TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19729, 31 August 1927, Page 9

TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

ECONOMY IN PURCHASES.

PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. Now that most of tho wholesale houses have completed their special forward deliveries on September afceount, it is noted that the orders seem to display a decided tendency to restrict financial engagements to immediate necessities, apparently accepting the advice given by financiers to exercise caution. Orders have been rather deceptive, comprising very often a long list of items which denote working on small stocks, but in the aggregate the value has been lacking. However, merchants also seem to approve this policy of keeping stocks within bounds, and present appearances point to a much more active state of trade as the season advances.

A peculiar feature in the retail trade during the long clay on Friday, as well as on Saturday morning, was the disproportion between the visitors to the shopping areas and the amount of business done. It is some time since the streets were so well filled, but apparently most people were more intent on inspecting new goods than on actual buying. Some drapers are still featuring special winter sale prices, and these are receiving rather more patronage. Clothiers report the usual quieter time which comes between the seasons, as buyers have taken about all they require for the winter, and the weather is not on most days such as to suggest the urgency < securing spring goods Prices again promise to be reasonable, competition among manufacturers having prevented any advance which might otherwise have followed the hardening in wool values. New Zealand mills are now makin" a stronger hid for a share of the trade, and instead of confining their manufacture so much to the heavier lines required for -the winter trade they are gradually turning out,, a widei selection of spring arjd summer fabrics This eludes ladies' dress materials, which the mills are offering in acceptable colours and styles, while men's underwear is also receiving more attention. THE SUPPLY OP BJRICKS. A peculiar indication ol the steady demand for building material lately, in spite of the evidence of reduced activity during the past winter, is the pronounced scarcity of bricks for prompt delivery, ft is explained this is largely owing to production being hampered by the difficulty in drying newly-made bricks during the recent continuous wet weather, but it only shows tl at the demand is so constant that as soon as manufacture is hampered a shortage develops. This i 8 being partly met by utilising bricks obtained from buildings recently dismantled, preparatory to being replaced by larger structures, and as well-made bricks do not suffer with age. the only delay in making them astain available is the trouble of cleaning them. Large quantities of bricks are used in the modern form of steelframe construction many large buildings of sis to eight stcrevs employing this system. There is no change in the price of bricks and a spell of fine weather would soon remove the present scarcity. EGGS. The market is again a shade lower, wholesalers Quoting Is 6d this week, while retail may be given as Is 5d for duck eggs and Is 8d for hen eggs. Preparations are being made for export although the price <s hardly low enough yet, and it has been found that space will be available on the Tainui, finally clearing Wellington about October 5. and also by the Mataroa, clearing about October 29. The bakers are specifying their requirements for the scnrce season next autumn and winter, and it will soon be possible to estimate how many will be available for export. TEA. A feature in the market .is the jemarkablv strong tone maintained in Calcutta fend Colombo. Apparently . this is largely due to heavy huying for Russia, but reduced production is indicated by the small quantities offering at the recent sales in Colombo. There "is to be ho auction at all next week. „ * POTATOES. About 4500 sacks arrived this week, and as there is every promise of ample supplies in the immediate future the price is steady at £7 15s ex store, which is about the Southern parity Opinions differ as to the ultimate prospects of the crop s holding out until the new one is ready, but local merchants seem ready to back their expectation of adequate supplies by. buying only for immediate requirements, even though it seems to be fairly generally recognised that fhe season in Pukekohe and surrounding districts will be three or four weeks later. If this should eventuate, it will give all the better opportunity to dispose oj the large cron in the South which the official returns discose. Seed potatoes are selling a little better, as some growers are at last taking their requirements, in anticipation of a few _ fine days allowing them to get their seed in. ONIONS.. _ Australian are selling quietly at 12s ex store, after careful repickmg, but the sale is largely restricted by the large quantities of other vegetables available at low prices. Australian will meet the main demand until the first of the Canadian arrive in October, but a few locally-grown are still held, and are working off at irregular prices. The growing crop is not doing well this vear, and a low output is expected. OATS AND CHAFF. No hew feature has arisen, as both lines are selling in a dull market. Regular supplies of chaff are arriving from Blenheim and Canterbury, and are selling at £9 10s ex store. Local chaff is getting a better sale between.. country districts, the price being based on £7 5s on trucks for best quality. WHEAT. Fowl wheat is firm at 8s 3d ex store for best quality Southern, the price being low enough to keep out Australian importa-. tion3. FLOUR. Sales are only moderate, although no tall eeems likely to take place as a result of any prospective Australian importations. Recent advices from the other side suggest that a rise is more likely than a fall, nidging by the world's market for wheat. 1 MAIZE. The market is overstocked, consequent on the arrival of heavy supplies from tho coast, and large offerings from Gisborne and other centres confirm the advices that a good crop is available this year A ■ good proportion of tho arrivals turned out in suitable condition for storing, finding a ready sale, but other consignments were of variable quality, realising from 5s 8d upwards, for delivery on the wharf The price now depends largely on the condition, for unless the grain is really hard and dry there are very few buyers able to take it into store, and it has to be sold for immediate use. FERTILISERS. A heavy demand continues, but the wet weather is delaying delivery. Farmers explain in many cases they find it impossible to do their top-dressing, while the rain, although not particularly heavy in the aggregate, is so continuous as to malp many of the roads impassable. In spit* of this handicap in many districts, large deliveries continue, and these will bo in creased as soon as the weather takes up for a few days FLAX.

Very little is now coming in, but many mills have started operations again, and others will 'resume shortly. Next month deliveries should commence on a fairly heavy scale. provided the weather keeps* reasonably fine for drying the fibre.

HIDES AND SKINS. PRICES AT AUCKLAND SALE. Competition was fair at the fortnightly sale ol" hides and skins yesterday. Cowhides, which met with an excellent reception at the last sales, were not in such keen demand. A slight decline was noted in most types of hides, although calfskins did not vary There was little alteration in prices of sheepskins and tajlow was unchanged. The following prices were realised^— Cowhides, best grade, 81d to 9d; second grade and cut, 7d to 7jd; ox. best grade, light, 'Sid to 9d; medium. Sid to. 8 7-Sd: heavy, 9d to 9Jd: second grade and cut, 7id to Bid; kip and runners, best. 9{d to lod: second grade, 7d to 7Jd; yearlings, beat grade 9Jd to lOd; second grade. 7id to 8d; calfskins, best grade, light to medium, I3jd to 14d: cut and meaty, 9»d to lOd; heavy 9?d to lOd, slippy and stale, 6ld to 7jd: bull hides, best grade, light. 4d to 6d; heavy. B|d to 4jd; horsehides. 10s to 14s each, according to : size. Sheepskins, dried, three-quarter to fullwool, medium' to fine crossbred, Ilia to llfd; coarse. crossbred. 10id to lid; faulty and. seedy. Sid to 9}d: damaged, 7fd to Sid: half-wool, medium to fine crossbred, 1 Old to Hid: coarse, 9?d to 10id; damaged, old to 7d; faulty. 7id to Sid; salted sheepskins, extra large, 10s to Tls each; large, 8s (5d to 9s 6d; medium, 7s to 7s lOd; light, 5s 6d to 7s; faulty and damaged relatively lower; quarter-wools, best grade, 8d to 9d: damaged, 4Jd to. 6!d. Tallow, in barrels, good, mixed, 24a to 24s 6d per cwt.; in shipping casks, 25s _to 25s 6d: in tins, good, mixed, 23a 6d; inferior, 16s to 21b.