COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17632, 19 November 1920, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

STOCKS OF IMPORTED GOODS.

THE PRODUCE MARKETS. The 'wholesale houses are fully occupied •with orders for December account-, -which, -will bo delivered next week. Country order* are as usual substantial, but town buyers still show a, tendency to operate cautiously, and are keeping down their purchases to the Tery lowest. They are evidently determined not to be caught ■with, heavy stocks if the markets ease, but this policy carries the risk of a similar loss on those articles that advance, in price. Imported goods are mostly in heavy supply, but distributors are still short of kerosene and benzine, while in smaller lines scores of articles are still scarce. The shortage in Australian goods has disappeared under the influence of a better eteamer service, and there is no shortage in tonnage from America, The high cost of converting dollars into sterling, however, ie steadily operating against the importation of all those, goods that can be procured elsewhere, and this is giving British manufacturers an advantage often greater than the preferential t&riS. Eastern goods are all moving downwards, under the combined influence of lower invoice costs and the lower price o! the rupee, exactly opposite to this time last year. The heavy rice crop has apparently brought down all food prices in the East, just as it put them up at this time last year, but the news of * famine in part of China contradict* the position in Japan and India. Bice has brought down eago and taDioca, although supplies are rather low until arrival of the next direct steamer. Chinese preserved ginger is selling well. v/ttlocso "™*, Christmas, goods are gradually meeting a better inquiry. Imported confectionery is eelling well, after. being short for several S. Dried fruits are selling well from stocks already in hand, as it is en open secret that very little will be imported this *».- Califc-niian prices are quite prohiIS, SLOT'S. "' an 4 retailers must depend n» t r., h& L , £ ey can *** imo in - ra °rt varieties. Dates and prunes are getting into small compass, ft* Australian currant 1tanas should make up for the absence of Mediterranean fruit. Almonds are at a high price this year, but nuts are at a very attractbS ycat Candi * d ** » » *•*** ?«* Matches—A very great shorth^n^^*.** 15 ** »tob*eco, several popular «t?r* bewt <* mte ; unobtainable. Wax safetiL".! SEW but wooden vestas and rl»f,l a i? j bl ° *°n8?W» wl tb the demand. Dairy Produce.—The new season's cheese w beginning to come on the market, and it maintains the high range of vines already established. Bmall sizes are scarce. Butter is not selling as well as usual, but ™h£'f*sF .attributable, to atocke of old seasons still being on hand. Hams and bacon are scarce and likely to remain so. *i 55?. "P«« well, up to 2s Idwhole- & **%?.*»***• '$ * they bavo ever been a* this tune of the year, but the rise is even now hardly equivalent to the rise in gram and other food for poultry. Potatoes.- ; 01d are falling off in demand ISSl.7***- j Th * quality is gradually getting £££** ad ; ?, ew are "WW securing the trade. Re-picked are selling at 6s to 6s 6d. rJJt,°* nly 8ma11 I 1 *.? 3 Rl ° *>«« taken, as disl tnbutors expect the trade to fall off more & *.*„ » evident that, growers in the ESS? will sustain a big loss through the large quantities left over, much of which could have been avoided if adequate steps had been. taken to ensure regular shipments during the winter to Wellington aid Auckland, the two great consuming markets or the Dominion. •Vi? Wy °- tatocfGrowera *» hurrying on J?* t* *?i mg « to To, <* more loss through blight following the boisterous weather of a few days ago. Supplies are consequently mucn heavier ? nd price is 1 Utile T easier at Ha to l£d for good samples. jJ2.^°3*"T^ mer iS an - •*• » rather low demand at 37s 6d. Oats.— are very small at 6s 5d to in ed ex stote. Buyers *"• no confidence m the market. uwwvc Oatmeal.--Most brands of breakfast food ward n ° W Allowed **• move of oats downWheat,— scarcity of ibwlwbeat is attracting more attention to oats, now that they are cheaper but full supplies should be obtainable next year. Maize.—The good demand has at last been seriously affected by. the low price of oats, and there has been pome difficulty in placing .recent consignments at 8s 3d to 8s 6d on the wharf in wholesale parcels. Supplies are also larger than usual. i

THE PRICE OF GOLD. , Australian and N.Z. Cabl« Association. (Reed. 7.50 p.m.) ' LONDON. Nor. 17. j,r T !?S ?2°* of cold ***» quoted to-day at »» lea yd. FALL OF TALLOW PRICES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. Not. 17. At the tallow B 4 a 3850 casks were offered'* and 594 sold at about 4s decline. Mutton. fine £5 10s. medium £2 18s; beef, fine M medium £2 18s. *.«»-.», PEARL SHELL MARKET BREAKS. Australian »nd N.Z- Cable Association. (Reed. 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 17. At .pearl shell sale to-day there was a miserable demand. The home trade is well provided with stocks and the cdvanced exchanges slopped . all Continental demand, llie outlook for the future is very unpromising. Of 1875 West Australian' lots offered leO were sold: Broken, £9 7a 6d to £10 IDsdefective, -£9 15s to £10. A . few were solo* for £16. Of 360 Queensland lots offered 160 were sold: Defective, £8 15s; others, £10 17s 6d to £14 ss. v,

AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE. Australian and N.Z. Cab!© Association. (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 18. OatH.-r-Taamanian and South Australian. Algerian, feed 3; to 3« 3d; milling. 3s 6a to 35.9 d; -white, 4s to is 3d, Maize.—7s to 7a 9d. < old £15 6s. new £17. Victorian, old £12 Onions.— £14 to 15.

ADELAIDE. Not. 18. • Oats.— is practically no business. For growers' lots Is 3d is offered.

PROPERTY SALES.

Samuel Vajle and Bons, Ltd.. .will offer by auction at 8 p.m. to-day a section in Symonda Street. 51ft. Gin. by 122 ft; So. So in Asquith Avenue, Morningside; action ccrner Argyle and McDonald Streets. Mornin»isid»; house, »>* rooms. .Richmond Street. Glen, more; large iron building and section. Ligar Place: section 40 acres. Dairy Flat; Inmgalow,. five rooms, and teres sections, Mantirewa; leasehold section near St. John's College.