COMMERCIAL

Northern Advocate, 28 August 1919, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

AUCKLAND MARKETS REVIEWED. AUCKLAND August 27. Potatoes: The market is very bare, a few hundred sacks on the Mokoia making practically no impression on supplies. Fortunately the Koromiko is due about the end of the week with a substantial shipment but it wiil all be wanted, as the few small lots still in store will b e cleared up long before then. Price is firm at £14 10 ex store. Seed Potatoes: Demand is exceptionally heavy, and some merchants are having difficulty in making delivery. It is most noticeable that the quantity now being sold is larger than usual, and various reasons are being given to account for this feature. First and foremost is the high cos t of living, which every consumer knows to be far in excess of lall offidial estimates. Tlria naturally makes. peopl e anxious to be independent over the one food they can most easily produce, if only fo r a few months. Then there is the expectation of higher prices during the summer, which would inevitably com c in unless more were grown. Th e weather conditions have favoured planting operations to an exceptional degree, whereas last year the weather was dreadful during July, many paddocks being almost afloat when farmers were wanting to plant. This delayed planting, and was mainly responsible for the temporary shortage between the seasons, with consequent record values. This year the growth has been so good that a few new potatoes are already coming into the market, and fetching extreme prices, but larger quantities should be available at lower rates before the old season's run out.

Onions: Very few are left, and these are only repicked Southern of inferior quality. However, the position will be very different when shipping with Sydney is resumed, as the first steamer should bring a good supply of Japanese. In the meantime . any that ar e at all fit for use are worth about 28s.

Oats: The market is firm, with supplies low, 'and this is causing pressure to be brought to bear upon the Government to restrict export. Opinion is far from unanimous on the wisdom of doing anything to prevent export, in veiw of the advisability of turning into cash everything that can be spared at the present high rates. Local demand is very quiet f and best feed is selling at 5s 6d ex store in small lines. A fear is expressed in some quarters that every inducement in the shape of an attractive export trade , to compensate for a dwindling domestic consumpton ? will be required to make farmers produce normal quantities. Otherwise pro-, duce will decline, and land will be put into grass that was formerly in crop.

Algerian Seed Oats: Demand is particularly heavy, farmers putting in a good area for chaff. There is some fear of a dry summer, in which case every ton that can be produced will be required. Th e last nine months have probably been the driest for the same period that the province has exer experienced, and farmers are evidently determined not to be caught short of fodder, if oats will improve the position. Supplies of seed are rather light, and are being drawn from the south, in the absence of Victorian seed.

Wheat: Fowl wheat appears likely to be scarce, and has already advanced about 6d in the south. Local quotation is 8s to 8s 3d ex store. Milling wheat is quietly selling 'at Government rates.

Bran: Practically unobtainable, although nominally quotation is unchanged.

Chaff: Better supplies are now available, since arrival af the Rakapo from Picton, and this is distributing at £14 ex store. Now that the winter is almost over, larger quantities of local chaff are offering, and consignments realise about £11.

Maize: Large quantities from t\v south have been rather difficult to place, and the price has eased down to effect sales. The quality is rather inferior, most of the samples bein? not sufficiently dried, and about 7s 6d on the wharf is now the ruling rate. This has had a tendency to force down the price of South African maize, which is now selling at 8s 6d ex store.

Grass Seed: Very little business is doing in this province, but a fair amount is changing hands in the south, where spring sowing is usually (rather expensive. Price's already quoted give some indication of what may be expected for next autumn. All imported seeds are dear, a demand having come in from all parts of the world. Clovers have rapidly advanced during- the past week or two, especially white clover and cowgrass, the rise being about 5d per ib. Fertilisers: All descriptions are selling well. Bonedust is in short supply, and the shipment from Calcutta .by thfi Waitemata, now on the way, has mostly been sold for delivery on arrival. Flax: The market is very weak. There have been no inquiries from London, and New York during the last few days, and it is thought that the market is being upset by the

many competitive fibres now avail?\b!e from many other sources. Local conditions remain very uncertain, a§ it is impossible for some mills to resume work at present prices, and they may have to remain idle all the season unless prices rise hi London or the freight is reduced.