COMMERCIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1929, Page 8

COMMERCIAL

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 15. Potatoes are firmer and there is a good demand ‘for prompts, from Auckland and Wellington; also, fqy April and June stuff. Potatoes for prompt delivery are quoted at £4/10/- to farmers at cduhtry stations bn trucks, and ’from £3/15/- to £4 for spread delivery. Owing to the price for prompt tubers being what it is to-day, farmers are not inclined to discuss forward business. The Kekerangu on Wednesday took some 1013 sacks for •the North, and the next vessel is expected to sail with about 1500 sacks; With regard to the crops this season, •it is hard to estimate just how they will turn out. It appears that potatoes, grown in heavy land will not return heavy yields, owing to the rain which fell earlier in.the year drowning so many of them. More recently there has been a good top growth but it is expected that beneath the ground the results will be found upon examination to be disappointing. On the lighter ?soil, however, better results are ex'pected. Onions are quoted at £4/10/- for prompt delivery, but owing to shipments to Sydney, it is likely that there will be an easing again. There is little demand from Auckland at present. With respect to the shipment from Auckland to Vancouver concerning which there has been lately considerable publicity given, a merchant stated to-day that at one time this trade was done from Lyttelton, when there were direct boats running but as there are none these days, the trade has been lost to Auckland, which is in a more favourable position in this connection. The merchants also stated that Auckland potatoes have better keeping qualities for this class., of trade fearlier in the season, but in spite of this the South Island would be able to Ido business with Vancouver if there were direct steamers running from (Lyttelton. Wheat is, if anything, a little brighter, the quotations being 5/8 at country stations, on trucks, for Tuscans, and 6/- for Hunters. There is any amount offering, farmers being anxious to get their stuff into toWn as soon as possible. Loading is being held up at present however, owing to a temporary shortage of trucks. A good enquiry is being experienced for fowl Wheat which is worth 5/9 to ■5/10 per bushel f.o.b. Oats are easier, following the business done about ten days ago, A gartons being quoted at 3/4J to 3/5 f.0.b.5.i., and B’s at 3/1 to 3/15. Chaff is worth from £3/10/- to £3/15/- per ton on trucks at country stations, which is equal to £5/10/f.o.b.s.i.

The Partridge peas market is dull, quotations being from 5/- to 5/2 on trucks. It is as yet too early for business to be done in linseed. There is no change to report in the quotations for seeds. BUTTER AND CHEESE. Copy of cablegram received by Dalgety and Co., Ltd., from their London office, dated March 15 :— Butter.—Market weak. Danish 181/ to 182/, New Zealand finest 168/ to 170/, Australian finest unsalted 170/ to 174/, salted 166/ to 168/, G.A.-Q. 162/ to 165/ Cheese. —Market steady at present prices. New Zealand white 88/ to 89/, New Zealand coloured 89/ to 90/, Canadian white 108/ to 112/, coloured £lO6/ to 110/. Butter impors into the United Kingdom last month totalled 482,000 cwt as compared with 583,000 cwt for the corresponding period last year.