unchanged rate), payable on December 2. MORRIS-HEDSTROM DIVIDEND. Cabled advice states that Morris-Hed-strom have declared an interim dividend of 3 per cent, on ordinary shares.

AUSTRALIAN WHEAT

GOVERNMENT'S STABILISATION PLAN Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, November 9. (Received November 9, at 9.10 a.m.) The Minister of Commerce, Sir Earle Page, last night announced the Government's plan foi stabilisation of wheat price and production. Sir Earle Page said the Government realised that stability of the industry was essential for the economic and social stability of Australia in war time.

The principles, of the plan are a guaranteed price of 5s 6d a bushel for ports, bagged, with deductions for siding on a basis of 2]d tor receiving and handling and 4]d railage. Provision will bo made for the creation of a fund into which surnlus market realisations will be paid. High-price rears will meet debits in low-price years. All wheat growers will be licensed, each licensee to sow each year only the acicage authorised hv the Government.

AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGES

Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright SYDNEY, November b. industrial shares strengthened on ’Change to-day as the result of President Roosevelt’s" election. Morning Sales.—Bank of New South Wales, £29 Ids; Tooths, £2 Us sd; Broken Hill Proprietary, £2 7s; British Tobacco, £2 10s 3d; Burns, Philp, £2 12s; Cumberland Paper £1 12s; David Jones, £1 15s 6d ; Dunlop Perdriau, £1 Os l^d. Afternoon Kales.—Bank of . New South Wales, £29 10-; Mercantile Mutual Insurance. £1 8s; British Tobacco, £2 10s 3<l; Felt Textiles, £1 17s 6d (rights, 15s) ; Henry Jones. £2 15s: Carpenter, £1 16s. MELBOURNE, November 8. G. J. Coles. £3 10s 9d; Felt Textiles (rights), 15s; Drug Houses, £1 3s; Emperor, 10s 9d: l.oloma, £1 5s 2d.