COMMERCIAL

Northern Advocate, 23 May 1929, Page 8

COMMERCIAL

WESTFIELD STOCK SALES. ■SHARP RISE IN BEEF VALUES. SHEEP EASE IN PRICE. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, Thus Day. There was a sharp rise in values for choice and prime, classes of beef at Westfield yesterday. The yarding was small, insufficient, for requirements and competition was keen throughout. Extra choice ox sold at •19s per lOOlbs., compared' with Oils last week. Sheep were yarded in increased numbers and the demand was less keen. There was an easing’ in values in some classes, but / prime qualities found ready sale at late rates. Lambs ! here yarded in average number ami met with good' competition at late quotations. There was a large offering but the demand was good. Tho following prices were, realised, last week’s being bracketed:; — Beef, per lOOlbs. —Extra choice ox, 3fls, (365); choice and prime ox, 36s to 38s fid, (33s fid to 35s fid); choice and prime cow and heifer, Sis to 345, (31s tc 335). Sheep, per head'.—Prime wethers, 34s to 425, (33s to 39s fid); prime ewes, 25s fid to 32s fid, (25s to 35 s); prime lambs, 21s to 325, (22s to 31s 3d). Calves, per head. —Runners, 95s to 138$, (100 s to 1725); vealors, 50s to 1245, (50s to 128 s). Pigs, per head.—Baeoners 00s to 90s, (60s to £9s); porkers, 44s to 745, (43s to 70s); weaners, 5s to 13s, (5,s to 11s); . slips, 14s to 28s, (10s to 18s); large stores, 25s to 365, (20s to 30s).

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY. MARKET IMPROVES. - BUYERS OINI THE ALERT. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. According to a local authority the kauri gum industry, which has been in a. parlous condition in recent years, is “looking up.’” In other words there is a keen desire for the product. This does not mean that there are prospects of the industry regaining its former importance, when it was one of the mainstays of the province. It means that there is a difficulty in obtaining sufficient supplies to meet the limited demand which now exists. This is due to the fact that during the past three years 2000 tons more of gum has been exported than has been produced. The knowledge that there were heavy stocks in the Dominion enabled overseas purchasers to hold off their buying and “bear” the market down until prices were unpayable to the uiggor, and he was forced to look for other employment. Now that stocks are worked down it is found that fresh gum is not coming forward fast enough, the consequence being that there is quite a rush for the supplies that are available.

Encouraged by the improved prospects gum.buyers are in some coses going into the country and are said to 1)0 occasionally paying higher prices than, similar gum is being quoted in the city. All grades of fossil gum are in request. In connection -with the Government stocks it is understood that quite a. good proportion of these have been disposed of, but it is contrary to the policy of the board to allow these stocks to prejudice the maket for newly produced gum.