COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18388, 2 May 1923, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

FAIR : ; TURNOVER REPORTED.

THE ;:,';' PRODUCE v MARKETS.

'With forward,bookings for ; May account disposed of, V the ; wholesale housesV are now settling down to ordinary business again, and a fair turnover 'is . regularly -taking place. Very few changes are reported this week, vexcept- a general hardening; in the Southern grain and produce market, but this is • unfortunately balanced by a serious decline in ; the market for dairy produce. No doubt; this is the cause of restricted buying for 'some districts 'in spite of the great increase in production this season, and it is. also thought that, even if prices; had httfcPfirm, great many farmers, would still have adopted a conservative policy, utilising their: \ good v returns 'to i clear up the legacy v from c last year.;. Orders this week ; are largely of a, sorting-lip nature, with no arrivals of -particular interest. ' v ■ ~.:.:;.•;:;.'. Hardware.Two '" bright spots make np. for a rather dull trade in general lines. .These are the short and sharp demand for sporting requisites ■ and . .ammunition,';-.■' always wanted for the ' opening of ' the shooting • season and the ;activelyV sustained demand for -building: requirements. V The ";' latter has;; been j particularly welcome during the past summer, and has greatly ,; exceeded expectations. S.V-v'No doubt the activity, will slacken off somewhat during "■ the winter, but many contracts are still running, and immense quantities of all kinds of material will ; be required. ; ; Now;; residences require extra - furnishings, and allthe allied': trades . report ; very -satisfactory. business.: :: Painting .is quieter now,; ana is ; not' likely to show, much t change -until ■- tlie. • spring. ■■•:,■" White = lead ■ shows a - fall - that t israther unusual at this time of the year, when the extra demand' comes . on the market, in anticipation of the increased quantities used during.; tho northern summer, ;■> but' linseed oil has ' responded to this : demand by ;■ rising a littlev. "'-'--... ..--■;■' The Grocery Trade. • Groceries. —Distributors still report,. diffi-' culty in getting sufficient supplies of sugar, oven after the recent advance in price. Very few changes resulted in other.-, lines,. as a result of the rise in sugar, but some of the cheaper ' kinds of : confectionery v advanced . a little.- Dessert fruits are slow.-of> sale, i a natural result of - a plentiful . supply .of resn fruit at cheap prices, but a little improve-, ment > has been noticeable during. the .last week or two, while pie fruits are in much more active demand. Dried fruits are selling - very quietly. Great efforts are . being made to stimulate a demand for raisins, but it is a little early in the season for large quantities to sell, even at the low prices that are now quoted. Another two or three months ■ will no doubt, see the whole position altered. Prunes are selling better -at tne lower quotations now" ruling. 'New seasons Mildura raisins are almost due. ;; ; ;'! \V Dairy Produce-The local : market in cheese has followed the fall :in London, and prices are down about a penny this week., A similar reduction in butter, is . expected any : day, ' in conformity ■ with the lower .prices, recently cabled from London. ■". Eggs are scarce, and the wholesale price has advanced to 8s this week. Retailers are very slowly, following the rising market. ; V Some are selling at the smallest , fraction .on ■; the- wholesale,, and others have V" none in stock except ' chilled, which : are offering at .2s 4d. V .•>'-;,•;■:; r v; ''■^'■■-■^4 V Potatoes. • only. moderate .stocks in hand, the local market has quickly followe.a. the advance in the South, ' and quotation.this week is -9s ex :■ store in V wholesale -, lines. Several shipments - arrived ;. last V' week,' ■ but they -met, with- a very V keen demand; large quantities selling direct from the .wharf,: so that buyers will be quite ready for the next shipment.;: W; .;..;::';:' .■;;:- : V,V ; -'-;;-:-';v;,:v ; V '•■ -':VA;\:;;i. Onions.—Firmer at 9b ex store.^-; The demand is . steadily . improving" now. that people are gradually running out of their own. but the advance in the 'season is seriously Impairing the keeping - qualities. of. most ?ot the onions ■ now available. ; This : entails a loss in .; repicking, ; and ,•■• selected : samples v are quoted higher : accordingly-' Locally-grown, are not yet exhausted, .V but. Southern/ are already being imported in fair ; quantities.^ Oats, Bran, and Pollard.'

