TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19621, 27 April 1927, Page 11

TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

SETTLING DOWN to NORMAL.

PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. Business for the week commenced yesterday under very unfavourable conditions. After the interruption on Monday, and tho elections,coming on to-day, retailers report there was a disinclination to take business seriously, and the shops were very poorly patronised. However, the long day last Friday brought in a good turnover, and there is every expectation that before this week is out there will bo the usual attention to business. The drapers and clothiers stated yesterday that already the sharp turn in the weather is making a difference to their trade, for there was more inquiry for winter goads. Prices are more, reasonable this year, as local woollen mills are meeting the competition from abroad, in spite of tho higher cost of the raw material. New Zealand mills now supply a large proportion of the material for suits and ladies' costumes, and it is expected that as designs improve this proportion will increase, for they have the machinery and the technical knowledge to turn out what the market requires, provided there is the quantity to warrant the special production. Sports goods are being supplied largely in New Zealand woollens, as the material readily lends itself to this class of apparel. If theS present cold weather lasts—and it la described as quite seasonable for the end of April—the drapers and clothiers will ho meeting a good demand, for which they are already well prepared. The holiday on Monday rather seriously disturbed the wholesale houses, with such, a short interval after a late Easter, for they were busy with their extra deliveries for May account. These were hardly up to the usual magnitude, and under great pressure during a short week the perfect weather enabled most of them to be despatched. The dairy payment:! last week distributed a lot of money,' ihe New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company paying out Is on superfine, on amuch larger production than last year. The loading of the .Island steamer kept a few houses extra busy, but orders werw of small dimensions on this occasion. EGGS. The price has been maintained owing to' the small supply coming in, and the. colder weather will no doubt prevent any increase m the immediate future. Yesterday retailers were asking 3s.bd for fresh hen eggs, 3s 4d lor duck, and 2s 6d for chilled, the wholesale price being about 3s 5d for fresh. AUSTRALIAN DRIED FEUITS. These now bulk ao largely in the New Zealand trade that the operations of the Control Board are of in. totes t. Th© London agency reports the total realisation of sales of dried fruits for the season to December 30 as 0959 tons of raisins, at an average.of ±'7s per ton, 4735 tons of currants at about £l3, and 550 tons of lexians at about £42. There are now about 6000 growers of dri€id fruits in Australia, of whom- nearly half participated in the advances under tile Dried Fruits Advances Act. CALIFORNIAN DRIED FRUITS. Advices by the mail disclose very few changes, as buying has been largely hand to mouth. This has been going on so long that packers have been expecting a spring demand to set in, on the assumption that distributors were carrying only small stocks. However, there are no indications of much activity yet and this tends to keep prices irregular. Peaches are a little lower, but raisinh are firm, with fair business in seedless, whereas seeded muscats have not been selling well, resulting 'in Bo'me prices being shaded. Weather conditions during the winter and early spring; have been very favourable for the coming fruit crop, and unless late frosts intervene there should be. a larire output. A private cablegram states that whereas prices for prunes have been irregular lately, an arrangement has been made whereby they will be more uniform in the future. AMERICAN CANNED GOODS. A return issued by the United States Department of Commerce illustrates the large trade conducted in canned fruits, the steady increase in vegetables, the dull position of meats compared with the immense trade of twenty yeurs ayo, and the recent rapid fall in the milk trade. The principal items exported compare as follows, for the last three calendar years, the figures being in millions of pounds weight:—

