TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19511, 15 December 1926, Page 11

TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. BUSIER TONE PREVAILS. PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW* The long day last Friday was the best that retailers have had this season, there being quite an influx of country visitors, in addition to all the city and suburban residents. It is now so close upon the holidays that an immense amount of buying must be rushed through, and this has been conducted under perfect weather conditions, while the brighter prospects for a good season in the primary products are greatly encouraging trade. Importers have received very hopeful accounts of a possibility of a distinct revival m British trade now that coal mining has been resumed, many manufacturers reporting that heavy orders have already been received, which will keep them busy for some months. If this becomes a general revival in trade, and, is not confined to a few departments, it is expected to exert a distinct benefit upon the sale of New Zealand products, by ensuring steady employment to a large proportion of British workers. The wholesale houses are booking forward on next month's account earlier than usual this month, deliveries commencing to-morrow, and this is making them so busy with all the Christmas trade that" most houses are working overtime. Retailers are busy on all the- seasonal requirements for own use and for presents. The latter seem to be gradually turning to more useful articles, almost like people buy for themselves* in preference to the old fashion of confining presents to jewellery and ornamental luxuries. Books, stationery, clothing, mercery, sporting goods and holiday requirements generally are in great request for presents, while great care is exercised in securing good value in the many departments which specialise in attractive articles suitable for presents. Leather goods, toilet requisites and smokers' requirements are attracting a good deal of attention, but toys and other children's fancies are not yet in very keen request. It is expected that these will receive more attention next week, after the schools have broken up, when the children will be free to assist in the selection. The forward position of New Zealand trade depends so much upon the activity and buying power of the United Kingdom that it is important to note a distinct improvement in the iron and steel trade, the department which was hit the hardest during the shortage of Manufacturers report that the business offering in motor-cars is decidedly brighter, whereas in America it is stated that this industry is quieter, and this is bringing in its train, reduced activity in the iron and steel trade. RUBBER. According to some experts rubber should be at boom prices, during about 1928. but the* Eubber Age remarks that thia calculation may easily be wrong. Recent high prices have undoubtedly fostered a feoling of. pleasing security among producers, and this may last for some time, but later happenings are not at all ho certain. In all considerations it must be remembered that while the Stevenson regulations can be said to have pulled the plantation estates out of a hole, there were other faotors available in this work of assistance, and probably the most effective instrument in making the scheme a success •was the vast expansion of private automobile riding in the United States, operating after the many curtailments during the war. While this condition caused the recent boom, it also had another consequence, ■a ' vigorous new campaign of planting on. the estates, through the incentive of high prifces. At present a very much larger area, of rubber is under cultivation, and the possibilities of a greatly increased "native" production in Java and Sumattu will also have to be reckoned with. The future trend of rubber is therefore a puzzling' problem, for there is the possibility on the one hand _of production again exceeding consumption, while on the other hand if there is nd*» halting m the automobile industry, and new uses for rubber are invented, the predicted shortage may eventuate. One sure, thing is that huge tracts of new rubber will be coming into bearing about tie period named. THE PRICE OF COPPER. Ninety per cent, of the world's production is said to be represented in the new association of copper exporters, an organisation composed of the leading producers of North and South America, in affiliation with European interests. Wide • fluctuations in the price, causing: hardship to producers and consumers alike, together with speculative movements Ly dealers who have no financial interest ill the production of the metal, are claimed as the reasons for forming this combine. Under its operation it is said that copper prices in Europe will bo established in accordance with general business conditions as they develop from day to day, and that although the price of, copper may not be lower, the purchaser will be reasonably certain that ho can buy with the assurance that-to-morrow's price will not be at a figure that will disastrously affect his contract. It is claimed that this is preferable to conditions prevailing in most free and speculative markets. CANNED FRUITS. The buying market has been quiet for some time in California, exceipt in. the movement of goods offered at concessions. It is not unatural to expect buying to be of smaller volume just mow than at the opening of the season, considering, the volume that was purchased at that time. Many Californian canners. however, seem