:.' Oats.After dragging for ;a.few; weeks, the market has improved a little m ; the South,'; and the advance 1 is partly reflected here. ' Several shipments; have arrived; lately. so - that. merchants ■ are - now well .3 supplied, and the Quotation ia about 4s 9d:ex store for B grade. :>:,:v-:'''" ',;•"■,- -.; '.;.•" ';-;i: ; -- :-.'■>.-.:;;,-' ::; 'V . Seed' Oats.—Algerian is in fair demand at 7a- < v .;; . .-'-v.:;■:• VV •;-.-; Chaff.—Market' Is a shade firmer at lis i 60: ;ex store for Marlborough and lis for Canter- : bury. v;-.s ;• Both ;' are 4 selling .: well.v and y there is also a fair demand lor local at 0s ex 'store«; - - ;-. ■■ ■ ; "..':'.-.•■ ■ v.; , -.••':'.'-;;'v -v;.'"• ; : \ Wheat.—-Fowl wheat is' selling at 65;3d > ex store, ; but demand is -not very heavy. -\--_- ; ;

' Flour.—Selling .well.i with • no : change in price. ~\.■.•,-,.•■■; ■.-.',;;■■ '-.-:■'-''-.■ ■:■:'.:■■ ■.<x. : y-:.-- ,^-'^'' Bran and Pollard.The • circumstances to which attention was drawn in ,:this; column last: week have resulted -in the export being prohibited except Vby a permit from .the Minister for . Customs- . ■ Both : bran i and pollard : ; are v in ; very -short :;■ supply iri the X local mills being unable to overtake the demand. In Australia the consumers are already coinnlaininc about . the ; prices they; have to ' pay, but a further ■ advance will probably take place if - they cannot ; draw, supplies , : from New Zealand. .■■■<.)., : Linseed.—lt ,; will be . another couple.: ot months i before I the demand commences in earnest, but an advance about 60s' has already taken place, '.v- -; .'■.■;'W•'•.-.■ - '' V; - - ; ; Maize.— steadily-improving.; demand has taken up increased supplies, and the market is firmer at 5s Id on the wharf in wholesale lineß. :,New.-, season's will not be available for another month or six weeks. V Fertilisers.—A ■ very keen demand for topdreasing continues, ; and ; local manufacturers ,ore meeting it with low quotations this year. In straight manures : basic; slag ; appears to be the most popular this season, and. it is estimated that about 20.000 tons have been Bold during the past three months, ; including bookings to arrive shortly. v .;; : :;

; v ; ;v; U PRICES OF ; METALS. ; ' Australian and. N.Z. ''Cable -" Association. , (Reed. 8.5 p.m.)" , LONDON,; April; 80. Copper. spot «£7O lis 3d, forward £71 8s 9d. -<-''-V.. :; - -■'■■: V'-< V Lead.— spot £ 25 15s, forward £26. Spelter. spot .£32 ss, forward £3% 7s fir! -••■ ;-.;.,-.• .-.-':•■ Tin.—On spot £210 17s 6d, forward £210 17s Gd. -- ■' •-; ;■ v-'-v';'V'v'-'': : : -v. - ,■ Silver.—2s 9 3-16 d per oz.

= "\yj : WHEAT -MARKET. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. .. (Reed. 8.45 p.m.) V LONDON. April 30. Wheat cargoes are quiet and easier, owing to the collapse of tho freight position and weakness in America. Parcels are quiet at 8d decline.-' ' , .' -. ..'

