CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKET

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3577, 7 April 1927, Page 9

CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKET

CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. While there is any quantity of whpat for millers* requirements, only small lots are changing hands for the reason that there Is a good deal in store. One miller claims to have at least six or eight months' supply on hand. “Present prices' are not to our liking.” be said to-day. “As a matter of fact, we would ba pleased to see ah advance which would give us a chance to make something out of the wheat we bought earlier in the season.”

The North Island demand for seeds has just about run its course this season, and a period of quietness may now be expected. The new crops of ; cowgrass are coming on the market arid are turning out well. Growers however, are asking lOd. per lb. for seed that prospective buyers consider is hot worth any more than Bd. At the present time there is no demand at all for white clover, buyers not being interested in it at any price, most of them'having a fair carryover from last year. With regard to cocksfoot a similar position obtains. A few odd lots are coming in from growers, who are prepared to accept sd, per lb, for good quality seed on trucks. Values for ryegrass are unchanged. Southern sellers have a big lot on hand from last season and apj)arcntly North Island buyers are getting their requirements from them. For new season’s crop southern seed is being offered at 3s. 9d. to 4s. 9d„ and 1926 crop at from, 3s. to 3s. 9d.., f.o.b. machine-dressed. These are regarded as give-away prices, and the result is disastrous so far as business in Canterbury seed ia concerned. Southern prices are too low, while those ruling in Canterbury are too high.’

More interest has been shown in potatoes during the last few days, the quotation being now from £3 10s. to £3 15s. per ton. .In fact a buyer was endeavouring to get a parcel yesterday at £4 per ton, while the demand tot- prompt is better than It was. It was possible a day or two ago to buy back from Auckland purchasers at a lower rate than was paid. It is stated that owing to there being a good crop in Tasmania this season there is a possibility of potatoes from that country coming into the Dominion if local prices should advance beyond a certain limit. Not much digging has been done up to the present and it is probable that it will not be indulged in extensively until after the Easter holidays. By the Kurow some 600 sacks of potatoes were taken for Auckland, a similar , quantity going away by tha Katoa. A bigger lot will probably be dispatched by the Wingatui to-day, and a further supply will go north by the Waipiata on Saturday or Monday.

The onion market is quiet and practically the only stuff going forward was ordered some tme ago. In any case there is not much offering at present.