STOCK MARKETS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 8 January 1927, Page 10

STOCK MARKETS.

A HEALTHY TONE new year opening well. Activity marked the opening of the New Year in the stock world, and it promises to bo good all round. There is a tone of confidence and a prospect of satisfactory conditions generally. First in importance to this district is the dairying industry. The last reports from Home show a steady market. Prices realised are not, of course, equal to last,year, but it is satisfactory to note from all dairy districts, returns shoeing very substantial increases in production. jn Australia and on the Continent supplies” have diminished,, and this is certain to have a very material hardening influence on New Zealand prices. Latest advices call the market " stagnant,” although quotations are fairly good and unchanged from the Christmas week. Business will, however, have just been resumed after the holidays, and it will be interesting to see the developments as it gets right into its stride. A business man of Hawera in closest touch with the markets, remarking on the slight drop of one shilling, and the apparent weak demand, said that this v.as the usual thing after the Christmas trade, and had not much significance. He considered it was likely to pick up very soon. He regarded the position as being quite sound, particularly in cheese, of which he had always been more confident. The opening stock tales have been quite satisfactory, although, as is aiv, ays expected, the offerings have not been as large as usual. The interference of the holidays with the normal run of business is always felt- to some extent, and 110 doubt next sales will show a complete revival. Fat stock are in good supply, here as in the In-ge centres, and there, is a downward tendency reported therefrom which is likely to be reflected here. Pastures have been so exceptionally good—quite the most luxuriant experienced here, owing to the warm weather and regular mild rains—that bullocks have pur on condition very rapidly and grazing farmers have had to stock very heavily to be able to keep down the grass at all. This has been to the advantage of dairy farmers, whose returns have gone up solidly and whose milch cattle are in wonderful condition. They have been able, too, to put in plenty of hay and to have made ample stocks of ensilage, while the crops which appeared in the very early- stages to be poor and to have suffered from the high winds, are now doing well and showing promise of great returns. The prospects therefore for the autumn winter and early spring look very bright. Wool prices are good and late sales have shown a very acceptable rise all round. The prospects for the sheep farmer are excellent, and all will, no doubt, be anxious to get their shearing over—there is still a little to do, though the large bulk is finished—and to get the wool to market. The weather, with the exception of . odd spoils during the past month or two. has been ali to the good for the young stock and lambs have grown exceptionally well and are showing good averageweights at the freezing works. There has been a steady stream of lambs to the works as well as fat sheep, and this will probably be maintained for some time. The returns to the sheep farmers have been very satisfactory. For pigs at-Westfield the demand was good and values were "very firm at late quotations.’’ An advance was shown at Burnside. Store pigs also show an advance. Local breeders of pedigrees report a continuer! strong demand, almost more than they can fill. It is quite apparent the farmers generally are alive to the need for keeping up the supply and also for maintaining a good standard of quality, so as to be able to supply the type demagided by consumers. The position generally shows a marked stearly improvement.