';.'.-" FOREIGN EXCHANGES. ;';; Australian and N.Z. Cable Aeociation. (Reed. 8.45 p.m.) . LONDON, April 30. The following rates on , foreign exchanges are current to-day, as "compared with the cabled Quotations on April 26 and par:— , : April 30. April 26. . Par. New York (dol.) V .. 4.G3S V -.-.4.681 4.866 Montreal (dol.) '■.". .. 4-724 ,;;, 4 73* 4.866 Paris (fr.) V .. .. 63.45;. CS.BS :. 2d.22d Rome '■■■■ . ' . . ■-.:- 941, 94 25.225 Berlin (m . . ' .. 145.000 135.000 20.43 Stockholm ' (kr.) .. V 17.30 ,:; 17.33 18.159 Christiania . . . . 26.80 27.03 18.109 Copenhagen (kr.) . .. 24 90..,. 24.67 18.U9 Calcutta vpence) ... 16) , 16 8-16 24;. Hongkong (pence.) . . 2j?i . .. 28* •*!,-'„ — -, Yokohama (pence) .. 25f - 2 3 j 24* ; CANTERBURY MARKETS. [BV TELEGRAPH. — ASSOCIATION^ \ v . : "' CHRISTCHTJRCH. Tuesday. There has been no expediting of wheat purchases by millers, and growers who are not in a position to hold on have difficulty in placing their produce. Peas are still making high prices. The recent stiffening of the Home market forced over-sellers to operate and quite an" amount of business has been done at 6s 9d, country stations. Linseed is very firm' at- £16 to £16 10s a ton. General classes of seeds such as white and red clover, cocksfoot, and ryegrass are very quiet. Sales of white clover at Is and red at lOd are reported, the latter for a particularly good quality parcel. From Sid to Sid oovers quotations. Oats are unchanged. There is a general belief that chaff will improve. The poor turnip crops and general scarcity of feed are likely to divert attention to chaff. Present quotations are £4 5s to £4 10s, conntry stations. Potatoes are still on the upward trend. Due to some extent to Dunedin and Invercargill demands for South Canterbury tubers. Central and North Canterbury are left to supply Auckland requirements. To-day's value is £4 10s to £4 15s for whites and Dakotas for prompt delivery. 5s -less: for f.a.q.'s. Up to £5 is reported to have been paid for end of_monih deliveries. . - :-'v:' ; :■-'.: : ." STOCK SALES. ; '''■;-. WAIKATO. ' _ . ■ The Farmers' Union Co-operative Auctioneering Co.. Ltd.. Hamilton, report on stock sales held in the Waik&to last week, as follows:—There has been no- alteration in -values in the primer quality . of ; beef since our last report, - but ?,' exporters &axe operating in a quiet way on the < plainer steers, and although no great improvement in values is manifest, this class meets with a-readier:sale.. Cow beef :; is unchanged. Fat sheep continue to meet . strong competition at all - sales. Values are very v firm with an upward ; tendency, although .the small yardi#gs axe assisting to keep the starkct dr. ; m lteestoe idtk fees' store