to be pursuing the policy of forcing a clean-up at once at concession prices, on the theory that they will have done well enough in their average. Cherries and pears are weak, and the lower grades of No. 10 reaches are being generally shaded. On the other hand apricots are firm, parteicuUrly m No. 10 choice and standard, which are getting vei.y scarce. DRIED FRUITS. San Francisco advises a moderate, amount of business passing in dried fruits at primary points, but the whole market is said to lack firmness. A rather weak market is reported in evaporated apples, but apricots have advanced a little. Figs are steady with a variety of quotations on black figs. Size is t the important consideration .in prunes just now. some sizes being c 'JJ,ite firm, and others just the reverse. The Prune Association is standing firm, but will have to wait for good results. Raisins are sharing the situation with other dried fruits at the moment, and concessions are being granted in a sraa'.l way. The cause is apparently the great increase in production which . has followed improved selling methods. EGGS. Firmer this week at 13 7d to Is 8d wholesale, and Is lOd retail for best hen eggs. TOBACCO. A noticeable feature in the trade is the increased demand for New Zealand, tobaccc), and a larger area has been put into this crop this season in Auckland, Wellington and Nelson provinces. Last, season the wetson crops gave only a light yield, due to insufficient rainfall and other adverse features, but the North Island . districts made up the deficiency and supplied some ideal samples of leaf. The increasing cali for the New Zealand product is said to be the unique properties of the leaf wuich possesses certain merits seldom found m tbe varieties from overseas. POTATOES. A temporary scarcity was occasionally noticeable lost week, said to be due to fanners holding of! from digging, in order to get in their hay during the perfect weather prevailing. Supplies are. better again this week, and the market is fairly steady at £d to £lO ei store for best quality, but there isi a very poor, demand for low grade. The remarkably high price prevailing in Sydney has been attracting attention, but. no shipments have gone from Auckland, the conditions being judged too risky. A few fanners have been planting some more potatoes during the past week, but merchants are now quite out of seed. ONIONS. Canadian are selling at 17s to ISs a crate, but many of the samples have to be repicked. OATS AND CHAFF. In moderate inquiry at late rates., with oats improving a lilttle. Full supplies of Southern and Australian chaff are now available. . HAY. Visitors to the country during the weekend confirm the information regarding a phenomenal yield of hay. Ihe started eo early in the spring that paaacclts were shut up in good time to produce ft heavy crop, and this has been gathered under the best weather conditions esperi ©need for years. Consequently the wi! be all in perfect condition, as well as gooc. quality, and farmers will be..savedi the great expense of providing additional fodder next winter.

WHEAT. Fo.wl wheat is short on tho spot, but more will be arriving from Sydney by' next steamer, as the new harvest is now available. The first shipment arrived in very fine condition, and is selling at 8a Sd to Ss 6d, and permits for the importation of moderate quantities free of duty will be issued until the end of February, MAIZE. , Only small quantities of coastal maizo are arriving, so the South African recently to hand is being drawn upon rather heavily. It is of very satisfactory quality, but it is unlikely that any more will be imported, for tho crop was a very poor one. A news item from South Africa via New York states that- the railway earnings from April to September were heavily decreased by a shortage of 1G,000.000 bags of maize handled, and this amply confirms previous advices of the injury suffered by the maizo crops through dry weather. KAURI GUM. Steaks in store are slowly diminishing, as a result of small sales continually taking place for export. The market is certainly dull but most lines arriving in f:ood condition find an outlet in shipment to Now York, although it is most difficult,to sell uncrra-ded lots such as used to arrive in mixed conditions during the boom. The selection this week of two representatives of the producers to sit on the Control Board is taken in the trade to mean that the new board wil commence to function early next year, so that as soon as these are elected the' Government will complete th© personnel of the board by nominating a chairman, and also an expert, in addition to a member tc bo chosen on the recommendation of the merchants and brokers. It is not known to what extent they propose to control the trade, or whether tne shippers will still bo able to dispose of their grain through the old channels, under permit fforn the board. MARKET REPORTS. FRUIT AND PRODUCE PRICES. Most varieties of fruit were in heavy supply at the Auckland city markets yesterday. Canadian apples are now being sought owing to the decline of local Delicious. A few light-coloured Delicious were sold at prices ranging from 6s to ,8s a case. Oranges are still very scarce and a rise of Is a case on last week's values was recorded. American oranges are bringing as much as 40s a case. Both hothouse and outdoor tomatoes were in heavy supply and prices receded as a result, but the demand was well maintained. Plums are coming in plentifully now, and for this time of the year the quality is good. Gooseberries