COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15891, 12 April 1915, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

( WORLD'S WHEAT SUPPLY. STATE OF FOREIGN MARKETS. LAST YEAR'S PRODUCTION. Tin: wheat markets abroad, says Hip Australasian Banking Record, havs shown irregularity during the last few weeks, after the previous rapid advance. Our great reason for the change lias been the attack on the Dardanelles by the allied I forces, as when the Black Sea is reopened for commerce a large export of wheat Troni •South Russia, and probably I'oumania and Bulgaria will be rendered pass.bit. Argentina shipment have been proceeding more freely, and India promises to have a heavy crop, shipments of which should be possible on a fair scale within a few weeks' time. The total shipments of wheat and (lour from the chief exporting countries to European destinations for the period from August 1, 1914, to January 21, 1915. ; according to the London Grain, Seed, and ' Oil Reporter, compare with those for the corresponding period of-the previous season as follows : — 1913-14- 1011-15. From— Quarters. Quarters. United States and Canada 16.804.000 24,753.000 Russia 10,939,000 246,000 Danube, etc 3,802,000 2G.C00 India 1,821,000 1,353.000 Argentine ' 343,000 60,000 Australasia 1,782,000 - Other countries 631,000 2.000 Totals 36,213,000 26,440,000 North America shows an increase of 7,949,000 quarters, and the Black Sea a decrease of 14,669.000 quarters. The net decrease in tho total fur the above period i is 9,778.000 quarters. The period of greatest European demand for oversea wheat is now setting in. the gap between , Faster and harvest time having to be tilled. With regard to the two Teutonic countries, it is to be noted that the German wheat harvest in 1914 was only about 18,000.000 quarters, against 21.417.000 quarters in the previous ye&r; and that of Austria-Hungary 23-9'i6 030 quartet^, against ii 8.438.000 quarters. Apart from war, the grand total of the world's pro duction of wheat last year underwent a decline as compared with the two previous years, and this alone would have exercised an influence on prices. The total production for the last four years is estimated by the London Grain, Seed, and Oil Reporter as follows: — Quarters. 1911 444,968 W0 1912 484 353.000 1913 602.J91.0C0 1014 ... 459,610,000 The cTecrcase in 1914 as compared with the previous year is principally accounted for by Russia, Canada, and Australia. "LONDON MARKETS. CURRENT QUOTATIONS. By Telegraph—Presa Association—Copyright. (Received April 11, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 10. WHEAT AND FLOUR., Wheat is firmer, and from 3d to 6d more is asked. Owing to heavy rains in the Argentine there is strong American competition. The quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,905,000 quarters, and for the Continent 4,365,000 quarters. Atlantic shipments total 667,000 quarters, and Pacific 43,000 quarters. The total for Europe is 1,435,000 quarters, for India 39,000 quarters, and for the Argentine 515. quarters. American wheat has sold at from 64s to 64s 3d. Chicago May options, buyers 151$ cents; sellers, 155$ cents; July, buyers, 121 cents; sellers, 123 i cents. , FROZEN MEAT. Lambs: North Island, 7Jd; selectee* 'brands, Bd. Australian: Best, 7j}d; fair, %d ; inferior, 6£<i. South*' American : First quality, 7Jd; second, 7£d. Argentine : Chilled fores, 6d; hinds, 6j}d. Uruguay: Chilled fores, s|d; hinds, 6ftd. Other meats are unchanged. Rabbits are very firm, owing to slow discharge. . METALS. Copper,' spot, buyers £71 15s; sellers, £72; three months, buyers, £72 10s; sellers, £72 15s. Electrolytic), buyers, £77 ; sellers, £77 ISs. Tin, spot, buyers £169; sellers, £169 10s; throe months, buyers, £168; sellers, £168 10s. Lead, buyers, £21 2s 6d; sellers, £21 17$ 6d. COTTON. May-June shipments, 5.47 d. ' LEATHER. Fair demand for Australian, buyers, 15d; sellers, 18d. The inquiry for basils is small. New Zealand is quoted at buyers 19d, and sellers, 21d. Hides are quiet. Queensland, heavy, 9Jd; medium, 9 7-16 d; cow, 9 3-16 d. New South Wale's, heavy, 9 7-16 d; medium, 9|d; cow, 9 8 d. *. ' JUTE. April-May shipments, £21 15?. HEMP. March-May shipments, £34. , RUBBER. Para, 2s 6^(1; . Plantation, 2s 4j)dj smoked, 2s s]d, COPRA. , March-April shipments, £25 15s. * BUTTER AND EGGSThe wholesale merchants report that the Dairy Produce Committee has fixed the wholesale price for butter and eggs for tl,o week ending April 1/ as follows: — Factory butter, Is 2d : fanners', separator and dairy butter, 9d ; egg*? Is 8d per dozen. STOCK 8 ALES. The Auckland Farmers' Union, Ltd., report:—At luimo on the 6th inst. we had a full yarding of cattle, 1132 being penned. Prices ai) round were easier than !i month ago, and, although a number of rattle wore disposed of alter the sale, there was not the demand that was generally anticipated. We quote: Bee!— Steers. £9 to £13; cows, £5 5s to £9; grown steers. £8 to £9 12» M : three-year-old steers £7 to £8: two-year-old steers, £4 15s to £6 5-<; 12 to 18 months steers, ' £? to £4; strone stec calves, £1 15s to I £?, he Good framed empty cows in fair ! condition. £>'■ to £1 12s 6<l: others. £2 ' t 10i i„ xf, 'Ok: two to three-year-old heifers, £° W* to £3 v,: 12 to 18 months heifers' £1 1"* to £2 ss; pood heifsr rrlvc«'£l 9* M to £1 10" • dairy eows, vi-tiic' pud close Co profit. £6 to £8 15s, oilier* £4 to & 10s: bulls. £1 to £6 10*. Shvep—Shorn lionets, mixed sexes, 9s 6J-' "