COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17144, 25 April 1919, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

I COOP HOLIDAY BUSINESS, SOUTHERN PRODUCE ARRIVES A shcrt week has concentrated an unusually heavy amount of business into the few days in whhb it has been transacted, and the holiday to-day is partially responsible for something in the nature of a congestion of trade, This has been a pleasant experience that has been rather unusual lately, and the present position has been caused by tho fact that the holidays coincided with the activity brought about by forward booking for delivery on next month's account, together with the almost simultaneous arrival of a larger number of vessels from tho South that havo been discharging at one time for many a month. Retailers report a vary satisfactory tun.over for the two holiday weeks, The experiment of closing down for Easter Saturday does not appear to have been in the slightest decree detrimental to trade in any department, as the buying rarely extended into a longer period before and after tho holidays. Large numbers of visitors have been in town durting tho past fortnight, and heavy shopp.ng has proceeded under ideal autumn v,eu'ner conditions. Produce: The markets have been completely changed by ine arrival of nceplionaliy Heavy cargoes from too Soutn, including mauy lines that were actually in sjort supply until th.s week. 'Ire result lias been '.hat business from the vDart has been very Jc:ive, and .'Hipdreda of tons have been distributed direct from the ship's side. ! The Potato Market. I Potatoes: A large quantity arrived from I the South, but all were wanted at once, as I locally-grown have been coming to hand in small quantities only. The demand has been so good that no decline in price lias taken place, and best samples easily command £11 10s ex store. Onions: Both local and Southern have been in full supply, end the (cue of tho market is a little weaker at £10 ex store. Oats: Several substantial consignments have arrived from the South, and a largo poi'portion went into immediate distribution, so that wholesale stocks arc still rather low. Prices remain at 6s ex store for beet feed. Shinning; The position in oats is only typical of other lines of southern produce. Largo Quantities arrived to a bare marke'., and were absorbed at once Tho trouble now is to know how sufficient can arrive daring the winter, in addition to tho regular quantises of wheat and potatoes that must como each week. Seven steamers m ono week have really made very little impression on Auckland stocks, and as it is exceedingly unlikely that so many can arrive again at tho one time there is already considerablo anxiety as y> how supplies can bo maintained , 11 j Wheat: The position is _not at all good in regard to fowl wheat. Each lot to hand is oicked up at once in a baro market at 7s Bd. It looks as if tho only solution is to import much larger quant ties from Australia, as all reports agree that tho proportion of fowl wheat from the south will be vary small this year. Bran and Pollard: In ranch tho ssmo position as fowl wheat, and consumers aro continually pushed for supplies. Chaff: A good demand continues, and largo quantities of local) -grown are being absorbed each week. The quality keeps W> well, and best grades realise about £6 at tno Auckland station, being distributed in iirnal lots at £10. Very littlo southern is being imported- „ , Demand for Seeds.

i Seeds: Algerian oats aro in, good demand tot mean feed. Pastures are in a bad w»/ at present, and the surest method of secnrirs: »njplo feed in tho early winter Ib to pin in ft paddock of oats. Within a few weeku of sowing the growth is most rapid at this time of the year, provided it ia orongi along by a shower of ram. Unfortunately tho rain is eo far lacking, and the visib.e prospect of winter feed is not at all hopeful. Business in grass seed appears, to bo over for this year. The only Iran Actions of any consequence are between merchants, for aciine sowing. ... , ,1 Fertilisers: A good demand continues, both [or ton-dressing and for putting in with weed. The scarcity of bonedust is the principal difficulty , , . . Tea: Invoice to hand this week tram Ceylon hilly confirm the cabled, advices of .'• strong market. Fine good liauormg tea 11 have reaohed extreme rates, and it has be-; come the usual thing for useful Boris to cost as high as la 6d per lb in WW« , . Su"ar: There ia no relief m regard Jo the fecal shortage. Storekeepers are reviving supplies quite inadequate to fill W>'" r orders, and this week the deliveries haw been even worro llifn ever. Many tradeipeople are adopting the o'r.n of borrowing a. bag or two from their ne'ghbourß. in order to divide out a few pounds to each houscbo'd, but this cannot continue indefinitely. Biscuits: Since tbo fire that oomp'etely destroyed one Auckland plant, very limited supplies of biscuits have been obtainable. Very few have arrived from southern factories, and local manufacturers have been unable to handle the trade, although they have attempted to distribute nipplx* as far as possib'e '>y concentrating their efforts on A few leading varieties. . Tobacco: A few useful consignments have arrived, and have been quick'? distributed. The pr'ncmal scarc'ty at present exists in those brands that are mode in Australia. .AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE. Australian and K.2. Cable Association. (Reed. 9.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 24. Oats: Algeiiiin (ceding, 5s to Sa Id: milling, 5s 4d to Ss 6d: Tasmanian, 6s. Maize, 7s 6d. Potatoes, Tasmanian, £14 ta £16. Onions, £14 10a to £15. ADELAIDE. April 24. date, 4s Sd to 4s sd.