WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17877, 24 August 1918, Page 11

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE.

CHRISTCHURCH. August 23. GENERAL MERCHANDISE. Tho price of many bottled lines, such as cordials, patent medicines, turpentine, vinegar, benzine and rennet, is very firm on account of tho groat scarcity of bottles. If the conditions governing importations remain as they are at present there will unquestionably bo great difficulty in procuring supplies of bottled goods in tho course of a few months. Some of the indents for the now season's Californian fruits have not been confirmed. The action of tho United States Government in requisitioning all supplies for army pur. poses' is evidently making it difficult for Californian packers to fulfil overseas orders. There will be a shortage of mixed and orange peel for the Christmas trade this season as none of the New Zonland manufacturers aro in a position to supply tho articles. In lemon peel the shortage will be mot to a certain extent by importations from Australia, although the duty of 3d per 'b will increase the coßt and consequently militate against the demand, which is not expected to be as large as in past years. Cream of tartar continues firm and in view of the difficulties in procuring further supplies through the failure of the crape crop in France present holdings should bo good stock. Owing to the difficulty in' obtaining boxes Bell's Ovals and Thousands matches arc again unprocurable. There has been an advance in the price or* Scott's emulsion, tho retail prices now being 2s 9d for small bottles and 5s for large. A shipment of Jordan almonds is expected to reach the, Dominion at the end of September. The price of Droservod ginger continues to advance, a further increase of,a farthing per lb having been announced in consequence of the high rates of exchange. "Sew season's preserved ginger will cost over la Id per lb to land. A further supt>ly of Diola dyes, which have been in short supply for some time, is expected shortly. The manufacturers state that dye is becominer more and more scarce, and diffioulty is being experienced in obtaining permission to export. Prospective operators are adviied to anticipate their requirements ns far Pa possible, as cons:" I crr.ble delay might conceivably occur before shipment can be effected. HARDWARE. Since last report nothing of special interest is to be recorded. Stocks arc '-"-nduaHy diminishing with little hope of replacement in view of the shippine outlook and the difficulty of obtaining goods from manufacturers. There is not much, activity in fencing wires, and prices remain at about the same level. Corrugated and plain galvanised iron remain vory scarco and prices are only nominal. Wiro nails have advanced £4 per ton. the basis price now being £6O per ton. Some sizes of tubes aro quite out of the market. Ingot tin remains firm at 4s Bd per lb. Genuine linseed oil and white lead show no alteration. A shipment of poultry netting is expected shortly, and will help to relieve the present shortage. SOFT GOODS. Although various lines are still short, some relief has recently been afforded by the arrival of some fairlv large consignments from Britain, and stocks are now on hand of several lines which rou'd not be obtained for some months. While this is the case, it cannot be said that there is anything in the nature of ample stocks for requirements, tnd anxiety continues to be felt regarding the future. Dr.vin«r the Inst fortnight more than one vessel has arrived in the Dominion bearing large consignments, but stocks had reached snch a state of depletion ihnt there is virtually no hope of fully ropVnishmg supplies till/ the war is ended, and shipping again

placed in commission for commercial purposes. Many warehouses are short of N«w Zealand manufactures, mors especially woollen goods, some lines of which are almost unprocurable owing to the manufacturers devoting their whole energies in the direction of fulfilling the requirements of the military. Several lines of underwear aro unobtainable, whilst others are in short supply, and the natural result has been a firming of values, prices for almost all descriptions of goods continuing to harden. Tho prico of cotton goods, too, shows » decided upward tendency, and this despite tho fact tliat in America tho orop is an excellent one. Durino- July the prices of raw cotton wore unsteady, values on tho average being a trifle higher than they were a month earlier. The last American report issued by the Government stated that tho growing oroo showed a very high average condition, and tho foremost private authority estimates the acreage being between 3 and 4 por cent greater than last year. This indicates a very fair crop, possibly 16,000,000 bales. The best estimate or tho total consumption of American ootton for the year 1917-18 is 12,500,000 bales ,and if present conditions continue it is difficult to say how this can be much increased during tho coming yeaT as the British and French demand is-being more and mors curtailed. The premium on the bettor grades of raw cotton remains very high, much above normal, and will probably so continue until tho new crop is available. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. During the week there have been fair supplies of vegetables, and a. keen demand for most varieties, particularly for cabbages and cauliflowers, both of" which have slightly advanced. Vogotables in tho smaller townships and country districts of tho province are short, and many of these places have boon under the necessity of drawing supplios from Christchurch, which has naturally had the result of hardening values. Supplies and prices of apples and poars Bhow no change from last week. Sydney fruits have again met with a ready B alo, although at prices slightly below those current a week ago. During tho week a small shipment of re-packed Island oranges oam« to hand and sold well, realising well over 20s per case. A shipment of Fiji bananas is expected to-morrow fToin Auokland by a coastal steambr, the fruit having been transhipped. South Australian lemons, navels oranges and onions are expeotcd from Melbourne by the Westralia on Monday. Tho following aro the prices current during the week:

PIGS. At the Christchurch saleyanrs to-day, the supply of pigs wae a very small one, all bein? of one size, slips, and the current price was 265. POULTRY. During the week there has been an excellent demand in tho poultry market, and the supply has been insufficient to meet requirements. Quotations are: —Table chickens 5s to 10i sd, hens 4s to 7s 7d, pnl'ets 3s 9d to 13s, ducks 6s to 8s 9d and turkeys lis to 33s Gd, all at per pair. EGGS. To a yory large extent the esrg market is at a (standstill, and supplies have cased off perceptibly. Somo buyers are holding off the market in the expectation that there will ben further reduction in price wi.th the advance of the season, while producers refuse to lower their prices, holding that the current rates pre not exorbitant, ard that lower values would prove unpayable.

s d 8 d Apples, dessert, per oase IV 0 to 12 0 Apples, cooking, per oas* 6 0 to 10 0 Lemons, San Francisco, per case 40 0 Lemons, Mildura, per case 16 0 Lemons, South Australian, 16 0 Mandarins, per case . 19 0 to 20 G Oranges, Cook Islands, per case 19 0 to 21 0 Oranges. Sydney, per case . 14 0 to 16 9 Orangos, poormans, per case . 15 0 Oranges, Valencia.*, per case . 33 0 Passions, per case . 17 0 to 17 9 Pineapples, por caso . . 10 6 to 19 0 Pears, per case . » 7 0 to 11 0 Walnuts, per lb . . • 0 10J Beet, per doz bdlo . , , . 0 10 Cabbages, per dor . • . 1 0 to 6 a Cauliflowers, per doz • . 1 0 to 7 6 Cucumbers, per lb . • > 1 0 Carrots, per doz bdls • . , 0 n Leeks, per bdl . • 0 4 Lettuce, per doz . . . to 1 a Marrows, per doz . • ', 4 0 to 5 0 Onions local, per cwt 21 6 Parsnips, p«r doz bdls ; 0 8 Potatoes, per sack . 10 0 to 18 0 Pumpkins, per doz . . fi 0 to 8 0 Radishes, per doz bdls 0 9 Spring onions, per doa bdls . 1 6 Turnips, per doz bdls . 0 9