COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

BUSY RETAIL TRADE.

THE PRODUCE MARKETS.

POTATOES MUCH , EASIER.

The large crowds that have been thronging the streets during the week have brought a great increase to retail trade, partly at the expense of suburban and country storekeepers. Reasonable weather has helped this considerably, there being no reluctance to spend a few hours in town under the conditions prevailing this week. Country visitors are beginning to return home, but a good many will see the week out, while others have expressed their intention of doing their shopping next week. Altogether, therefore, ill© city shops have good reason to be satisfied with the present position. Wholesale is already beginning to show an improvement after the slight slackening that came in for a few days. Booking for next month has begun, and so far the orders are quite satisfactory. Any ill effects from the railway interruption have almost disappeared, except for the difficulty in overtaking the work of handling the immense quantity of cargo lately arriving from overseas and further important shipments are due next week. A large proportion of these goods are being sent away at once from the wharf, either by rail or steamer, showing that they were wanted at once, and that importation is not taking place in excess of requirements.

Exports to the Islands. Outward shipments this week include the usual list for the Islands steamer, and these orders have kept export houses busy. The principal demand has again been for preserved meats and other locally-packed goods, Australian competition being very severe in other lines.

Eastern Goods.—The direct steamer brought a welcome supply of sago and tapiocar, and the market i 8 now firmer again, having fully recovered the decline recently, noted. The next steamer is to leave Singapore early in' August. Dessicated cocoanut is easier. Nutmegs and pepper are steady at the advance already reported. _ Cloves and carrawaVs are unchanged. Chillies are now so cheap that they are almost back to the pre-war level.

Chinese Ginger.New season's supplies are available for shipment from Sydney. There have been substantial advances in the overseas markets during the last month or so, and as the producing season is practically closed, there does not seem to be any prospect of obtaining ginger at lower prices this season. The local season of greatest activity is now over also. *

Coffees. Indian coffee- season has closed. Cablegrams from Java advise that the market is steady. Mocha coffee has advanced slightly since last month. Seeds.—Canary seed is now at a, high level, and it looks as if there will be no easing of the position until the new crops become available, toward the end of the year. Millet and hemp are now fairly cheap. Beans.Cablegrams from Europe show that present prices for Madagascar beans are prohibitive. New season's haricots are now available at fairly cheap prices. Canned Fruits.Auckland importers have? secured their probable requirements of this season's Australian canning, for the usual spread delivery, but no more are obtainable this year. It is expected that this will result in some orders going to America again, in spite of the .high price there, and the extra cost to bring them down. Dairy Produce Outlook. Dairy Produce.—The steady position of the butter market in London is very encouraging to producers, and there seems every prospect of obtaining good prices for the rest of the season. Cheese is not so hopeful, especially as it will be meeting the Canadian competition for the next few months. Eggs are scarce, and are selling retail at 3s 6d to 3s lOd for fresh, and 2s lOd to 3s for preserved. S Produce from the South.— principal anxiety is whether there will be any falling off in the means of transport during the next few months. After the strike several vessels were put on, to cope with the accumulation of cargo, but with a cessation in the shipments of wheat and oats during the winter, two of the principal lines always brought up from the South Island, there seems no # likelihood of the former regular service being maintained. Potatoes.Market -. is « much • easier since arrival of the Navua and the Flora, and good quality were selling yesterday at 10s ex store. A fair quantity also came by the Kawatiri, so the market is new well supplied, and likely to remain so. provided regular shipping space from the South is obtainable. It would appear that for the future there will be just a3 convenient a service from Australia, as from Canterbury and Otago. and this is considered another reason why growers should take an early opportunity to dispose* of their crop. Seed Potatoes. fair inauiry continues, principally for Gamekeeper. Growers are expecting that the old crop will be exhausted earlier than usual, and this may induce higher prices in October and November.

Onions.— :Thft position is auite normal. Only Australian are available, and these are selling well at 15a ex store. As the Australian stocks will .probably be exhausted by the end of the winter, negotiations are already proceeding for importations from oa.nornia. which will probably commence about August. Oats and Chaff.

Oats.—The startling rise in the South has at last brought oats to a parity with' the cost of importation from abroad, and this confirms the impression that the Canadian importations in the South . are not temporary, but are the forerunners of regular shipments, to make up mt the failure of the harvest. Shipments to Auckland are auite out. of the question, now that the f.o.b. price is up to the Canadian cost, and the latter will be imported to Auckland and all the principal centres for the rest of the year. Quotation this week is Cs lid to 6s ex store, but future imnoxtfttions will be more costly, owing to a rise in the freight. Auckland merchants are satisfied as to the position, and are making arrangements for importing up till September, and this will keep prices reasonable. Stocks at the moment, are only light, but further shipments are due in June. The negotiations now proceeding, with a view to getting the duty taken off, will further facilitate importation, as the duty is 2s per cental or about lOd per bushel. Seed Oats.—-Algerians are selling well at 6s 9d to 7s for Australian seed.

Chaff.—The shipment by the Kawatiri is turning out well. and selling at 10s in sacks. This seems a low price in comparison with Southern, of which a fair auantity is regularly arriving, although the price has again firmed a little, so that merchants are asking 12s to 12s 6d. Australian is also selling at 9s in bales, but the extra . money is usually paid for the better Quality in sacks.

Wheat, Maize and Pollard. Wheat.—ln good supply, and sellinir at 6s lOd to 7b 6d. ..'.. ,

Bran and Pollard.— increase in demand is expected for the future, but stocks are fairly good so far. The auestion is whether the accumulations will ,b« sufficint to last over the winter, if no more is imported.

—Selline: to a Tather better demand, • price being baaed on 6s 3d on the wharf in wholesale lines. No development is expected until the new grain comes in next month.

Fertilisers,A-lance shipment of Waloole Island! guano is-being distributed at £4 19s ex shin, or £5 9s on terms. An exceptionally large shipment of basic slae is due by the King Howell next Tuesday, consisting of 9000 tons, but not all of this great quantity if for Auckland. In anv case, however, a sufficiently large proportion is for this port to keep the railways busy, as most of it is already so 1 d for delivery ex ship, nnd will be distributed chiefly by rail. Bonedust sold well from Calcutta, one inducement being the higher cost from ' Australia Welv. Potnssic manures are selling well. There is a- sustained demand for suporphosnhate. and all crass manures are moving off well. ' ,

TALLOW SALES. . ■ Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 14. At the tallow sales 892 casks were offered and 527 sold. Inferior advanced 6d. Other sorts were unchanged. WHEAT MARKET. (Received 5.5 p.m.) Argus. LONDON, : May 14. Wheat cargoes are quiet, and nominally unchanged. Parcels are firm. Sales at Hull, ex ' Sophocles, realised 47s ljd to 47s 3d. - ■..- ■ ■ .-■•■•■-- LONDON WOOL SALES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. May ' 14. At the wool sales there was a better general tendency. Prices were firm.