The figures which will at once arrest attention in a milk-producing country like New Zealand are those relating to that commodity, for it. comes as a great surprise to see their magnitude, while the rapid fall suggests that there are still some unexplored markets for New Zealand. Ihe decreases in shipments to Cuba and the Philippine Islands are said to account for most of the drop in condensed milk, while exports of evaporated milk to Germany and England decreased to such an extent as to account for the fall in that line. In the case of Germany, which is by far the most important, tariff changes caused the decline. To retain the market, and to maintain- the values of established brands, some American producers have established German factories, and are thus supplying the demand. For years the fashionable trade in canned vegetables has been dominated by Europe, principally France, Itfily _ and Belgium, although the production in the United States has been greater than in all of them combined. It is, therefore, not surprising to see the States capturing a larger share of the world's trade. The bulk of the increase has been in beans and soups, two lines in which American packers specialise, but some increases have occurred in nearly every lino. It was only to be expected tho exports of fruit would fall from the high level of 1025, a .decreased demand from the United Kingdom being responsible tor most of this. _ HARDWARE. Local trade is quiet, but prices are maintained. It is reported from London that business in the finished iron and steel market is showing signs of expansion, buyers having begun to realise that no substantial reduction in values is likely to accrue for some time. Here and there a weaker seller is met with, but makers are not keen to make concessions. Wcrks are operating at as full capacity as possible, but they Eire still much in arrears and the pressure tor deliveries is unrelieved, particularly from the shipyards. The bulk of the orders now being executed are those placed last year, and" these must of necessity be completed first. The Dosition of the iron and steel market in tne Midlands shows but little change. The dearness of fuel continues to hinder the expansion of the pro-, duction of pig-iron, and at the same time prevents tho lowering of costs; consequently orders are placed only for hare necessities. South Africa is the brightest spot in the export market for finished iron. POTATOES. The quotation yesterday was £8 for snot delivery ex store, but further lota now discharging from the Katoa and Tvittawa win orobahly ease the price somewhat, as it 13 understood that Southern shippers have sent noire on consignment, in addition to those despatched in execution of orders. I his will orobahly result in an over-supply, whereas hitherto merchants have heen delayed in getting their orders executed. Local are being "sold in large quantities at auction, prices varying according to condition. ONiosrs. Dull at 6s. with supplies much too heavy for requirements. It is expected that the colder weather will bring about a mrteh larger consumption, hut most householders •ttill have a few of their own growing. OATS. A little firmer in the South, for no reason (hot is apparent, and local merchants are at ill selling at -Is Id ©a. store in small lines. CHAFF. Plentiful at £9 10s ex store for .'•'best Southern. Large quantities are- available* for the winter; so prices are expected to rale low. WHEAT. • Fowl wheat, is selling well at 7s 6d ex store and primasamples are obtainable in quantity. Market is firmer in Canterbury, but this has not .induced any extra buying here. There is very little of the-crop in poor condition this year, the .perfect weather producing most of the harvest in primo order. Occasionally a low grs.de sample is offered, but these are neglected. BRAN AND POLLARD. Getting scarce, particularly pollard, and it is stated that a heavy demand will take up all available supp:ies during the winter.

MAIZE. , Very scarce and &ny small lots from <he coast are realising tip to 7s 8d on the wharf in wholesale lines. The general Quotation ia 8s 3d ex store, and the position will only be partially relieved by a email uhipment from Java next month, but even at this high prioe maize continues to sell' against fowl wheat, although the latter is at a cheaper price, with 4.1b. more to the bushel. FLAX. The latest cablegrams from London, indicate that there is a little more activity in the market, but no quotable change in price. Large quantities are coming in, but as these are being regularly taken up for export there are no accumulations in the city. Some of the mills generally close down from the end of April, and it is expected that supplies will grr,dually dwindle ofi for the future, although a few mills will keep on all the winter. KAURI GUM. The market is kept going by occasional orders, particularly for B2 and chips, and these aro absorbing the reduced supplies. The latter consist mostly of eliip<s, with small quanities of B2 and 83. The diggers have been working the swamps during the summer, the frequent rain enabling them to wash the chips, but it is estimated that it wa3 only with the greatest difficulty that'they could make a bare living at it. These particular workings will be discontinued during the winter, as the diggers could not get the ; chips dry enough for market. Vary little bled bush jram is coming in now, as the few remaining kauri forests are barred against bleeding. but occasionally small consignments of limb gum arrive, and these are realising about 112s.

