COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17846, 29 July 1921, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

— «;• WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. THE PRODUCE MARKETS. HEAVY SALES OF POTATOES. Forward booking is about over for this month, and orders now tppearto be onlv for sorting up stock. Merchants report a satisfactory turnover, the outlook being improved by. the n.iar approach of the dairying season ami the nibre hopeful . aspect' of the Home markets for dairy produce. Loyally a quick response to this improvement at Home was the withdrawal of a cheap quotation for* butter that was ! current for a tew days, and values are now j normal again. Cheese has also Hardened I a little during the last few weeks, no doubt in sympathy with the great change in London. It would appear that there is still time for the price to rise sufficiently for New Zealand to have another splendid dairy season. Hams and bacon are, selling well, and hams are already being booked for Christmas delivery. Eggs are fairly plentiful, but the cold w*ather has prevented any great increase recently, and the price is fairly steady at 2s Id wholesale Dried JTruite. —Mediterranean fruits are creating some interest, after being Off the market for years, but. prices so far are not very attractive, judged in comparison with Australian. Canned Fruits.—Selling very well, in spite of the colder weather. A great deal of cutting has been going on. but this is apparently over, and values are at a, level "that is giving more confidence to buyers. Honey.—Now offering at a more attractive price than last year, and fair business is resulting. T*a.—Another Colombo cablegram this week reveals a very strong market. Every country but Hussia appears to be buying. In the meantime the production is be.ng curtailed. Rice. —An advance in Japanese is reported, and this took effect here »t cm,-'. as most merchants are importing onlv sm'nU quantities from month to month, instead of carrying large stocksSago and Tapioca—Local stocks are light, and no heavy shipments are expected for some timo. ■ . Matches.—Safeties are getting wax vestas are in exceedingly small coaipass. A few tin boxes are expected next month. * Preserved and dry are both rather scarce, but ample supplies are on the way. Cornflour.—Demand keeps up well, hat the best-known brand is now unobtainable I in the wholesale. • Potatoes and Onions. Potatoes.—Large quantities on hand are keeping the price very favourable to consumers, and h»*\-y sales are reported every week. the demand showing no signs of falling off. Wholesale quotation is 63 to 6s 6d ex store for prime quality, but most of the heavier buyers are taking advantage of the regular arrivals to get the lower quotation rubng for delivery from ship's side. The heavy consumption of potatoes now taking place is another evidence, of the increased demand that invariably results from low prices. Seed Potatoes.—The unremuneTative prices now being obtained will probably cause a decrease in the quantity planted this season, for so far the inquiry points to » reduced acreage under potatoes. Numerous orders are now coming in, but only for small lota. Onions.—Australian are selling wolK at lis to lis (kl, and the quality is good enough to allow distributors to take in a heavy stock. Some farmers have already begun to plant out their young sets, an early pre. caution, which will be of great value if the summer in New Zealand turns out as dry as it has been in Europe. Oats.—Stocks have worked down well, and the market should now respond to the firmer tone in the South, unless another reaction succeeds. Good quantities are on the way, but in the meantime the price is a little firmer at 4s 6d to 4s 7d ex store. A sign of the times is the tendency of buyers to look ahead for forward supplies, so that evidently bedrock has been reached and passed. Oatmeal—All descriptions are selling well. Most Southern breakfast foods are now in good supply, but another advance is reported this week in , on© well-known Southern brandWheat and Flour. Chaff.—Market is well sup-plied with Blenheim chaff, and price is unclianged at 9s 6d to 10s for best quality, in small lines ex store, larger parcels selling at the usual reduction for delivery from Onehunga wharf. Local chaff is not much in evidence just now, but if warmer weather comes in during the* next two or three weeks, and produces a good spring firowth of grass, the farmersannay be mora inclined to part with the last 'of their holdings. * , Wheat.—The position is no easier in regard to' fowl wheat, and consumers are anxiously looking for supplies of a better quality than they can get now. Milling is in good supply. Pollard.—Every week there are complaints about the quality of the pollard now on the market, some of the samples being the werst that have ever come here. The price is quite high enough to secure a fair Quality, but it is generally so poor that very little bran can be used with it. . Flour.—ln good supply, and selling well. Baker? are more disposed to get in a fair stock after supplies being so short. Maize.—Market Tetaii* the advance already reported, and value is nominally 6s 9d on the wharf for the small lots arriving. At tho same time a fair quantity of Australian is held in • store, and this is being used to supply urgent requirements. t often at lower rates than the local article. PROPERTY SALES. Samuel Vaile and Sons, Ltd.i will hold an auction sale at their rooms, Quepn Street, at 2 p.m to-day. when three houses situated Nos. 5. 7, and 9 t Hepburn Street, on leasehold sections wila be offered for sale in the estate of the late Captain W. C. -Daldy.