GRAIN AND PRODUCE

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 6, 8 January 1936, Page 3

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

High Prices General During Year

NEED EOR IMPORTATIONS

High prices for practically all types of grain and produce have ruled during the past year. The most notable advance was in southern potatoes, which rose at one stage to almost £2O a ton, the highest iigure for mauv years. The exceptional values for potatoes wore duo to a number of reasons. One of the most important was tho comparative failure of tne autumn-grown crop at i’ukekohe, throwing the demand on to the South Island earlier than usual. / However, once the peak price was reached, the market weakened fairly sharply on account of heavy buying on tho rising prices, and then, once the market had broken, to the discovery of small but hitherto invisible stocks in the South Island. From the point or view of the Fukekoho grower the new season has been exceptionally good. Tho early potato crop was light, but the excellent prices more than compensated lor this, while the main crop has realised about twice last year’s rates. In addition, the yield is heavier. Stored stocks of Fukekoho onions were fairly light and good value* were realised. Occasional shortages of imported onions also lirmed the market during the year and on one occasion prices rose as high as '3O/- per 1001 b. In the fowlwheat market the principal events of interest were the release of fair average quality milling wheat by the Wheat Purchase Board for poultry feeding, and the importation of Australian wheat owing to insufficient supplies of home-grown. Maize ds another grain of which Few Zealand growers have been unable to produce sufficient quantities and the high values ruling recently have forced merchants to make arrangements for importation from South Africa. Oats also have had to be drawn from overseas sources. Unseasonable weather and shipping delays have at various times caused shortages of pollard from Australia, while there havo also been occasional shortages of local bran.