PRODUCE LINES.

Northern Advocate, 25 September 1919, Page 3

PRODUCE LINES.

AUCKLAND MARKETS

REVIEWED

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Potatoes: Fair quantities are arriving by most of the steamers from the South, and the price has eased a little, in sympathy with the tone of the market at the Southern shipping ports.. A'good demand is reported at £14 to £14 10/ ex store.

Seed Potatoes: All varieties are selling well. A good area has been put in and growers are expecting payable prices, as .it is expected that the old season's will be cleared right out before the new crop is ready in quantity.

Onions: The market is rather heavily supplied with Japanese, which have arrived by the last.two steamer s from Sydney and the price is easier at 30/ » case. Americans will, be here next month.

Oats: Local market is firm, but only small quantities are moving off at 5/7 ex store. Shippers in the South appear to have a good opinion of the future, but at i s still doubtful if shipping will be available for any considerable export business.

Seed Oats: Good quantities of Algerian are moving off, also small lines of Tartarian, r

Wheat: The position in Australia appear s to have completely changed, and wheat is now being held for full rates, after a long period during which the policy has appeared to be to get rid of the at any price. Large quantities have been shipped to the Ea3t, and also to the Islands, but export is now restricted by an export tax, and the price is a record for modern times. The result of this has been that orders have reached New Zealand for very substantial quantities of flour, for shipment in some cases to Island ports that invariably used to draw their supplies from Australia. These are being filled at £2 17/6 per ton over the local price, the Government bonus having to be refunded on all flour exported, and this gives a good idea of the value of flour abroad. This chjanga <in the outfcid'e position fts having its effect on the wheat market here, and quotations show a firming tendency. Fowl wheat is scarce, and is selling up to 8/3 ex store.

Bran: Supplies are very light, and ord'Ts cannot be executed in full.

Pollard: Fair quantities continue to arrive from the in addition to what is being manufactured locally, so that the position is easier.

Chaff: Local is still offering in good quantity, consignments realising about £10 10/. Southern is more plentiful at £13 to £13 10/ ex store, with more frequent shipments arriving from Marlborough.

Seeds: A fair inquiry for grass seed continues, but orders <are mostly small,, for spring sowing. All descriptions are firm in price. A few inquiries are already coming in for turnip seed, and next moftth the trade will be in full swing. Goo 1 samples of maize are being selected for seed, especially imported Hickory King.

Maize; Coastal maize is havingtp compete against importations from South Africa, and the price is still suffering in consequence. Recent consignments have realised only 7/ on the wharf in wholesale lines. The quality has not been at all satisfactory lately, compared with the hard grain imported, but in any case the demand is always getting slack, at this time of the year. Wfieat is now in more request.

Fertilisers: The embargo on the export of bonedust from Australia continues, but it is hoped that it will be removed, as farmer- will be placed in a serious position if none is obtainable. The Calcutta market has advanced so much lately that the landed cost of further shipments will be almost prohibitive. Fortunately the Waitemata brought a good quantity, but this was all taken up on arrival. A steady enquiry continues for Ephos phosphate ana ' superphosphate, but stocks are in small compass. All descriptions will be in heavy demand next month, for the beginning of the turnip season.

Dairy Produce: The position of chees e is still more acute, and none is obtainable. It is regrettable that no arrangement could be made for releasing stocks held on behalf of the British Government, to be replaced as soon as the new season's make is available. A few weeks will see the end of the pronounced shortage in th e open market but in the meantime the scarcity is limiting consumption. Butter is. much more plentiful already, and will soon be available for export. Eggs are also more plentiful, and, 'as there is a general opinion that the bottom price has now been reachfed, large quantities are being bought for preserving. Hams and bacon are practically unobtainable, a. position that was quite expected by thos c conversant with the trade.

Sugar: A few orders have been delivered, but not enough to mak e any impression on the bookings that have accumulated, as fresh orders are coming in as fast as the old ones 'are cleared up. Loaf sugar is unobtainable until supplies arrive from Melbourne. This line is not made in Auckland.