COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16906, 19 July 1918, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

THE PRODUCE MARKETS-

SHARP RISE IN ONIONS.

A little improvement has set in during the week, so far as wholesale trade is con- I cerned, as orders are beginning to filter in for delivery next week on August account. With this exception the demand is very quiet, and practically no speculation is taking place. Values are well maintained. Overseas arrivals have been decidedly limited lately, and further anxiety is now felt regarding Australian goods, It is reported that a vessel is shortly to be put on to take up the running of the Wimmcra, and if tlys is so some of the accumulations in Sydney may be cleared. In this connec-. tion it may De mentioned that during the week a privato cablegram from Ceylon advised that freight prospects were unfavourable, and that at tho moment no through bids of lading to New Zealand were being issued,, but only to Melbourne and Sydney, This increases the dilliculties of tea importers, as it makes forward supplies very doubtful. Ii is reported that at present Australia cannot secure sufficient space for their own requirements, and the tea already awaiting shipment will fill all the steamers leaving till September. Potatoes: Local stocks have_ run eo low that tho market has again hardened a little, and best Southern is quoted at £10 lUs o? B'.ife. It is fairly generally acknowledged that 'stocks in tho South are very low, and as there is the usual difficulty in getting shipping space, it is only to bo oipeifted that the future supplies from this market will be in a rather precarious position. A few Australian potatoes are being brought across, but the price is high, and shipping facilities from the other side are even worso than from the South Island. Onions: The sensation of the week has been tho advance in onions. The trade was looking for a big rise, hut no spallation could very well take place, as most of tho samples on offer were of ind g rent quality. Now that even these are gone, oiefchant.s are looking for fresh supplies, and practically none are to be had. It is reported that a small lot of locally grown, well preserrdd, has changed hands at £30 a ton, whiW American are being booked to a-rivo at the high price of £40 per to». Onions are 60 high 'in price in Australia that no extensive importation is likely, especially as they are six months older than the American, and therefore more subject to deterioration during a protracted voyage. Oats: The market remains firm, with no quotable change in price, good feed still selling at 6s 7d ei store The demand is rather quiet, and this keeps the price from rising, in the face of an acknowledged shortage. Another factor is the storage question. Seed Oats: Demand is very quiet at present. A fair quantity was put in during the autumn, but planting lately baa been impossible. The chaff position during the coming year will again be precarious if no improvement in the weather seta is beforo long. Chaff: Supplies are worse than they have ever been. To show how difficult it is to get space for chaff, it may bo mentioned that a big parcel bought in Canterbury last January is still there. The sellers declare that there is not the slightest chance of getting it shipped, and they are continually suggesting the cancellation of contracts, The price must rise beforo long, especially as no local is arriving during the winter. Meantime small lots of Blenheim chaff are selling at £12 10s ex store, and any small shipment 'to hand is selling immediately On arrival. Hay and Straw: Both arc very scarce, no doubt on account of the continual bad weather. Ordinary pressed hay is worth £8 10s to £9, while best Income is worth up to £10. Maize: Fairly heavy arrivals hare been coming up from the coast until the last few days, but the extra demand in the winter has absorbed most of these. Good quality now hay realised up to 6a 6d on tho wharf in wholesale lines, but several lots were of indifferent quality. Any samplos in a heated condition sold at about Gs 4d, down to 6s for a lino that was already musty. Most of the Australian maize has been absorbed, and very little more is expected. Wheat:. Tho shortage in New Zealand has resulted in a substantial purchase in Australia, and it is to bo hoped that early arrangements will be made for Setting this across, otherwise there may bo a repetition of tho lamentable experenre of a previous year, when it was left so late that by the time it came even Canterbury had run out of wheat, and had to take Australian, a most uneconomical way of dealing with an imported line when coastal shipping is scarce. Fowl Wheat: Demand has slackened off. Consumers are better supolied than they have been for some time, and the demand is also lessened by the preference for maize during the winter.

BUTTER AND EGGS. The Dairy Produce Committee has fixed the wholesale price of butler and eggs for the week ending July 95 as follows:—Farmers' butter, first grade, Is per lb; fresh eggs, Is 8d per dozen. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE. Australian and NZ. Cable Association. (Reed. 10.25 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 18. Oats: Algerian feeding 4s 6d, milling Bs; Tasmanian, 5s 6d, Maiz«. 5s 9d. Potatoes: Tasmanian, £6 to £8. Onions. £18 10s. ADELAIDE, July 18. Oafs, 3s lOd. PROPERTY SALES. Samuel Vaile and Sons, Ltd., will hold an auction sale at their rooms, 83. Queen Street, at 2 P.m. to-day, when the following properties w'll be submitted for sa'lo:— acre.i 2 roods 4 perches., with two cott.a?."s thereon, situated at Henderson, to ho. sold by order of the Public Trustee as administrator of the estate of Mr Robert Aldersey. deceased; also, a building Site at Royal Terrace, Kingsland. Instructed by the owner, who is shortly proceeding to camp, Mr C. F. Bennett, auctioneer, will off"r for sale by auction, at his rooms, Now Zealand. Insurance Buildings, at noon to-day, an up-to-date farm of 50 acres, at Runolman.