TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19807, 30 November 1927, Page 9

TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. ACTIVITY IN BUSINESS. PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. Retailers report a distinct improvement in business during the past few days, a specially satisfactory amount having been put through on Friday. This week active shopping is again in progress, the feature being the clear indication that Christmas buying is now comencing in earnest in nearly all departments. Provision houses note that keen attention is now being given to all the new season's dried fruits just imported, as well as other attractive Christmas novelties. Drapery has already had good demand, owing to the necessity for giving the dressmakers ample time before the holidays, but there is even more business doing this week, the showery morning on Monday not being any hindrance to the large number of shoppers who came into the city. Clothing and mercery is doing better, especially in sporting and holiday attire, and mercers explain that a good deal of buying was apparently postponed during a particularly boisterous and unpleasant winter. A feature in the hardware business is tho heavy turnover in aluminium household ironmongery. British prices are now so reasonable that the quality and reputation of many well-known names have secured the bulk of the business. Crockery prices have given way in many lines from the extreme rates asked during the coal strike. Altogether, it may be said that never since the war have buyers been able to secure their requirements at prices as favourable as they are this year. The wholesale business has more directly reflected the improved position brought about by the heavier production of butter and the higher, prices obtained for wool. Much more substantial orders have been sent to the country districts during the past few days on next month's account, j Travellers state that country storekeepers have been keeping their stocks down, so they were in a position to buy at the lowest rates as soon as the extra business was offering. Bricks and cement are being taken in large quantities, and this will continue throughout the summer, as several large contracts are just starting, while others still have several months to run. Builders' ironmongery is rather quiet, as there is not much doing in residential building, but hardware houses report an improved turnover with farming districts. The Tofua is loading the usual lines in produce and general merchandise during the week. EGGS. Demand is increasing and supplies slightly falliny off. Wholesale is linn at Is 7d and retaileiß are asking Is 8d for duck eggs and Is 8d to Is lOd for hen eggs DRIED FRUITS. The prominent feature this year 19 tho low price rulirii} m so many of the popular dried Lruits and importers have accordingly arranged then maema on the assumption that extra heavy salec will take place. Several varieties of new season's aro now 10 hand and others will arrivu shortly. In the meantime any holdings of old fruit are offering at very low prices. THE FALL IN PRUNES. The low prices for prunes this year, ever • since it was realised the proposed combine was not going to function, have directed the attention of Califprnian growers to the advisaoility of making no further increase in the acreage under this fruit. The growers aro considering alternative crops and are seeking the assistance and advice of the agricultural colleges, the State experimental stations and aimilai organisations. " The cow, the sow and the heu " hnve been put forward, either as alterna live or as supplementary lines. As a guide to the future position of fruit production, the United States Department of Agriculture has published a report, including statistics regarding the Californian acreage now in the 'principal fruits, comparing it with tho acreage in IDI4, and the acreage that will be bearing in,, 1930. These compare as follows:

Apparently these figures are not considered such as to justify prune growers m tearing out their tiees in favour oi other fruits, and they are now being advised to turn their unprofitable orchards into a payable industry by reducing the '•ost of production Suggested means inolmle the judicious use of fertilisers, more intelligent use of irrigation water, improved methods of cultivation, and the destruction of insect pests and fungoid diseases. DRIED BEANS. The production of this article has grown to enormous dimensions in the United States, where over 1,500.000 acres were devoted to the crop this year, giving a slightly laiger output than last year. RUBBER. The difficulty in maintaining the price, at the level fixed by the Stevenson scheme of restricting the output, has been receiving attention in London, even before the American manufacturers launched out on their production scheme After all the arguments for and against restriction, it now seems to be admitted the greatest problem is to stimulate a larger consumption of rubber, to deal with the pres ent excess production, which will be even more pronounced before long In addition to the increased production ot raw rubber, there is the steadily increasing reclamation of scrap rubber, but new uses for the rubber have not been found in the same ratio The motor industry accounts for 75 pei cent of the world's con sumption, but a slackening in motor-car production has set in, so far as America is concerned, where 70 per cent of the rubber is used, and the only hope foi an increased demand for rubber seems to be in cheapening the price The artificial price at Is 9d. to be controlled by increasing or decreasing the shipments from the East, seems now to be admitted impossible of maintenance, if only bp cause the accompanying British restriction -of output only served to stimulate Dufch production Tt now looks as if a lowe basis will have to be admitted, and thic is supported by the fact that whenevc. the price is in the region of Is 4d or Is sd, instead of the inflated and artificial Is 9d, a greatly increased demand sets in. If American motors have not already reached "saturation" point, it seemß to he admitted that a further point can be reached only by catering for. the additional millions who will buy if prices are lower POTATOES Old season's are still being imported troni Canterbury, but the trade is appar ontly almost over, as a large proportion ot buyers have now definitely turned their demand to the new crop Old are being repicked, to sell at 9s ex store, and the bakers will still require Bome for a few weeks New are being dug in larger quan tities, and are down to 15s 6d at Pukekohe. while will allow of a lowe r retail selling price in the city than the 3d to 4d re cently quoted and some very nice samples have been priced at 2?d in the shops during the past few days. ONIONS Canadian are selling at 17s to 18s 6d. but the demand is only moderate. With the winter ove:, there is no longer the demand for this vegetable for soups, while other vegetables are so plentiful at cheap rates that onions have ceased to be a necessity. New season's Australian Globe onions should be here in a week or two. but merchants will not import very many, for they are risky to keep, and local will be ready at the end of the month. OATS AND CHAFE. Both are in poor demand, owing to the pastures being in such good condition Oats are kept firm by the high cost m the South, and any sold are at 4s 6d ex store, but chaff is rather weak at 9s Od for best Southern. FOWL WHEAT. Australian of good quality is selling at 8s 9d ex store, with demand good. FLOUR. Normal sales of local milling continue, with no l'eaturo pointine to either a rise or a fall BRAN AND POLLARD Both are dull of aale, but if dry weather continue* these will be in better demand.

