TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19809, 2 December 1927, Page 9

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. CHRISTMAS REQUIREMENTS PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. Retail buying on Christmas and gen eral holiday account has proceeded at a brisker pace during the week, nearly all departments reporting more attention to seasonal requirements. However, it -ill seems eVident that a great many people are postponing their purchasing arid, un less business is substantially accelerated at once, there will be the usual rush during the last week, with a certain mea sure of inconvenience and disappoint mcnt . /_■% ~ . Business people, are looking torward to specially busy mornings to-day and to morrow, ori account ol the large number of visitors to the Agricultural Show foi very many ot them spend the mornings in the shops Christmas presents anrl holiday requirements are being specially featured 'n many of the shops and the proprietors state that values are very lav ourable to twyers this yeai Stocks have been kept down to normal needs during the year leaving room for importations* of fresh goods for Christmas, and these have now been opened up and displayed rile island steamer has been loading the usual assortment ot produce and mer chandise during the week, many of the orders being on a larger scale than usual, being required foi the .Christmas trade Buying has been facilitated by the strong position ol most of the island products and traders report s\ good general demand. Cocoa beans have been fluctuating a good deal lately,' but generally toward higher prices. Copra is selling well, . " , . • : ' AMERICAN PRICES. . '

Mail adviceß show , that manufacturers are not willing to accept lower prices for merchandise, as nearly all< have a fair volume of orders on their books, and this maues them believe that 'no reductions will be necessary. Export trade has not been heavy, but the opinion is' held that the quietness in general demand is only temporary. This railways have felt the falling off in traffic, accentuated by the competition of motoi transport, and this inclines them to economise in extending their branches, causing in turn-a slacker demand for steel. A similar effect has been produced by the quietness in motor manufacture. especially on the'part of those makers who are planning to turn out new types, NEW SEASON'S FRUITS. The grocers are now able to make a very attractive display of new fruitß landed from recent arrivals. The expected Mediterranean fruits are to hand, including currants, sultanas, muscatels and figs, while California!) have also opened- up in some varieties Others are not yet to hand, owing; to the season boing so late Further consignments of Australian currants and sultanas are to hand, and the usual assortment of nuts and- almonds from i various sources. The feature" of the market this year is the low price for prunes and raisins, and these fruits are having a very heavy sale in consequence Seedless and seeded raisins are meeting a specially keen demand from the grocers. Ihe chief inquiry beinfj for packets for household use. whereas until the Christ mas demand set in the heaviest sales were in bulk to the bakers. PAINT OILS. White lead and linseed oil have been sell ing at lower prices during the past few weeks, bitt hardly the - usual number of house-owners have taken advantage of the position to get their painting done. . ' TURPENTINE. The market has weakened a little, but as it will be many months before the new season's production becomes available it is not likely there will be any substantial decline. RESIN. Prices have been slowly advancing, but there has not been much activity. With the producing season over, the general impression is that the market will hold firm, while a further rise is quite likely. LEAD. ' Consumption is not keeping pace with production, and the market remains very weak It is expected the Mexican output will soon show a falling off/ for operations are already being conducted on -a smaller scale. A larger consumptive demand is required to give strength to prices, for nearly every month lately has shown a greafcr output than the world's production in the corresponding month of last year TEA. At the Colomho sales on Tuesday, the mar ket generally was strong, largely influenced by the Russians buying freely. The quality was lower, and commonest kinds were down about a farthing, but finest and mediums were still high. All desirable kinds were dearer, there, being l?een : buying all round. EGGS. The extra demand for Christmas baking has hardened up the price a little, and most of the shops were asking Is iOd yesterday. POTATOES.

A few old are available, but new are now bo low thnt the price has . receded, and any in stock are offering at Bs. Most of these, and any future small arrivals from the South, will be utilised by the bakers. New nre daily falling in price, and yesterday they were offering fit ,12s. on trucks at Puke kohe. This allows a wholesale price in the city of 13d ox store, and retailers are asking 2d to 2Sd. Some very prime samples are now coming in, and the weather is such that the quality should now keep up *ery well. Those thai are now being dug are showing a better yield than earlier lots but even now the output is not particularly satisfactory. ONIONS

The price remains nominal at ll>s for Canadian in sacks and 17s 6d to 18s in cases, but some holders are very nervous ■'bout their stocks, and are quitting them under cost, in order to be rid of them before the new season's Australian arrive. However, it is doubtful when these will come, and the shipping position mnken it problematical whether importers will risk ordering any this year. OATS AND CHAFF. Both are very dull, with orders exceedingly small, and merchants are not expecting much activity as lon{{ as pastures remain in their present condition. Any small lots sold are moving out at 4s 6d for oats and £9 10s for chaff. WHEAT, ' • ' Another shipment of Australian wheat arrived by the Ulimaroa this week, and this is selling in a firm market at 8s 9d A further small lot is coming next week, and merchants are expecting this to continue until the new harvest is ready. MAIZE. Reduced supplies- keep the market firmer, and any arriving from the coast would realise 5s 9d on the wharf. The demand is limited, owing to the warmer weather, but it has been quite sufficient to deplete some stores, and there has been a good deal of trading between merchants, m order to meet requirements. SEEDS AND FERTILISERS. The only substantial demand is for fodder seods, and these are for decidedly smaller quantities than usual, pome of the old populai fodder crops have almost dropped off, but fair quantities of swedea are being taken, and these require a certain amount of super. PROPERTY SALES. Samuei Vaile and Sons, Ltd., will offer at auction at their tooms 83, Queen Street, at 2 o'olock to-day. 90 quarter-acre sections on the Helensviile Hot Springs Estate; a block of 378 acres on Waitokero Ranges, known as Simla, will also be offered; bun gaiow of 5 rooms and kitchenette at 63. Victoria Avenue. Remuera. and bungalow of 6 rooms at I Tonterden Avenue, Mount Eden. ~, „ C F Bennett. Ltd.. will offer at auction at their rooms. New Zealand Insurance Buildings, at 1 -J. o'clock to-day. the following properties —Freehold factory 115 ft. in Abbot'sford Stnset, Newmarket and in assigned estate bungalow of 4 rooms on freehold section fiOft. by 194 ft.. it R* l Shu kleton Road Mount Eden The New Zealand Lonn and Mercantile Vpenev Company. Limited, will offer at auction at theii rooms, Albert Street nt ■i.3o to-day under conduct of the Supreme Court, a mixed farm of 357 acres, on Kawnkawrt, Road, ti* miles from Bukeroirn rjn'twnv station. William A Home, LtH , will offer ot aur Hon. at their rooms. Home's Bnildincrs High Street, a* one o'clock to-day. under conduct of the registrar of tlu Supreme Court house of 4 rooms on section 40ft.. by Ififlft. at. 79. Shackleton Road. Mount Eden CLEARING SALE AT MATANGI. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Limited Hamilton* report:—We held a clearing sale on Wednesday on Mr Clancy's farm at Matangi, when tnere was keen competition for the dairy cows. Prices were from £8 10s to £l3 5s for the younger animals; aped and unsound eowa. £3 -to £5 15s; 15-months-old heifers, £4 17s 6d to £5 15s; medium draught mare, <2O.