COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19218, 6 January 1926, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. LOCAL TRADE CONDITIONS. THE PRODUCE MARKETS. Retailers had rather a quiet time between the holidays, but trade brightened up a good deal on New Year's Eve, the largo number of visitors in the city helping considerably, especially during the last few hours that the shops were open. Business this week has opened up fairly | briskly. A great many city residents aro still away, but those who have come back seem to have developed a good many wants, so that the shops were quite well patronised on Monday. The wholesale houses had the usual experience in the receipt of an extra number of orders from the country. This is always noticeable after a holiday, the j principals apparently spending a good j deal of the recess in looking into their j - I stocks, and making up a list of shortages. J Although the year seems to have started J with business houses rather hopeful re- j garding the future, the}- are prepared for a reduced spending power on the part of the public, but in the meantime this is not causing any immediate anxiety, as j stocks are only normal. In spite of the large importations, there has been a good market for all that arrives, and importers will take care not to over-estimate their requirements when they know that smaller j returns for the season's produce must necessarily result in less money to spend during the year. Most shops report very satisfactory Christmas business, with more than the usual care exercised by their customers, so that the turnover does not show anything in tho nature of a boom which might be liable to collapse. While tho primary producers have apparently no hope of equalising their income of last season, the general public are still earning good incomes, so that it is thonght that it may bo a long while before the restricted output will be reflected in quieter business. With regard to the satisfactory turnover experienced lately, calculated in money value, it is pointed out that this is in the faco of lower prices for many very important commodities, so that more goods aro evidently being supplied, and some merchants also point out that orders are largely for very small quantities. This indicates that distributors aro trading on small stocks, and that they are not going ■beyond their mcaus. The produce market is not of much interest to merchants this week, as business has not yet been resumed on a very active scale and a large proportion of local produce is turned over at the auctions at this time of the year. The Island steamer has taken a fair quantity of the usual lines, with very little of special note. The rain on Saturday was very welcome where it fell, and will do something toward helping growth in gardens and ail ploughed land. Unfortunately, however, it was very local in its scope and some districts missed it altogether. Some of the suburbs and outlying districts received 'very much more than the city, but it was not sufficient to make an impression on pastures, and it is feared that a Further reduction will take place in the yield of dairy produce. EGGS. A natural reaction has taken place since the holidays, and retailers- aro taking 2s for ' hen eggs this week and Is llkl for duck eggs. The wholesale price is rather irregular, but i as the bakers are still buying rather heavily, the price has kept up to about Is lOd to Is lid. POTATOES. Quotation is about £lO to £ll at Pukfv kohe, but it is thought that tho rain on Saturday will cause growers to dig anv crops that were about ready, in order to avoid second growth. It seems probable that the later crops will give a much ' better yield than those that were dug in November, and some that were turned over this week show a perfect growth of very large tubers. Of course there i 3 no sign of blight, the weather having been perfect in that respect, but growers have been rather surprised to see the yield so good, considering the long period of exceptionally dry weather. The immediate market depends on whether there aro many fields so far advanced that they must bo dug at once. ONIONS. Local are not coming iu as quickly as expected, so that quite a good sale for Canadian has continued at '2os a case. These aro in very fine condition, and as not many are left it is expected that they will easily, be placed before local aro in general supply. Some of the local orop3 aro particularly good this year, but growers iieem inclined to let them get fully ripe. OATS. The demand is so small that merchants are not talans much interest in this grain. A good many horses were turned put _ for the holidays, and altogether there is little doing at this time of the year. _ In view of the difficulty that is expected in obtaining supplies from the South during the year, importation from Canada will probabh' be a regular feature, and the first shipment is expected about tho end of the month. CHAFF. Demand is rather quiet, with little of interest. Southern is quoted at 10s to lis, but Australian cannot be imported, and there ia t»o local on the market. _ It is expected that the dry weather will mean a very small- supply of local . chaff during tho coming winter. WHEAT AND FLOUR. Fowl wheat is selling at 9s ex store, and seems likely to be scarce before long, as the Government are not issuing any more permits for importation. A large Australian miller expresses envy regarding the cam of the New Zealand , Government for milling interests here, as it was quite expected that a good deal of Australian dour would be shipped. MAIZE. In spite of the high price of wheat, which is now up to tho price at which it _ stood before the duty was taken off, maizo ia rather neglected, and tho latest_ consignments from the coast have reansed only Gs 6d on the wharf, in wholesale lines. The warmer weather is reducing the demand, especially since so many poultry farmers have drastically reduced their flocks. FLAX. The year gpens with prospects rather favourable. as there ia a good shipping inquiry, which will readily tako up ail supplies, KAURI GUM. Supplies for the month of December show the failing off that was expected, being only 110 tons, compared with 591 tons during the previous December, and 576 during December of 1923. This makes the total supply for the year 5059 tons, compared with 5434 tons in 1924 and 6502 tons in 10°3 and this is attributed to the recent difficulties in the way of financing purchases, since Parliament decided to control the trade. Diggers are leaving the fields when they can obtain othfr employment and a restricted output is expected to continue. THE MEAT MARKET. PRICES AT SMITHFIELD. The New Zealand Meat Producers' Board has received the following cablegram, from its London office, dated January j., j advising Smithfield delivered prices at thai date as follows:—• New Zealand Wethers and Maidens.— Canterbury quality, selected brands, 561b, and under, par lb.: 571b. to 642b., 7jd; 651b. to 721b., 7id. Other brands, 561b. and under, 7d; 571b. to 641b., 7d; 651b. to 721b., 7d. New Zealand Ewes.—64lb. and under, 4 7-3 d. New Zealand Lamb.—Canterbury quality, 361b. and under, 10k!; 37ib. to 423!)., 8 1-8 d: 431b. to 501b., 7 5-Bd. Seconds, (3Ad. Selected brands, 361b. and under, lQid; 37!b. to 421b., 7|d. Other brands, Ist. quality: 421b. and under, B|d. Seconds, Bjd. New Zealand Beef. —Ox fores, 4jd ; hinds, 4 7-Bd. Cow fores, hinds, 4d. Argentine Chilled Beef.—Ox fores, 4d; hinds, s;kl.