were sold in large numbers. They are still coming forward in fair quantity but tho quality is somewhat inferior as the Season .is almost finished. Both apricots and peaches arrived in rather poor condition. Peaches averaged 12s a box. Strawberries found sale at low prices and even tho Captain Cook variety, few of which wero available, realised only up to" Is 2£d a chip. There are no cherries on the market at present, but a boat from Sydney next week should replenish supplies. A shipment of 13,000 odd cases of bananas will arrive by the Kaitoke to-day, and on this account prices should ease. The present market prico for ripe bananas is 25s a case. Vegetables were not in quite such plentiful quantity as last week, but this in no way affected the demand. New potatoes sold at 6d a bag less than lato rates and cabbages and cauliflowers sold at considerably lower prices. A consignment of new season's onions was disposed of at values ranging from to per lb. There was a very heavy supply of green peas, which realised lid per lb. Lettuce, which dropped in prico so noticeably last week, was in better demand and rose again to 7s 6d a case. Some fine cucumbers brought high prices. The price of lien eggs continues to rise and Is lOJsd was the wholesale price yesterday. Duck eggs also increased £d in value, and encountered keen demand. Farmers' butter kept at late rates. The following prices were realised:— FEUIT. .'Apples, Dougherty, (is to 8s a easa; Stur-. mers, 9s to lis: Canadian, 143 to 19s; Australian oranges, 26s to 27s a ease: American,. 40s a ease; hothouse tomatoes, lOd to Is 2§d per lb., according to quality; seconds from 6d; outdoor, 5d to 9}d per lb.; cherry plums, 6s to 7s Gd a case; Sharp's Early - ; Ca to 9s; Evans' Early, 7s to 9s; Wright's Early, 4s 6d to s7 Gd; local lemons, 4a Gd to 10s a case; gooseberries, 6s to fis a small case; up to 12a a large ease; apricots, 5s to 10s a box; peaches 5s to lS!s a box; strawbories. 8d to Is a chip: Captain Cook, la 2£d a chip; loganberries, 9d to Is a chip; repack bananas, 23s to 25s a case; local hothouse grapes, 2s lOd to 8s 6d per lb. FIELD PRODUCE. New Potatoes, 4s to 5s Gd a bag; others, 2s to 3s 6d; cabbage, 4s to 10s a sack; o» benches, 2s to ss; cauliflower, 3a to "10s a sack; on benches, 3d to Is 3d each: green peas, lid to 2jd per lb.: French beans, 5d to 7d; broa dbeahs, 15d to 2d per lb.; »«w season's onions, lid to l|d; Canadian, 15s to IGs a crate: kumaras, Fiji, 9s to 9a 6d per cwt.; lettuce. Is Gd to 7a Gd a case; outdoor cucumbers, 7s to lis a dozen; medium, 3s to 53 Gd; small lo Gd to 3s; vegetable marrow, 4s to 10s a dozen; rhubarb, Is 9d to 3s a dozen: spinach, Gd to Is 3d a dozen; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, Is to Is 9d a dozen bundles. DAIRY PRODUCE. Hen eggs, Is lOd to Is 10} d a dozen; duck eggs, Is 7id to Is BJd: farmers' butter, Is to Is l|d per lb. TARINGAMUTU SAWMILLS. PROFIT OF £5037 FOR YEAR, The balance-sheet of the Taringnmutu Totara Sawmills, Ltd., for the year ended October 31 shows that the gross profits, including tram revenue, totalled £16,921, of which £1275 was obtained from the farm. Tho year's operations resulted in a profit of £5037, but the flood of the winter of 1925 was too severe a handicap to be overcome by a single year's operations, and tho year closed with a debit balance of £5379, as compared with a debit of £76§3 at the close of tho preceding year. The net profit for the year was arrived at after writing off £2OOO for cutting rights, £IOOO for tram plant, £IOOO for Hauhangaroa tram, £B6 off loco-, motives, £4O for horses, £342 for mill and bush plant and buildings, and £24 for bad debts. The fixed assets total £59,895, advances to subsidiary companies £11,828, and stocks on hand £11,938. CANTERBURY MARKETS, [by telegraph.—peeks association.] CHRISTCKURCH. Tuesday. Business is dull and little activity r.ecd r oe expected until after the holidays. Reports of the wheat crops point to the prospect of a good yield. In addition, the harvest promises to be quite a fortnight earlier than usual. There is a cessation of business at the moment, as Australian flour quotations continue to obscure tho issue. Nominally values on trucks range about 5s 9d, but business at this figure is small, if any. In the absence of actual business quotations for new season's seeds are more or less nominal. Perennial ryegrass is mentioned at 3s to 3s 6d a on trucks, and Italian (of which there is a big carry-over), to 2s. Cocksfoot, which is again a short crop on the peninsula, is quoted at 6d to 7d per lb., white clover at 9d and red clover at Sd. Algerian oats are quoted at 3d to 2s 6d on tracks and in view of the fact that white oats are still fairly plentnut in store in the South the market for them is without life. With a knowledge of tho stocks in this island, Northern traders are buving onlv as oats are wanted. Onions are looking well and quotations at the moment are up to £4 Its on jfjjck. for March-April delivery P"™** idea is that tho area is larger than last year, due to high prices secured for iate ; crops. CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET* j Australian and K.Z. Cable Association. (Heed. 5.5 P.m.) CHICAGO, Dec. 13. Wheat. —December, 1 dollar 38j cents j per bushel; May, 1 dollar 39| cents; July, , I dollar 32g cents. BRADFORD WOOL MARKET* Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, (Heed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13. The volume of business on the Bradford wool market is restricted. Quotations arc unchanged.