TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19832, 30 December 1927, Page 7

TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. QUIET HOLIDAY BUSINESS. PROVISION HOUSES ACTIVE. Business has been very quiet on the two days on which- the retailers have been open since the holidays. On each morning the shopping areas have been fairly well patronised, a noticeable feature being the business with country visitors who spent a few hours in , the shops before going to the races. The city was almtost deserted during the afternoons, but some houses are quite satisfied with the business done, occasionally quite unexpected sales having taken place. Others admit having done very little beyond clearing up and straightening their stock since the great rush which took place before the holidays. . v In spite of .the usual tendency to delay purchases until the very last especially on the part of the men—for they seem to dislike shopping just as much as the ladies enjoy it—business people state they were very greatly assisted by having the full week to deal with the rush. With onfy three or four days for the last week before the holidays, practically the same amount of business would have had to be handled, but this year it was spread over the whole week and the city was full of eager buyers every day. Provision houses opened to rather active business, showing that most households do not carry a very full pantry, and any slack time was usefully occupied in replenishing the shelves, which had been so heavily drawn upon last week. Drapers and clothiers found business only moderate, most buyers evidently having secured the requirements to last them over their holidays. This specially applies to those who have gone out of the city for a • week or two. However, business was remarkably active until closing time last Saturday. Apparently stimulated by the brilliant weather of the last few weeks, men's clothing has shown a tendency to be a little more colourful, but otherwise there is no important change in styles or prices. Most of the wholesale houses are closed until next Wednesday and this has produced a marked quietness in heavy traffic to and from the railway and the wharves. Produce merchants have . opened, but business is only moderate and they are occupied largely in taking in goods from the wharves. Hardware houses are closed, but all departments will resume business as usual next Wednesday.

FRESH FRUIT. Further indications point to a good export season for apples to the United Kingdom, the main factors being a good crop in prospect here, a smaller surplus of American fruit than usual to compete against it, and a better general demand. It is reported the Fruit Trade l * Federation, which includes the most important interests in the British fruit trade, has decided to spend a further f40,000 in popularising the eating of fresh fruits. This is the fourth .year of the British "eat more fruit" advertising campaign, and satisfaction is felt that the money already expended has produced good results, changing the position of fresh fruit from a luxury to a necessity. One estimate is that over £5,000,000 more. th?n .would normally be the -case has been spent on fresh fruit since" the campaign began, and the trade agrees that sales have increased by 25 per cent.

SEEDLESS RAISINS. The remarkable popularity of this variety is shown by the great increase m Galiforniati production. While the output for all varieties has trebled since 1910, having lumped from RG.OOO tons to 200,000. seedless increased from 9000 tons to 150,000. while muscats actually declined from the pre-war level, and sultanas remained almost station!! ry. Californian growers seem to be much disturbed by the increased competition from Australian raisins, of which the output is also three times the pre-war level. Under the new preferential duties in Canada and the United Kingdom, a great increase is expected in the Australian sales to both countries. Even without the duty the British imports of Australian raisms had risen to about fne-tliird or the total consumption, whereas before the war the Australian fruit imported represented less than one per cent, of the total imports. BRAZIL NUTS. Export figures show the production for 1927 was 10,400 tons, compared with 13,800 tons last year. The threatened shortage ot large nuts early in the shipping season created an unusual demand for all sizes, bringing prices almost up to the level of those prevailing in 1925, when Brazils reached the highest prices on record, lhe quality of the 1927 crop was poor on the average, but the coming crop will probably be larger and better. THE JUTE MARKET. Expectations of a crop of 10,230,000 bales have caused the market to give way a little, but at the lower price the Calcutta mills will probably buy more heavily. Apart from the better demand which always results from lower prices; it is expected the requirements of the world will be greater than usual this year, on account of the very good grain crops in Argentina. Canada and the United States. . EGGS. A sharp fall has taken place since the holidays, due to a pronounced tailing «? in the demand, and no diminution in the supplies. Yesterday retailers had brought, down their price from Is lOd to Is Bd. and the wholesale were asking 13 6d. it is expected the supplies will increase a '"tie for a time if general rain continues throughout the province.

POTATOES. The rain yesterday put a temporary check on digging at Pukekohe, and telephone messages indicated that supplies would oe very small until the weather cleared again.. Cit-v business was resumed on Wednesday with very small stocks, due to merchants not taking the risk of holding any over the holidays. As a fair demand came m at once there was a decided tendency to force up prices, and extreme rates were occasionally paid by those who could not wait. A fair quantity camo in yesterday, based on £lO on trucks at Pukekohe, but it is expected that prices will be rather sensitive until normal quantities are available. A fair amount will be required for the Island steamer, and this makes the position rather difficult, as shippers cannot wait. Low prices quoted m the South for # April delivery m« dicato a good crop in view. ONIONS. Merchants aTe getting through the balance of their Canadian and Australian .onions at late rates, and it, is expected they will be quite ready for the new local crop, ibis should bo available in fair quantities in a week or ten days. OATS AND CHAFF. Both are dull in the South, and the local demand is so quiet that very little interest is being taken in the prospect of selling oats to Australia. Widespread heavy ram is steadily reducing the chances of selling much in tho way of fodder to Australia. WHEAT. Local price is firm at 8s 9d to 9s for fowl wheat, but Southern shippers are apparently more anxious to do business, no doubt owing to the rather large stocks disclosed by the recent census. BEAN AND POLLARD. Large stocks are available, hut some anxiety is being felt regarding the fvlture, as pastures show signs of giving -way .if notrefreshed. with rain. _ The break in the weather this week will be specially welcomed by farmers, for although most parts of the province have had more ram than in the city, the pastures everywhere are still wanting a really good downpour, in order to bring on a good autumn growth. MAIZE. Stocks are low, owing to interruption in arrival of supplies. The market will probably open at ss' 9d to 5s lOd oil the wharf for the first shipment to hand after the t ° lidW '' FUNGUS. Demand for shipment is qui at, owing to the continued. disturbances in China, and the market has also been somewhat weakened by the arrival of rather a large consignment of Island fungjs. This has realised only 7d, as it is not equal to local, but with so much on offer the price of local has given way. and the best that buyers are sivwg is lOd.