TRADE OF BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20076, 13 October 1928, Page 11

TRADE OF BRITAIN.

STATISTICS FOR SEPTEMBER. GENERAL DECREASE -SHOWN; Australian and N.Z. Press Association., LONDON, Oct. 11. 1 Tho Board of Trade returns for September show that tho value of imports into tho United Kingdom in September was £87,696,000, a decrease of £13,731,000 compared with September, 1927. Exports were valued at £56,485,000, a decrease of £4,002,000, and re-exports £6,855,000, a decrease of £1,198,000.

The principal decreases were:—lmports: Grain and flour, £2,239,000; food and drink, non-dutiable, £2,768,000; dutiable, £2,375,000; raw, cotton, £2,261,000; ■ rubber, £1,159,000; iron and steel manufactures, £816,000. Exports: Iron and steel manufactures, £1,507,000; cotton '* manufactures, £1,923,000 ;■ coat, £516,000. Increases:—lmports: oils and fats, £875,000. Exports: Vehicles, £2,632,000.

Following is a comparison of the returns for the first nine months of this and last year

Nino months. 1927. 1928. Imports .. £901,891,000 JC885.307.000 Exports . . 518,300.00(1 514.357.000 Be-exports .. 92,749,000 91,550,000 Total exports . Gi1,109,000 G05.907.000 Tho apparent adverse balance of trade is £282,400,000, as compared' with £290,782,000 for tho first nine months of 1927. MARKET REPORTS. FRUIT AND PRODUCE PRICES. New potatoes are corning forward in still larger quantities at the Auckland City Markets. The lower grades are selling at Id to l£d per II). and better grades at to The market is .very heavily supplied with such vegetables as lettuce, cabbage and cauliflower, while almost all others are in good supply. The demand is fair. Prices for cabbage and cauliflower ill particular are lower. Onions are somewhat dearer to sell at 32s to 34s a crate, as against 27s 6d on Tuesday. A small shipment of Canadian apples arrived by the Niagara this week, selling at 16s to 17s a case. No noticeable change has occurred in local apples. Stocks are moving off a little faster. A shipment of Fiji bananas is due by tho Waipahi next Tuesday. Prices for those on the market at present show no alteration. There will not be a shipment of Sydney fruit next week. Pears arc inclined to bo cheaper. No change of note has occurred in the prices of other fruits.