steers show little . alteration. : : There is.competition up ■•:to-.;.) certain '. values, but -Xthe prices realised must 'be : disheartening Vto sellers. The bulk of ,v the-yardingsv are, however, sold.: -: Although ■•'-" early - in > the season, ■;. ■?. in-calf '; heifers . v have .--'■ been the subject of a good deal of inquiry and -a "umber of sales.have been made privately. With the exception of Jersey heifers, calves are, very ,'dull. Empty 18-months heifers are :. being -, inquired for. The improvement in mutton has created an..inquiry : or ; - the : unfinished : article, V with very v few offering, Store, lambs continue to ■: sell: well. there ; is. ,also an odd' inquiry; ewes :in : lamb, .but few are quoting.*, Pigs continue to sell well. All .* young heavy; draught V horses : and - good farm < sorts sell well.. , We quote:—Bullocks, heavy prime £7 to £8, medium : £5 5s to £6 15s; cows, :heavy. young v£4 5s :to V £ s is 6d, medium '.= £2 : 10s to £4, forward £1 10s .to £2 , 55;,-; steers, 3|-4} • years, '.'. forward : £3 15s to £4 10s, stores £3 5s to £3 12s 6d; cows, stores, £1 toV £1 10s; steers, 2Jyear, best,. £2 15s to £3 ss; heifers, rising 2-year r.w.b.,v Jersey, £6 - 10s to V £9: heifers, rising 3-year, r.w.b.. Shorthorn,: £4 10s to £6 10s; heifers, rising 3-year, r.w.b., Holstein, '£5 to v£B; : empty V heifers,:. 18months, best Shorthorn, ■ £2 15s to £3 10s; empty heifers, 18-months, .'■ medium Shorthorn, £2 to £2 10s; steers, 18-months.' best Shorthorn, £2 5s to £2 15s; steers, v 18months, . medium - Shorthorn, £ 2 to £2 ss; calves, heifers, best Shorthorn, £1 5s to £1 103; _calves, heifers, ,v: Holstein, v £ -,' 10s :to £2 ss; calves, heifers, Jersey , cross, •:£ 2: 10s to £4 103; calves, steers, best £1 : 10s to £115b, medium £1 ss. to £1 10s, weedy 15s to £1; wethers, prime, heavy 80s ;to 83s, medium 28s to V 29s ' 6d; ewes, prime, "heavy, 24s to 26s 6d; breeding ewes, best 2tooth 25s to 28s,best,4, 6, 8-tooth 24s.Vtd 295, best 4 and 6-year ; 21s to 245, medium 4 and 6-year 17s to 19s' 6d, culls, F.M. 12s 6d to 15s; ' Btore lambs,;-.good : - 14s to ■ ; 16s, medium • 12s , to 13s; :■ forward lambs, 16s :to 18s; pigs, baconers, v heavy ' £8 -10s to £4 ss, light; £ to ■■■-.£ 7s 6d; porkers, heavy, £2 5s to £2 10s; good slips, > 15s to £1 2s; small slips, 10s to 14s; weaners, 6s to : 8s; horses, heavy draughts £40 :■ to £45, v medium < £80 to £38 10s. light £22 to £28; harness- horses, £10 to ■■"£ 17; hacks, to £16. .-,.-■• MANAWATU. .'Dalgety.' and " Company, 7 Ltd;. Palmerston North';*; report •■■ the" Feilding •''.'■, sale '■■■■■ on Friday ■■ there $ was a - small - yarding - of ■ both iheep? and cattle. '> Fat v sheep showed V. a slight improvement Von last week's;, prices and . store sheep were '• on about - a par. >' All lines of store cattle; were - passed- at auction. Small lambs made i 14s to 14s 6d, very fair lambs, 178 to 17s 8d; B.F. lambs. 17s - to' 17s 9d; good wether lambs, 18s 8d to :19s. 9d r small 2-tooth wethers, V 26s 4d; F. and F. wethers, .28s 2d fat 2-tooths, 26s 8d; i fat ewes, 21s, 23s 'to 255; fat wethers,, 28s -' to 29s 6d; fat lambs,' 21s 7d to 25s 6d; weaner steers,, 245; : cull' ' cows,' 17s - 6d: light F. . and F. cows, £2 16s; 4-year bullocks, £5 10s; light fat bullocks,, £6, £7 to £7 2s. . *;.:- PROPERTY SALES. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., will submit Vto public auction ■at , their . land. salerooms, Albert Street, on. Friday, at 2.30 p.m., ■■- residence of VS.: rooms,': situated '■:■■ at Epsom, being No. ; 60, , Market Road; a farm property at iWaiterimu; near Ohihewai, containing ■ 168 ; acres, : on'; acount '• of . Mr. J. ;W. > Smith; also. a. farm situated, in Waeronga Valley, :, containing ' 54| , acres, on ; account of Mr. F. D. Louisson. -. > V