COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16996, 1 November 1918, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

RETAIL TRADE NOT BRISK, j COUNTRY BUSINESS GOOD. A very fair amount of business has. been put through during th& week, considering that one day was lost through the holiday. Retail trade has not been particularly brisk,' but this is attributable to the changeable 1 weather. Heavy demands have been received from the country districts, and a satisfactory trade appoars to be assured in all the producing centres. Produce! During the week higher prices for cheese and butter have been announced. The local price of butter is controlled at present, ana therefore has not been affected by the advance, but the prico of cheese on the local market Quickly responded to the higher price to be paid for export during the coming season. Potatoes! Stocks are very low, and the market is firm at £17 ex store. Merchants are anxious to receive further supplies of Australian, but no more large shipments are expected this season. Southern potatoes are difficult to obtain at any price, and it is doubtful if stocks now left in the South will be sufficient to last until the new crop ie ready. The local crop is doing so well ti.at if it had beon in a little earlier the Bouts position would soon be relieved, but the wet weather delayed planting so much that tlje whole crop is late this year. Any wellgrown new potatoes are realising extreme rates at present, and this condition will no doubt continue until a spell of finer weather helps on the ripening and enables digging to proceed. Onions: American are in full supply, and are selling slowly at 40s per case. The quality is so good that buyers are not afraid to operate, but the high price is keeping the consumption down, and only email linos are changing hands. Oat»: Market is well supplied, and small lines are moving off at 6a 6d ox Btora, which is really below the parity of Southern values. Stocks are very light at all shipping ports, and it looks as if there may'be a shortage before the next harvest. The higher price is working its own cure, by reducing the consumption, and the requirements of this market would bi still less if sufficient chaff were available. Wheat: The position in regard to milling wheat is not very satisfactory, but it is understood that shipping trrangements have now been made that will ensure an adequate supply from. Australia for this market. A little Southern is arriving in the execution of old contracts. Fowl wheat is very scarce, and most of the samples are poor. It is unlikely that the position will improve until after the harvest, and, in the meantime, the price is firm at 7j 9d. Demand keeps good, as consumers are erpeotlng warmer weather soon, and are accordingly holding off from maize as much as possible. Flour: Market is well supplied in Southern and. local brands. Local is selling; on the basis of £16 10s in sacks. Bran and Pollard: Supplies, are a little better but the demand is Keeping up. One important reason for the unexpected mere in the demand tor bran js the fact tha{ dairy fanners had discovered that it pays to use this food for their cows, even after grass hat become plentiful. It ha? been found by aotual experience that while the pastures are to saturated with moisture the use of bran has a moat beneficial effect on the milk supply, and it is expected that to a oertiun extent this demand will continue until the summer is well advanced. Pollard ib also selling rather better than, was expected so late in the spring. Chaff: Several shipments have arrived from the South, but stocks are still low, as most of the arrivals were distributed at onoe. Price is still firm at £16 10s ex store, and there does not seem much prospect of a fall, especially as higher freight la now being Paid, Local chaff is all gone, exoept for small lots which farmers have leapt for their _ own use. Maize: The maize market is unchanged, the latest consignments from the Coast selling at 6s lOd on the wharf in wholesale lines.

HOME BUILDERS, LIMITED. SHAREHOLDERS' ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of shareholders of the Now Zealand Home Builders, Limited, was held at the Chambe" of Commerce Buildings ysterday, The managing director, Mr. W. Andrew, presided. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, as published in yesterday's HERALD, stated .that a profit of £3690 had been made _ during the year, m compared with £200 in the preceding year. During [he rear the management of the company had been consolidated, with a view to greater economy. Nearly £3000 of borrowed money had been paid off, end the total amount of mortgages secured to the comply had been increased by over £3000., The Hamilton branch had bean reorganised, and it wa. intended to develop the company's . 53-acre block of land in that district. Tho profit for the year amounted to about 81 per cent, on trie paid-up capital. In addition, the company had gained £2225 from forfeited shares and premium acoount, making a total gain of nearly 0 per cent. The chairman also briefly referred to the position of previous directors, and stated that aolinp on legal advice it had been deemed advisable to take no further action in the matter. He spoke optimistically regarding the prospects of the comoany. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The retiring director,, Mr. 8. T. Eossiter, was rt-elected. The appointment of tn auditor was referred to the directors.

AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE. Australian and N.Z. Cabin Association. (Heed. 9.83 p.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. 8L Oats: Algerian, (Wing 4s Bd, milling 43; Tasmania!), 6e to 5» 3d. Maize, 6s 8d to 6# 4a. Potatoes, Tasmanian, old, £10. Onions, £23 to £24. ADELAIDE, Oct. 81. Oat«, 8s Bd.

AUCTION SALES. Samuel Yaile Mid Sons, Ltd., will bold an auction tale T&oir rooms, Queen Street, at 3 p.m. to-day, when the following; properties will be submitted for sale:—Bun gap low of six rooms and offices on section frontin Coronation Road, Epsom; cottage of four rooms ip Catherine Street, Henderson, factory promises two cottages situated in Millaia and Disraeli Streets. Grey Lynn; also five sections, comer Millais Street ana Row Road.