COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16041, 6 October 1915, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

SATISFACTORY POSITION.

GOOD DEMAND FROM COUNTRY.

Distributing business maintains the alight improvement that set in last week, there being a steady all-round inquiry, without much in the way of heavy sales. Most of the shortages in imported goods have now been overcome, so that a better trade ex store is taking place. Country demand is keeping up well, buyers operating heavily on account of the prospects of a successful season. The dairy industry has commenced particularly well, and the season should show a large increase in the output over last year, provided that the weather continues favourable. In fact high prices continue for nearly all our exporting products. Produce: Several changes have taken place in values since last week. The general weakness in grain has to some extent been arrested by the continuation of the unfortunate dry weather in the chief gram-growing districts. This has acted in two ways, bv increasing the demand for last season's" fodder to take the place of grass, and by reducing the prosEects of the increased yield that was condently expected during the coming sea-

Potatoes: Buying for Sydney has again commenced, and this has advanced the (price in the South equivalent to £9 here. However, local merchants are still working on rather heavy shipments which arrived last week, and sales are being made at £8 10s ex store. It appears that stocks in Canterbury are getting low, and it is quite possible that higher prices will be reached before the new crop arrives in any quantity. A few new are already coming in, but so far they are not at all satisfactory, and it will be another month before sufficient are available to make much impression on the market.

Seed Potatoes: Still selling fairly well. Blight has quite ruined some of the earlier planted lots, and farmers are planting again. This extra demand has come on in addition to the regular late plantings that are always made till about November.

Onions : The Makura brought back from Sydney a fair lot of 'Frisco onions, which Sydney merchants had over-imported. Local stocks had worked down considerably during the last week or two, and these arrived to a good market, selling at 16s.

Oats: The market is not at all strong. Holders in the South are more anxious to quit, and have\ lowered their quotations. Good stocks are held locally, and price has fallen to 4s 3d ex store in small lots.

Seed Oats: Algerian are still selling, and stocks will probably be quite exhausted by the end of the season.

Oatmeal: Demand is only small. Wheat: Market keeps very weak. The Northern harvest has been safely got in, and with good yields in the United States, India, and Canada, the acute stage appears to have passed, even if there is a further delay in the liberation of the huge quantities held up in Russia. Fowl Wheat: Price has fallen in sympathy with milling, and sales are being made at 6s.

• Bran and Pollard: No change m price. Bran is selling very well, considering the quantity of green fodder now available. Chaff: Since the collapse of the Sydney demand straw .chaff has been overstocked in the South, and quotation is very low. It is reported that in some districts farmers are having to use their straw for feeding sheep, the drought being so severe that grass has practically disappeared. Local stocks of sheaf chaff are fairly good, but the market is at nresent a little irregular on account of the poorer qualities also offering. Maize : The Makura brought over from Sydney a little Java maize, and as shipments from the coast have been very small lately this comes to a rather bare market. Coastal maize is a little firmer since last report, but buyers are not keen on filling no with he~vy stocks, as South African maize could still be landed at a moderate figure.

Grass Seed: A little has been selling tor spring sowing, and the weather this spring has been particularly favourable. The principal seed operations at present consist in securing supplies of cocksfoot and ryegrass in case the drought in the South causes a shortage. Fertilisers: All descriptions are selling welL Fanners are now getting in their supplies for turnip-sowing. Eastern Goods: Sago and tapioca maintain the advance of the last few months Rice is unchanged. The Rangoon market lis a little more active, but not much of that grade is imported into New Zealand Pepper is rather, weak. Nutmegs are landing at a moderate cost. Canned pineapples are selling welL Tinned Fish : There is no relief in the position regarding English tinned fL»h The Admiralty have prohibited fishing on the east coast, and this has cut down supplies of herrings. Local supplies are smaller than they have ever been, and a good many descriptions are unobtainable. The position in sardines is also 'getting more difficult, as stocks are low and the catch has been disappointing. Salmon is receiving a corresponding increase in attention, and packers are in a strong position. The shortage in Alaska will be rather serious as compared with last year. Flax: London market does not show much activity. Indications point to the fact that manufacturers are working on stocks in hand as much as possible, and it would take a decided improvement in the war position to bring in an increased demand.

Kauri Gum: Business keeps about the same, buyers purchasing for immediate requirements. A little up* been shipped lately, and the Makura has taken some this week, but this has not made much impression on stocks. Good rescraped and whites are still being placed, also good hard white nuts. Only a small amount of business is being done in blacks. Good hard black nuts can be placed. Chips and dust appear quiet. There is still a little demand for swamp with good heart but poor quality is dull of sale. Good bush is still moving, and is generally being placed on arrival. CHRISTCHURCH PRODUCE MARKET. [BY TELEGHAPH.-t-PKESS association.] Christchtoch, Tuesday From remarks made last week by the Prime Minister there is evidently no prospect of permission being granted to export any wheat or flour this season. Continued dry weather in Canterbury and North Otago is causing considerable concern amongst grain growers, and although crops generally are so far looking remarkably well there is not sufficient moisture in the ground to keep them going for any length of time, while the high north-west winds that have prevailed lately have been very severe upon both crops and pastures. There is no demand at present for grain, and wheat is unsaleable. The only business doing is in potatoes. The North Island has held off the market all the winter, but a stronger demand has set in from there, and as merchants' stocks beyond what have been purchased for shipment to Australia, are low the price has risen £1 per ton since last week. Sales have been made at £6 15s and £7 at country stations, and the quantity offering is not large. " "