COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16936, 23 August 1918, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

GOOD RETAIL TRADE. I

SHORT SUPPLIES OF PEODUCE. I Wholesale houses report the usual increase. ' in business that has como in with forward booking for next month, but this has been, without much interest on this occasion, as stocks we so light that orders have to be-, seriously curtailed. The Tarawera arrived'. from Australia, but this shipment made very: . littlo impression on the huge accumulation of_ ; cargo in Sydney. Tho local merchants are; eagerly awaiting, and tho position will gradu-: ally become wofso, as our only steamer is to be put on the Melbourne run (or one trip. j During the week a cargo from Adelaide arrived at Onehunga, but this was mostly salt. Both fine and coarse arrived in good comli-^ tion, and naturally & ready sal# resulted, aa slocks were getting'low. • Retail has been fairly satisfactory during the week. High prices do not restrict business, especially as buycri are expecting to pay still moro later on. ■ ;Produce: The position is far from satisfactory. Tho authorities have requested tho carrying oompunies to give preference in tho t future to foodstuffs rather than fodder, 1 but, this will only result in accentuating the present dearth in food for dumb animals- v Potatoes: Much larger Quantities hav« been available since the Tarawcra arrived, 1 and these havo sold at £14 10s, in a very bar« markot. These will all bo gone by next week, but better supplies will be to, hand before long, as the Xarawera is making a special trip to Melbourne, and potatoes will bo oner of the largest items in the cargo. It is fortunate that this sailing was arranged, aa stocks in the South are getting low, and outside supplies appear absolutely necessary, in order to keep the market going un- . til November. - , . ■ Seed Potatoes: Planting hag proceeded much more vigorously during the past wees or two, under favourable weather conditions, but the position' next summer would l)« safer if a still larger area could be put down • during tho next couple of months; _ J. Onions: Prices have been rather irregular { during the week, on account of Australian onions being distributed from the Tarawera. • These have been quoted at about 35s and up to 60s for American, to arrive next month. Good supplies art available in Melbourne, but tho price is high, and it is unlikely thai many will be brought over, except, by the - special trip of the TarawAra, which is about the only opportunity of getting supplioi 'oats: Market Is very firm in the South,' on account of the small supplies availablo. The harvest was' by far the smallest lor years, and practically nothing was carriedover from the previous .year. Local quo"' tation is 6s ex store, but this must rise before, long in order to bring it to ft parity with Southern valuer.. ... . , ■. U Oatmeal: Nearly all the special propria tary lines have followed the, upward moyv, Supplies are still short, which is unfortunate at this time of exceptionally , heavy deParley: Offerings are light Mid th», market \Vhoat> The arrival of Australian. milling wheat is creating considerable * interest in . the South. Supplies would be welcomed here, aa indications point, to continued difficulty in getting up Southern, wlioat. lowl wheat is in rather full supply at present, both Southern and Australian. Price un».. v changed at 7s 9d for best quality. Bran and Pollard: Demand keeps very heavy, and there via the utmost difficulty in distributing • equitably, the • limited supplies available. Eiccmcal is occasionally obtain-able-in Australia, but none can be had at); present. A little ground wheat is already' booked for forward shipping, but as this hau to pay a duty it is a little dearer than nee- . Chaff: The market Is bare of supplies and nominally the price is £14 10a ex store. There seems , no, possibility of Retting' adequate supplies in the South,' and, urgent . requirements will be met by small shipments from Marlborough to Onchunca. It ib ex«. pected that the Tarawera will bring soma , from Melbourne. : ■ , ... ' v Hay: Demand continues good, and pricei arc firm. , , • , 1 Straw: Market is rather better supplied. Maixe: A good demand continues and aa only moderate quantities have arrived, th« price has held firm on a basis of 7s on th» , ' wharf in wholesale lines. .vi*',"*' '-'6 Fertilisers: Merchants ire tndeavounni to obtain supplies of Australian boneduat »»;. ' local supplies are very, light. AUSTRALIAN. PRODUCE. . ' * e \ Australian and N.Z. Cable Association* ' ' (Reed. 8.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 21 ? ■ Oats: Algerian, feeding, is 6d; milling, la 8d; Taamanian, Ga 6d. ' Maixe, 6a 9d. . Potatoes, Taamanian, £5 10a to £7 10a, Onions, £25.- ' ADELAIDE, Aug. 23, ■ ' Oats, Ss lOd.