The quality of birds offered at the poultry sales was generally not good. The supply was moderate, with a good demand for table birds. The tendency is for lower prices in the dairy produce section. Supplies of eggs aro large and the demand for cluck eggs especially poor. Supplies of farmers' butter are moderate and the demand fair. FRUIT. Apples, Stunners, best sizes, 8s to 8s 6d ft case; other lines, 6s to 7s; Delicious, 5a to 9s; Dougherty, 5s to 7s; Granny Smifh, lis to 148; Rome Beauty, 7s to 8s; pears, Nelis, repacks, 10s to 15s; Coles, 0s to 10s; P. Barry, 8s to 9a; oranges. Island, repacks, 14s to 18s; special sizes, "20s; Poorman, 6s to 9s; common Sydney, 8a to 10s; Valencias, lis to 12s Gd; Joppas, 8s to 10b; lemons, local, 8a to 14s; special, cured. 16a to 17s; tomatoes, Cook Island, Cs to 8s Cd a box; hothouse, 6d to Is 6d per lb: bananas, repacks, 23s to 265; grapes, Californian, in barrels, white, 18s to 20s; red, 27s to 2Ss; mandarins, 12s to 16s; pines. 24a to 283; passion fruit, 16b to 255; loquats, Gs to 15s. FIELD PRODUCE. Potatoes, Southern, 12s to 133 6d per cwt; new, first quality, 2Jd to 3}d per lb; second quality. Id to. lid; kumaras, 14s to 17s per cwt; onions, 32s to 34s a crate; cabbage, 3a to lis a. sack; on benches, la (o 43 a dozen; cauliflower, 3s to 9s a sack; on benches, 2s to 6a a dozen; ewedea, 2s 6d to 5s a. bag; pumpkins, 15s to 25s per cwt; on benches, 6d to Is Gd each; green peas. 4d to Gd per lb; beans; hothouse. Is to Is Gd; lettuce, 9d to 2s Gd a case; cucumbers. 3s to 7s a dozen: celery. Gd to 2s a bundle; rhubarb, 3s to 5s Gd a dozen; spinach. Is to Is 9d; spring onions, 2d to 8d a bundle; radish, Gd to la a dozen; carrots, parsnips, beet and turjiips, la 3d to 2s; aspafagus, 9d to Is 2d a bundle; leeks, 3d to Gd. POULTRY. Cockerels, heavy, prime, 5a 6d to 73 Gd each; heavy, 4a upwards; light, prime, 4s to ss; light, 3s upwards: fat roosters, heavy, prime, 3s to 4s 3d; light,'2s 6d to 3s; fat hens, heavy, 4s to 5s 6d; light, 2s Gd to .'!a Gd; pullets, heavy, fullgrown, 4s to 5s Gd; light, 4s to 5s Gd; drakes, young, prime, 3s to 4s; old, 2s 3d to 3a; ducks, young, 3s 6d to ss; old, 2s 3d to 3s 6d; turkey hens, 7s to 8s; gobblers, 12s to 14s; dayold chicks. Black Orpington, 7d 1o 8d; Leghorn, 6d to 7d. DAIRY PRODUCE. . Hen eggs, Is 2d a dozen; intermediate size. Is; duck eggs, 11Jd to Is a dozen; fanners' butter, Is Id to Is 3d per lb. GRAIN PRICES IN DUNEDIN. A FIRMING IN WHEAT.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] DUNEDIN, Friday. Thero is now a distinct firming in tho wheat market following on tho decision to continue Distributors, Limited. This is not only so as far as prompt delivery is concerned, but also as regards purchases for delivery next season. During the week millers have entered into contracts to take several thousand sacks of next season's wheat from Otago farmers at 6s on trucks for Tuscan, 6s 2d for Hunters and 6s 6d for Velvet. These prices have been paid for handy railages only. So far as old wheat is concerned, there is practically none - of this cereal offering in this district;. The fowl wheat market also shows a slight firming both- for shipment and for Ihe local demand. Tho shipping quotation is now 5s 9d, f.0.b., sacks extra, and for wheat from Dunedin' store's 5s 10a, sacks extra, can bo obtained. The oat market continues in a stagnant conditiou. The current quotation is 3s lOd, f.0.b., for A grade, and 3s 5d for B grade. Tho high price ruling for potatoes has brought a check in tho demand and housewives are turning their attention to cauliflowers and cabbages, the prices for which are on the low side. The quantity of potatoes now available is very small, but there is only a short period to go before tho new potatoes will bo on tho market. There hfive not been many consignments of chaff arriving on the market. Most of tho business is being done with stocks held in the stores. Bound about. £5 15s, sacks extra, ex truck, can be obtained for tho best quality. CANTERBURY MARKETS. DROP IN POTATO VALUES. [llV TELEGRAPH. —PREPS ASSOCIATION'.] CUHISTCHUttCII. Friday. A decided drop in the prico of potatoes was tho principal feature of the market to-day. To farmers the prico quoted was £9 to £9 10s. with a somewhat sluggish market. Some hold the opinion that prices may recover again, as they believe there is a real short ape. Ihe Wingatui is expected to take UOO sacks from Timarti and 1000 or 5000 sacks from Lyttelton. 'Wheat is firm at latest quotations of r w 8d to 5s 9d to farmers. Fowl wheat ia selling at 5s 9d,. f.o.b. Lyttelton. Oats are reported to be showing signs of movement and sales are reported. A. Cartons are quoted 4s. There is no alteration for B grade, which stand at 3s sd, f.o.b. Tho continued dry weather has mipioved the price for chaff, which is quoted at £3 153 to £4, but little inquiry is reported.