CANTERBURY PRODUCE

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 11 June 1932, Page 5

CANTERBURY PRODUCE

POTATO MARKET STEADY. LEAP IN ONION PRICES. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association. - ) ' CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. The potato market has further compounded, the price af the mid-week advance being equivalent to £lO a ton. Since Tuesday there was a steadying tendency, the northern inquiry easing to some extent. Prompt deliveries have been sold at £6 5s and occasionally £6 7s 6d f.o.b. sacks in, the former price being quotations this evening. Junes have sold at £6 10s and Julys at £7 ss, though at the moment potatoes for this month are at £7, with a slacking in buying. July-September deliveries firmed only slightly to £7 10s. The prices to farmers this evening is £5 5s on trucks at medium stations, though it is understood that this figure has been exceeded. The Waimarino, which left early in the week, took 2000 sacks from Timaru and Lyttelton. The Wingatui is due to sail next Thursday, but present appearances point to her cargo being small. The real shortage of potatoes is the basic cause of the sudden rise. Both merehants and farmers ‘are satisfied that the previous reports of poor crops are confirmed. F'armers are not keen to accept the enhanced prices. There has been a remarkable leap in the price of onions. The price has been advancing almost at the rate of £1 a day this week, and sales have' taken place at £l9 a ton f.o.b. sacks in, with reported sales at £2O. The few lucky growers holding onions have received £l7 and £lB a ton.

Milling wheat is very scarce and the reported admission of a limited quantity of Australian milling in view of a probable shortage is not viewed with disfavour. So far this has not had any cffect on fowl feed values.

Oats are weaker in the south, being quoted at 3s 7d for A Gartons. All other sections of the trade are quiet.