HAY. ! Some anxiety ia being felt regarding the coming crop, for a good soaking rain is l wanted to bring it along. Tile rain cy Monday was quite insignificant, and vruJ make no irnproesion on- tne -growth, tor even on worked soil it did not penetrate to a useful depth. In the Walk? to districts tile farmers are eagerly awaiting heavy rain to revive the pastures, for it is now two months since there was any really good rain. SEEDS AND FERTILISERS Fodder seeds are in demand, as 1 farmers have had suitable weather for working their land, and they generally depend on rain during December to bring on the crop. It is expected, however, lhat the Quantity taken will be far less than in former years, owing to the dependence now placed oil top-dressing by farmers, instead of breaking up old pastures and putting in an intervening fodder crop fop.dresting is now over, but the extension of booking a.t the present low prices for super till April 30 has brought in another lot of orders for forward delivery, and it is evident that another season of heavy top-dressing is due in the autumn. Any fertilisers now being delivered are for the roof crops. MAIZE. Coast maize is firmer, and the latest consignments have realised 5s 9d on the wharf. South African is gelling at 6s Gd ex store. "AUCKLAND COMPANIES. TWO NEW REGISTRATIONS. Two new private companies were registered in Auckland yesterday, details being as follows: — Waitakere Ranges, Limited. Objects: To carry on the business of builders and contractors, etc Capital: £SOO. Subscribers: Anthony Petrie, 400 shares, and Rita E. Petrie, iOO shares. Nobles, Limited. Objects: To carry on, at Kuitaia, the business of drapers, etc. Capital: £6OOO divided into £1 shares. Subscribers: William H. Atkins, Alexander Logan, Leonard A. Mcintosh, John, R. Revnolds and George Rickard, all of Kaitaia, 1200 shares each. PYNE, GOULD, GUINNESS. DIVIDEND OF 5 PER CENT. —— j < J [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Tho directors of Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd., in their report for the year ended September 30, said that the earnings have been sufficient to enable the company to add to the already substantial provision made for any remaining doubtful accounts and to increase the general reserves. Throughout ■ the period of deflation since the war, the company has met all losses out of earnings. The net profit, after provision for bad debts, depreciation, etc., was £46.912 2s 2d, to which is added the balance of £1745 14s from the previous year. Interest on perpetual debenture capital absorbed £29.092, the stuff superannuation fund received £1397. and the interim dividend required £2500. The directors now recommend the addition of £IOOO to land and income tax reserve, and £IO.OOO to general reserve (making it £30,000), and the payment of a final dividend of 2| per cent., requiring £25,000, making 5 per cent, for the year, on ordinary capital. The balance to be carried forward is £2169.

