PRODUCE FROM PUKEKOHE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19235, 26 January 1926, Page 7

PRODUCE FROM PUKEKOHE.

POTATOES AND ONIONS.

IBY TELEGRAPH. —OWX COBKESTOKDENT.] PUKEKOHE, Monday. The market for potatoes and onions shows practically no change from last week, potatoes selling at 8s per cv/t. f.o.r. Pukekohe and oniotis at 9s 6d. Orders from Wellington, Wanganui and Hawke's Bay for potatoes in very appreciable quantities continue to he received, the crops in those districts evidently being very late or light. This is helping to keep the price at Pukekoho above last season's level. Tentative inquiries for onions for export to America aro being mkde, and quotations are being submitted, but it is considered that if onions are plentiful in Australia and the Southern districts of New Zealand this season, there will be serious competition with the Pukekohe district for any export trade offering. If, on the other hand, supplies elsewhere are not very abundant, and the Pukekohe, crop is not as heavy as was expected, then an export demand would doubtless mean a hardening of prices. FROZEN MEAT MARKET. PRICES AT SMITHFIELD. The New Zealand Meat Producers' Board has received the following cablegram from its London office, dated January 22, advising Smitbfield delivered prices at that date at follows : New Zealand Wethers and Maidens. — Canterbury quality, selected brands, 561b. and under, 7 l-8d per lb.; 571b. to 641b., 7 l-8d; 651b. to 721b., 7d. Other brands, 561b. and under, 6 7-8 d; 571b to 641b., 6 7-8 d; 651b. to 721b.,' 6-|d. New Zealand Ewes.—64lb. and under, 5d per lb. . ISJew Zealand Lamb.—Canterbury quality, 361b. and under, 9d; 431b. to 501b., Bd. Seconds, Bfd. Selected brands, 361b. and under, 11 1-Sd; 371b. to 421b., Other brands, Ist. quality, 421b. and under, not quoted. Seconds, not quoted. New Zealand Beef. —Ox fores, 4d; hinds, Cow fores, 3 l-8d; hinds, 3 7-8 d Argentine Chilled Beef.—Ox fores, 3 7-8 d; hiuds, 6d. PRICES FOR EXPORT. The board advises that the following prices were being offered on January 21 for export:— Auckland.—Wethers, 56ib. and under, per lb; second quality wethers, 4fd. Ewes, 561b. and under, 4d. Prime woolly lambs, 361b. and under, B^d; 371b. to 421b., 8d; 431b. and over, 7J,d. Second quality lambs, Bd. Poverty Bay.—Wethers, 561b. and under, sgd per lb; 571b. to 641b., sjd. Second quality wethers, sd. Prime woolly lambs, 361b. and under, B^d; 371b. to 421b., 8d; 431b. and over, 7d„ Second quality lambs, 7-|d. Hawke's Bay.—Wethers, 561b., and under, 6|d; 571b. to 641b., sjd: 651b. to 721b., Second quality wethers, sjd. Ewes, 561b. and under, 4-|d; 571b. to 641b., 4d. Prime woolly lambs, 361b. and under 9J[d; 371b. to 421b., B§d; 431b. and over, Bd. Second quality lambs, 8-Jsd. Welington.—Wethers, 561b. and under, 63d; 571b. to 641b., s£d. Second quality wethers, s{-d. Ewes, 561b. and under, lambs, 361b. and under, 9gd; 371b. to 421b, Bgd; 431b and over, Bd. Second quality lambs, 361b. and under, B£d; over 361b., Bd. Canterbury.—Wethers, 561b. and under, 6|d; 571b to 641b., s|d. Second quality wethors, sd. Ewes, under 481b., 4jd; 481b. to 641b., Prime woolly lambs, 361b. and under, 9|d; 371b. to 421b., B|d; 431b. and over, Bd. Second quality lambs, 361b. and under, 9d; over 361b., Bd. FOREIGN GOODS IN DISGUISE. ONLY THE LABELS BRITISH. Addressing a meeting at the Mansion House which opened a. campaign to encourage the purchase of British goods throughout the Empire, Sir. John Cockburn asserted that the marks on goods at present were fallacious. He declared that firms in Britain sometimes sent abroad their labels and they were placed upon goods made abroad, and returned with, all the appearance of British-made goods. There was one country in which all sorts of marks misleading to the public were placed on goods, and in one instance the articles were marked " Englische." Goods must bo marked in such a way, said Sir John, that there could be no doubt. That mark must be either British or foreign. Tho Merchandise Marks Bill promised by the Government would receive vehement opposition, because there'j were plenty of people here who did not want tho British public to distinguish between foreign and British goods. He asked why there should not be an optional mark at once, to be used at the will of the manufacturer 1

HIKURANGI COAL COMPANY. CUMULATIVE DIVIDEND RIGHTS. At an extraordinary general meeting of the Hikurangi Coal Company, Ltd., to be held on January 28, resolutions will be moved for an addition to the Articles of Association making it possible to extinguish the cumulative dividend rights for a period. The explanation of the position by the directors is as follows: " Owing to the adverse circumstances under which the company has been working, no dividends, on any class of shares, have been paid since Januafry, 1924, and as dividends on the preference and A preference shares are cumulative, the sum of approximately £6262 has accrued thereon to December 31, 1925. It is evident to the directors that with this burden, and the future accretions which would ensue, the outlook for the company as regards the payment of future dividends is-not hopeful; but with the suspension of such dividends for a time, the position will be improved, and the resumption of dividends will be greatly facilitated. In their opinion, the only possible course by which this can be effected is to pass the necessary resolutions so that the cumulative dividend rights of all preference shares will be extinguished for a period, and the first step toward this end is the alteration in the company's articles of association which it is now proposed to make. The directors regret very much that there should be any necessity for the proposed action, but they are strongly of opinion, after mature consideration, that it is in the best interests of Che shareholders that such should be taken, and 'they strongly recommend that it should be given effect to as early as possible." The company's capital includes 45.000 ordinary, 45,000 preference, and 50.000 A preference shares, ali of 10s each. The liabilities include £20,452 due to the Bank of New Zealand, and £9832 tc other creditors. The principal assets are: Mine property and land £3358, plant.and buildings £49,326, shafts and works £35.000, sundrv debtors £5527.

The directors' report states: "The results of the past year show a considerable improvement on those of the previous similar period, the profit on the c>Vpany's operations (exclusive of depreciation) for the year being £4055 10s 9d. This is due to the increase in sales (82/ A tons) and the reduction in cost (3s 9|d » ton).'"