DUNEDIN MARKETS. THE POSITION OF WHEAT. [EY TELEGEAPH.—OWN COE.RESTC-DENX.I DUNEDIN, Tuesday. ' Only odd lines of wheat are being offered in the Otago district. Buying, however, has been spasmodic over the past month, as millers have been operating for a time and then withdrawing from the market. Prices have remained fairly stationary with Tuscan at 5s 6d on trucks and Hunter's at 5s Bd, sacks extra. Velvet is in short, supply and sales have been made at up to 6s 3d for lines handy to Dunedin. Ihe recent conference between wheatgrowers and millers in Canterbury has had the effect of hardening prices-. The proposal is that by agreement the price of Tuscan wheat shall be 6s, f.0.b., but Tuscan has been selling in Canterbury at 5s 4d. Farmers, under the circura-' stances, are adopting a wait and see policy and are nolding their wheat wherever possible. Of course any arrangement regarding prices would have to have the sanction of the Government before it could become effective. < , , The demand is slow for fowl wheat. The current price is about 5s 6d a bushfel, sacks extra, ex truck, with supplies quite equal to the demand. Growers of oats have been declining to accept the prices on offer and: there nas been a firming tendency in the market,' as a result. As a matter of fact the. demand at present does not warrant an . increase, as few oats are being sold to go into consumption. North Island merchants, moreover, have been buying small lots only. The present firming is considered to be but temporary, but in the meantime up to 2s 6d on trucks has been paid for good lines of A Gartons handy to Dunedin. B grade are not so keenly sought for and the value for these is 2s 3d oin trucks. Tha shipping quotations are 3s Id, f.o.b, for A grade, and 2s 10d,; for B. grade. Although consignments of chaff are on ! the light side the demand is small. Good quality oaten sheaf is worth £4 15; a too., sacks extra, ex trucks., Supplies have * been coming down from Canterbury, as it is too early for new supplies in this district. The shipping- market to " Uie North Island is still being supplied from Canterbury, where the quotation is £4 : 15s a ton. ' . ] Potatoes are slow of Sale, with consign-, ments arriving in excess of the demand. Before the holidays £4 a ton was obtainable for good quality tubers, but reduced rates have been ruling since- Even at the lower prices sales are hard to effect, as buyers are full}' stocked There is also a poor demand for shipping on account of the Auckland market being oversupplied. In spite of the fact that blight is reducing the yields, tbere will, be more than sufficient for. New Zealand requirements. * The seed markets are firm, but little business is passing. Ryegrass is offering sparingly and farmers are receiving up to 3s a bushel for good, clean 1 undressjd lines. This price is equivalent to 4s 6d, sacks extra, for machine-dressed. Crested Dogstail realises about lOd, with* onlv odd lines changing hands. The cocksfoot market remains unchanged." but prices are now considered to have reached bedrock standard. Akaroa is quoted at 9d per lb.

PRODUCE IN CANTERBURY. LITTLE WHEAT BEING OFFERED. [BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Wheatgrowers are waiting for "something to turn up" as a result of the recent agreement with the millers, and little wheat is being offered, . nor is it likely to be until the position is clearer. The market is firmer than it was, and sales have been made at 5s 3d to 5s 4d, on trucks, for Tuscan, and up -to 5s 6d for Hunter's. Fowl wheat is firm, with sales at 5s 7d, f.o.b. Oats, which took a sharp rise as a result of speculative operations, are easier in value than last week by a penny to twopence a bushel. A grade Gartons were sold to-day at 3s a bushel, f.0.b., s.i., the equivalent of 2s 5d on trucks, but there are few sellers at this price. Chaff is quoted at £3 2s 6d to £3 5s on trucks. Peas are in firm demand, values to farmers being from 7s to 6s Id on trucks. Cowgrass and white clover are not inquired for, nominal quotations being' from 8d to 9d per lb. on trucks. In regard to the potato market Auckland reports to the effect that a proportion of the consignments arriving are going into store are an indication of the over-supply of the market. Quotations are £3 a ton, on trucks, but few growers will consider this price. Digging operations are turning out disappointingly in cases, and some forecasts are that the average yields this year will be nearer 4i tons to the acre than the six tons recorded last year.

Item. 192-1. 1925. 1920. Meats IS 16 15 Condensed milk G3 42 . 38 Evaporated milk . 143 105 75 Fi»h . 125 122 13C> Vegetables 49 55 n Fruits . 224 2G3 2221