GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 143, 15 June 1909, Page 3

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

(Christehurch Press, Saturday.) The misleading and contradictory information that has been telegraphed from Auckland during the week regarding the wheat market has been generally condemned by those interested in tlie grain trade. The first statement from Auckland that attracted attention was that two Australian buyers were on their way over to buy up all the surplus wheat; that two steamers were coming to ship the grain, and that by August there would be a wheat and bread famine. Next, it was stated that these Australian buyers had been operating in New Zealand for two months past. Regarding the surplus, it was first stated that the 2,000,000 bushels available for export were being tightly held by farmers, and next it was said that more than half of this quantity had already been exported. Enquiries made both in

Canterbury and Otago, where the bulk of the wheat is grown, and where the surplus is held, have failed to discover any indications of the operations of 'Australian buyers or any corroborative information that such a visit is contemplated. So far from more than half of the surplus of 2,----000,000 bushels of wheat having been exported, the Customs returns show that up to the end of May only 156,----463 sacks (equal to about 521,543 bushels) has been shipped. To show that local merchants are not anticipating the wheat famine predicted from Auckland, they have shipped practically all their stocks, and: in view of the present state of the Home market (which must rule the local market so long as there remains an exportable surplus), they are not making further purchases unless they can obtain them on a parity with London values. Meanwhile, there is little wheat offering, as farmers are holding firmly; but until there is an improvement reported from London sufficient to justify resuming the export trade after the present shipping charters are filled, there will probably not be a very keen enquiry. Millers appear to be well stocked, and no sales of wheat are reported to have taken place during the last few days. Oats are easier, "though few are coming forward; but the price is dependant upon London values, and exporters have had to reduce their limits in accordance. with the Home advices. The quotations are now a penny below those of last week. There is not much business doing in potatoes or onions. For potatoes, up "to £3 10s has been paid, at near stations.

The undermentioned are the prices paid to farmers, at country stations, tree of commission, except where otherwise stated : — Wheat—Milling 4s, chickwheat 3s 6d to 3d 7d, at country stations. Oats—Gartons Is 4d to Is sd, Duns Is 3d to Is 4d, Algerians Is 8d to Is Bid, at country stations. -Barley—Malting (nominal), feed Is 9d, at country stations. Ityegrass—Nominal, Is 6d to Is 9d, Itaian 2s to 2s 3d, at country stations. Cocksfoot—l3lb to 141b 4-Jd to 4|d, 121b to 12Jib seed 4& to 4Jd, at country stations. Cowgrass—6d to 6|, at country stations. Flour—£lo 10s per ton. Bran—£4 5s local, £4 f.0.b., per" ton. Pollard—£s 10s per ton. Oatmeal —£10 per ton. New Oatsheaf Chaff—3ss to £2, at country stations. Potatoes—£3 5s to £3 10s for TJp-to-Dates and Derwents, at country stations. Peas—Partridge 3s 8d to 3s 9d, Blue Imperials 4s 6d, Blue Prussians 3s 9d to 4s. Onions—Nominal, £3 to £3 10s, at country stations. Dairy Produce—Cheese, factory '5-H, dairy sd, loaf cheese 6£d; butter, factory 13d, farmers' separator lOd, dairy 9d; bacon, sides 7£-d, rolls 8d; hams, 8d;-honey, extracted 4d per 1b ; Is 2d per lb; lard (packets) 8d; fresh eggs 14d per dozen, preserved eggs Is per dozen.