TRADE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 9

TRADE OF AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. MANY BUYERS IN THE- SHOPS. REVIEW OF PRODUCE MARKETS, Retail business opened well yesterday after the holiday, the rusti of buyers brought about by the opeuiug of the summer clearance sales on Fiiday having been augmented by a good number of country visitors who remained after the week-end holiday. Drapers report that the sales opened rather better than they expected. The only explanation that is offered is that so many have been away with their families on holiday since Christmas that they now have had to hurry on their buying, particularly in regard to schocl outfits. All. the drapers and clothiers are fsaturing thici department, crowding into a I:cw days tho special buying that was at a standstill while children were at the seaside. Another factor is that the calendar has this year brought on the end-of-seasori sales at a time when the summer weather is still at its height, and this is encouraging continuous sales in all the light and attractive fabrics which are offering in such popular variety this year. Eflect of the Weather. One draper remarked on the numerous! sales in art silk, the material which so eminently suits present day fashions and present day weather, while naturally he reported record sales in bathing costumes. Men's summer attire, on the other hand,, while promising at the beginning of the season to become more iu keeping with a sub-tropical climate, has not continued very distinctive. With comparatively few exceptions the heaviest tweeds and s;erges seem to be just as popular as ever. Wholesale trade depends so much on the position in the country districts that this week is even quieter than it usually is at this time of the year, buying being restricted to a pronounced extent by the prolonged dry weather. The payments on the 20th were for very substantial amounts, as they covered December supplies, which showed very little falling off, but farmers are well aware that payments on February 20 will be well down, and they are already regulating their purchases as far as they can. Activity in Qrass Seed. As the country trade during the coming autumn will probably be almost in the direct ratio of the rainfall, it is interesting to know that while there was a light fall in the city on Monday evening, there was a veritable downpour in the Waikat.o Valley. Passengers from Hamilton by the Limited that evening stated it was raining in torrents at Hamilton and Cambridge during the evening, and that this continued until they were a little past Mercer. However, it will require rai 1 for a couple of days to revive the pastures, and prevent a further fall in the production of butter-fat. Farmers are still anxiously awaiting a really good downpour to bring on their turnips and other root crops for the autumn and winter. Merchants report rather heavy sales ot grass seed, the quantities increasing considerable each day. It is stated that the mixtures ordered indicate that most of these are for permanent pastures on ploughec land, but others are . for surface sor ing on bush clearings. Farmers are ra'her fortunate in being able to purchase their requirements at a reasonable price this year, owing to the merchants having provided themselves with good stocks. Some varieties' are selling this week in Auckland at considerably less than they would now cost to land, English prices having risen on account of the shocking weather experienced during the recent summer in England and the Continent. Some varieties were not harvested at all, owing to the incessant rain at the critical time. It is not yet known how the Canterbury cocksfoot harvest will turn out, but visitors to the South Island who have recently returned state that it rained in that province almost continuously until the second week in January, so the harvest will probably be good, though late. EGGS. The continued dry weather is at last affecting tlio ess supply, which litis fallen off to a marked extent during the last week 01- so. This has hardened the price. The bakers are reputed to be well supplied, and are already working on their pulped stocks, while many householders have a few preserved, which will help to tide them over the time of scarcity. It is expected that when the younjr pullets commence to lay theje will be rather more &gs than usual, for the low price of food in the spring, coupled with a much higher price for ewr§ than usual, encouraged a larger hatching season, and many farmers have increased their flocks. « SAGO AND TAPIOCA. Rather large quantities are selling, rapidly depleting the direct shipment recently landed. The market is fairly easy, and is apparently being: held up in Singapore by somewhat artificial means. SPICES. The latest advices indicate a partial recovery from the recent weakening in pepper, probably due to the comparatively small stocks which will have to suffice until the new crop is available. Nutmegs and mace are a little firmer, after ruling very low. RICE. The market is now lower in. Japan than at any time since 1923. but the prices in New .Zealand are kept fairly free from fluctuations from month to month, owing to the constant importations of dressed rice milled in Australia. These have a tendency to minimise the influence of importations from other sources. SINGAPORE PINEAPPLES. The market is weak, on account of the poor demand from the United Kingdom, and no recovery is expected lor some time. POTATOES. There is a pronounced shortage on the spot, and small diggings have lifted the price at Pukekohe to £l2 on trucks, the price in the city being t£ls to £l6, ex store. Even at that price it is difficult to get good quality, and thera will be no relief until tne Canterbury crip is available, about the middle of March. A RISE IN ONIONS. Inquiries for export had arrested the seasonal fall in onions, and now the price has defiinitely hardened, as a result of nctual bookings. A fair quantity will go to Vancouver by the Aorangi in a fortnight. The price yesterday was £8 to £9 on trucks at Pukekohe, and £lO to £ll ex Auckland store, fairly good stocks he'd having prevented the full advance to a parity with Pukekohe values. OATS. Distinctly firmer in the South, and there is a temporary shortage here. It is impossible to buy a large line until supplies arrive in about a week, and the price will then be on a parity with Southern cost. Meantime, merchants are firm at 4s 7d to 4s 9d, but only small lots nre selling. CHAFF. A pronounced demand has set in for chaff and other fodders for feeding dairy cows. Farmers are also using bran and other meals, with molasses, owing to the exceptional shortage of the pastures, a Sosition which will only be relieved by eavy rain to revive the grass. MAIZE. Firm at Gs on the wharf in wholesale lines, and only small quantities are arriving, unfortunately only of moderate quality. FLAX. Perfect weather has enabled millers to slightly improve the quality lately, but low point and common still predominate in consignments to hand, in marked contrast to the position in the Manawatu. The latest advices make the' London market rather weaker, but not sufficient to prevent regular sales of all the flax coming in at present. POTATOES AND ONIONS. QUOTATIONS AT PUKEKOHE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. I PUKEKOHE, Tuesday. The quotations for patatoes from Pukekohe remain at £ll to £l2 per ton f.o.r. Pukekohe. The volume of business is small, with supplies light. Specially handgraded potatoes, selected quality, coijiniand a premium. Owing to the demand for export to Vancouver, onions have hardened in price, to-day's quotations being £9 10s to £lO 10s per ton f.o.r. Pukekoht.