COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17754, 13 April 1921, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

GENERAL BUSINESS ACTIVE-

THE PRODUCE MARKETS. Most of the wholesale houses report that business is keeping up well, considering the many adverse conditions. The country districts have really b-?en put in a strong financial position by the record returns for dairy produce, so that their buying rower was never greater than it is now. but many farmers "shows a decided tendency to act with caut:on. in case of a reduced income, and even lower prices for quite a number of important farm" requisites, such as fencing wire and fertilisers, have not tempted them to any lavieh expenditure this season. In other provinces the cautious attitude is naturally more marked, as a. result of practically everything they 'produce having sold at lower rates, and trade reports arc often rather pessimistic in consequence. However, we cannot havo our bun and our penny too. and the community cannot spend at the usual rate with a diminished income without exposing itself to a charge oi extravaganceProbably .a good deal of the economy aow being exercised is from necessity. Produce.—Butter is still 'receiving a good deal of interested attention, on account of the violent fluctuations brought about by artificial means, in the ehape of the with- » w i, of thc and the final renewal of half of n. Cheese i# still very scarceIt is remarkable what a little is offering. Hams and bacon appear a little scarcer, but price keeps low. with a prospect of increased supplies before long. Eggs ara scarce, and the wholesale price has advanced to 3s Bd. Now that the importation of foreign egg-puip is to be controlled the 6afety of the industry is assured, and it is expected that a great increase in production will take p.ace, especially as food is much cheaper. Producers are aiming at an increase so great that an export trade will be built up, in addition to ample supplies for the local market at a moderate cost. There appears to be an unlimited market in America for all that New Zealaad can spare. Potatoes.— Merchants are mainly working on -local potatoes, and these are firmer at 9s 6d ex ctore. Thfe Waitomo has been delayed in leaving Lyttelton. and the Southern potatoes by that vessel cannot very well be distributed till next week, so that loc3l growers still have a week to get rid of their crop, good, bad and indifferent. Southern are auoted at 6? 6d. and good supplies shou;d arrve regularly for the futureOnions.—Fairly plentiful at 9s 6d ex store, w-th Southern in ample Quantities on th© wav. , Oats.—Slightly on spot and in the South. Local stocks are decidedly lower, and merchants are quoting 4s 3d to 4s 4d. but there ar*> plenty in the South. Oatrreal —In good demand at the lower rates now qnoted. , Chaff.—Demand has been steadily increasing as a consequence of depleted pastoree, and the welcome rain of th«> week-end will take some time to resuscitate the grass, meavr supplies are com'ng in. and growers are obtaining £7 oa at the station for prime lots. Quotation ex store is a shade firmer at 8s 6d. Wheat.—Some very fine Australian fowl wheat has been obtainable during the past few days^—about the best that has ever been seem here. 'VncriTO<;rß will welcome a further supp.y of the same'quality as soon as it can be brought across. Fortunately the market on the other side seems easier. Flonr.—Thero i* almost a famine in the land so far as flonr is concerned, for the position is daily becoming more acute. The local mills cannot possibly cope with the whole trad*, but Southern should be here by the Waitomo and the Katoa. about the end of the week. Bran and Pollard.—Pollard is very scarce, and the Duality is not very remarkable, at present. Bran is more plentiful. Maize.—Ample supplies ar<j coming in, and the market remains weak at 6s on the wharf in wholesale linea , Sitdir.—Auckland grocetra are at last enloying the hror? ot having sufficient supplies of sugar after experiencing a shortage for nearly two years. Kerosene.—Wholesale price is down Is per case. Importers are quoting to arrive about the end ol»ihe month. Fencing Wire.—Both barbed and plain wire are a little lower, but demand is not very keen It is expected that when the slack eeason approaches farmers will take advantage of the lower prices to overtake the arrears of fencing. Building.—Active operations are being pushed on. Material is a little more plentiini. Importera are quoting corrugated iron cheaper. Fertilisers.—Super and basic alfcg are in plentiful supply, also Australian bonedust. Calcutta bonedust is due about the end of the month. <. ■ Flax.—Market continues weak, with no inquiry from London and New York.

SOUTHERN POTATO -GP.OWERS.

PROPOSAL TO FORM COMPANY. [BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] . CHRiBTCHURCE, Tuesday. At a meeting of delegates of the South island Potato Growers' Association a proposal was marie to form a small limited liability company to assist the distributing agent in handling the crop for this season and to act as an adjunct to the present machinery. The proposal has been referred to the branches for approval, and will be submitted to the distributors later. The objects of the proposed company are to assist in marketing the crops of weak holders who, it is alleged, by having to sell are largely the cause of the low pricss obtaining. .

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

[BI TELEGRAPH. —PHES3 ASSOCIATION.] CHBISTCHTJRCH, Tuesday. Little oats are offering. Much remains in stack and farmers are disposed to leave it there until something turns up. Potatoes are worth from £3 10s at country stations, with sellers not numerous at that figure. Inquiries .continue to come from the North, and quite an amount of business world be done, were shipping available. Prompt deliveries cannot be guaranteed. .