COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

REVIEW OF MARKETS.

UNCERTAINTY ABOUT FREIGHTS.

Business for the week has been rather uninteresting, as buyers are waiting for the forward booking that commences in a few days. The loading of the Navua for the Islands is now keeping exportbouses busy, this being the first vessel to load for Apia since Samoa was annexed. It is nearly three, months since a regular steamer left for Tonga and Samoa, the last trip being abandoned, owing to war oeing declared on the proposed (lay of sailing. Import business has boon very quiet for the week, but next week a large shipment is due from London, and another from the west coast ports of England. These were both loaded before the war, and bring a large number of lines urgently wanted. Transhipments should also be hero next week from the Rangalira, which discharged in Sydney, and was engaged as a troopship, and in this cargo importers are faced with an extra cost. °

Produce : Values keep on a high level, ah it is recognised that if we can get our products away regularly we are assured of very remunerative prices for the principal lines. Export buyers of meat are operating heavily, and another advance took place at the sales this week.

Potatoes: the market keeps very weak,' an I nest samples are now soiling at £4 10.-, ex store. There is no activity in the South, heavy stocks keeping prices down.! the new crop has done very well so far,' but rain is now badly needed to bring it along. A few small lots have appeared 11 the markets, and if the weather is suitable there will be large supplies next month, so that the market tor old potatoes •s not at all promising. j Seed Potatoes : If the weather has not ' ocen all that could be desired for matur. ing the growing crops, it has been ideal for planting operations, and large quantities of seed are being sold. So far there has Been no sign of blight, but this is expected when moist weather comes in, and farmers continue to show a great preference for the varieties that have proved the best blight-resisters. Onions: A few Japanese are tho only | stocks now available, and these are not I keeping at all well. Thev were so long! on the voyage that partial growth has commenced. Hepicked are selling at £16. Ihe Navua is taking a fair quantity to the Islands.

Oats: The market keeps very firm, and the position would be further strengthened if shippers were assured of space to the I nited Kingdom. Local stocks are good and prices remain at 3s 6d ex store. Seed Oats: Further supplies from the South are on the way and will arrive to a. good market, as local stocks are almost depleted by the heavy demand recentlv. Wheat: Transactions in milling grades are very much restricted, as holders have a big idea of values, and millers cannot afford to pay more with flour at its present price. Although an advance in flour has taken place both here and in the South this is not yet proportionate to the rise in the price "of wheat. Fowl Wheat: The price is so high that a good deal of the demand has turned to maize, especially as the latter is always more popular during the cold weather. Quotation is firm at '5s 9d ex store. Bran: Stocks are not at all heavy, and demand is keeping tip better than it usually does at this time of the year. Maize: Laree quantities have arrived during the week, and most of the consignments were readily placed. The , demand is very heaw."as this is now 1 the cheapest grain available. .-The market in the South is a little easier, and 'larger supplies have been comin K forward latelv. Demand keeps good. Wool packs: Stocks are lidit. and there seems some doubt as to whether sufficient supplies will arrive in time for the season. Wool: Writing jnst before the outbreak of the war a London correspondent reports the market fairly steady, notwithstanding the adverse reports from Bradford and other manufacturing centres as to the lack of new business and tinsatisfactory trade conditions gener»]lv. Simnlies in the immediate future would be light, whilo stocks in consumers' bands were very limited. This opens np a fairly sound prospect for the coming season, as it shows that the high rar--= of prices at the July sales eventuated from actual trade requirements and not from a speculative demand. Barbed Wire : The demand has kept verv heavy, and stocks are now low. Small shipments are on the way. but it is tinderstood that Johnson's English cannot now be exported to New Zealand, owing to the embargo on account of the war. This will temporarily throw the demand on American make, as very little German has been imported lately. American Fruits:" Stocks have run very low, as buyers have been picking up all parcels on offer, on account of the expected shortage in Mediterranean fruits. Fair quantities arrived in Wellington from San Francisco last Friday, and will be available here in a few days. All prices are stiffer, as the markets had already advanced before the war broke out.

STATE OF WHEAT MARKET. AMERICAN SUPPLIES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, September 16. The wheat market is weak. West Australian is offering at 46s 6d. The American visible supply is 54,963,000 bushels. The Chicago wheat market is excited. The Canadian Department of Trade estimates that the Canadian wheat production will be 159.660.000 bushels, and the oats will total 327,732,000 bushels. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. By Telegraph Press Association— Copyright. (Received September 17, 10 p.m.) Stonty, September 17. Wheat and flour, as fixed by the commission ; oats, Algerian, feeding 3s, milling 3s 3d, Tasmanian 3s 4d ; barley, English 3s, Cape feeding 2s 10d: maize, 3s lid to 4s; bran and pollard, £6 ; potatoes, Tasmania!!, £6 15s id; onions, Victorian £11, picklers £5. Butter, selected 108s, seconds 96s to 100s; bacon, 9d to 9^d. Atiei.aide, September 17. Wheat, nominal : flour, £10 15 lid ; bran and pollard, £1 ss. HIDE MARKET. By Telegriph— Presi Association— Copyright. Melbourne, September 17. The hide sales were resumed to-day, and there was a heavy showing. Quotations, wore as follows;— Substance, 6jd to 7.|d ; medium and light, 6d to 6|d ; kips 6id to 7.id. " 2