MARKET REPORTS. FRUIT AND PRODUCE PRICES. There were good supplies of summer fruit for sale at the Auckland City Markets yesterday. Strawberries were cheaper and were in much larger quantities. Supplies of hothouse tomatoes also showed a considerable increase. Ripe bananas are still scarce, but will be more plentiful in the next- few days, due to the ripening of a shipment from Fiji. Gooseberries sold steadily at from 5s 6d to 7s a case. Strawberries brought up to Is 3d a chip, showing a reduction; on last week's rates Tomatoes were slightly cheaper, bringing from Is to Is 3d per lb. for the better grade of hothouse fruit. Local lemons sold well, the choicer fruit bringing up to 23s a case. The [demand for local Stunners and Doughertys, as the result of the competition of the Rummer fruit, is now distinctly poor. A fresh shipment of Australian fruit arrived vesterday and will be sold to-day. Very large supplies of new potatoes brought down the price at the field produce sales by per lb. Cabbage increased in value while cauliflower wds cheaper The price of lettuce fluctuated as it did a fortnight ago, not reaching above 4s fid a case French beans also were cheaper, bringing from 8d to Is per lb Onions showed a reduction of approximately Is a crate Other prices remained much the same. All rates were the same in the dairy produce market. A fair demand existed for both kinds of eggs, while farmers' butter sold well. The following prices were realised FRUIT. Apples, Stunners 10s to 13s a case; Doughertys. Gs to 9s: Canadian. lGs: to 20s. Pears. Nelis and Coies. 8s to 13s a case; P. Barrys. Gs to 10s. Oranges, Rarotongaus, 17s a case; Australian Vaiencias, 18s to 27s 6d. Gooseberries. 5s Cd to 7s a case. Strawberries. Is to la 3d a ceip. LoQiiats, 4s to Gs n case. Tomatoes, hothouse. first grade. Is to Is 3d per lb; second grade. Cd to 3d. others. 3d to ,4d; Cook Islands. Ca to 7s a case; rsorfolk Island. Id to 7d per lb Cherries. Greytojivn;. las a case. Plums, cherry. .Gs to 7s a case, green. 4s to 6s: red. Gs to 7s. Lemons, local, choice, up to 23s a case: others. 10s to ISs. Apricots. Thames. Gs to Ss a case. Red currants. 9d per lb. Bananas, repacked. 30a a case FIELD PRODUCE. Potatoes. Southern. Gs to 7s per cwt; new. lid to 13d per lb. onions. 13s to 16s 6d a crate, cabbago. 2s Gd '.o Gs a sack; on benches. Is Cd to 3s Gd a dozen: cauliflower, 4s Gd to 10s a sack: on benches. 2s Gd to (is a dozen, lettuce. Is Gd to 4s Gd a case, rhubarb. Is 6d to 5s Gd a dozen, spinach. 9d to Is Gd; spring onions. 4d to Is a bundle, marrows. 3s to Gs a dozen, carrots. parsnips, beet and turnips. Is to 2s a dozen bundles; cucumbers, hothouse, 5s to 7s a dozen; outdoor. 4s to Ps Get: rnri ishes, Gd to 9d a dozen bundles; trench beans. 8d to Is per lb; broad beans. 3s Gd to 4s Gd a bag; peas. 3d to 4d per lb: asparagus. Gd to 9d a bundle. ; DAIRY PRODUCE. Hen eggs. Is 7id to Is 8d a dozen; duck eggs, Is Gd to Is G!d. Farmers' butter;: Is 2d to Is 3id per lb.

CANTERBURY MARKETS. PRODUCE VERY QUIET. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PEESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday. The broken weather is interfering with business in respect of next, year's produce. There is an amount of speculative interest in most classes of cereals and seeds, but the unseasonable weather is making operations somewhat quiet. Much more of the rain that has been so plentiful will mean a diminished seed crop, with consequently higher prices now that export has cleared the boards' of old stocks. On the other hand a favourable season from now on will mean an ample crop with naturally a slow mar ket. Under such conditions there is very little speculation and values for practically all kinds of produce are un changed. Wheat is worth 6s lOd f.o.b. for milling and a halfpenny more for fowl. Next season'a crop has been sold to very little extent under 5s 9d on trucks. It is understood that as a result of the advance 111 price of Continental cocksfoot and the certainty of it not being imported into New Zealand this season the area closed up on the Peninsula is much larger than last year. There is still a straggly demand from the South for potatoes, but to all intents and purposes the season is over for old tubers. On spot offerings are worth £5 10s on trucks, but the price is slipping- * CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET. A. and N.Z. CHICAGO. Nov. -28. Wheat. —December, 1 dollar 27 ,;7-8 cents per bushel; March, 1 dollar 31 7-8 I cents; May, 1 dollar 34£ cents. j

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