TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 9

TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

BRIGHT BUSINESS PROSPECTS. PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. The wholcsulo houses liavo been very busy with .ill their forward orders ,011 December account. It is quite time these came in, for it is generally estimated that retailers are working on only moderate stocks, and these must bo replenished well in advance of Christmas. City retail trade witnessed tho activity expected last Friday, perfect weather encouraging large numbers of suburban and city residents into the shopping areas. The drapors are displaying all their new goods in festive style, while toys and fancy goods are offering at attractive rates. Particularly noticeable is the strong typo of toys received this season from British manufacturers, but importers have had their usual experience in having to go to Continental makers for cheap lines. Provision houses are now in a better position to offer a wider selection of Christmas goods, as now shipments have arrived from Australia, and several parcels of new season's Cnlifornian fruits will be landed during the week.

Reports from the country, through the commercial travellers, are very cheerful as to the trade already offering and in view. Farmers who were in tho city on Monday for the wool sale confirm the optimistic outlook, which has been made still brighter by the rain this week. With a record output in sight, and good prices obtainable for lambs, beef, butter and cheese, business with tho country ought certainly to bo good, and the prospects have vastly improved since.the wool sales showed tho market to bo in such a strong position. POTATOES. Larger supplies of new potatoes are coming in. "»d the Quality is steadily i 111 pro* iu;;. The price is down to £l4 at I'uka* Kohe, but several districts are now in 4 position to suppJy, it hcojub likely ine price will continue to fall. The recent rain is expected to do an immeiiso amount cf eood to llio later crops, as tbey were becoming a little dry. OX lONS. Canadinn end American aro dull of pa!e ut 35s a case, tho high price discouraging consumption. However, retailers are not taking full advantage of the present cost, us most o( them bought a fair quantity to arrive, before tho price went up, and they are in a position to sell at a more moderate figure than the present cost would domnild. Australian new season's arrived by the Kairanga and aro selling at 22s Gd, but (is they aro tho Globe variety, not a pood keeper, buyers are taking only what they require for immediate delivery. Sales aro further restricted by the low prices ruling for the plentiful supply of all vesetables now coming on the market. WHEAT. Southern shippers are quoting fowl wheatat an easier rate for prompt delivery, but sre inclined to ask more for DecemberJanuary. This is causing some surprise, for the world position of this grain doe 3 not point to any strength. BRAN AND POLLARD. Both aro in rather dull inquiry, d,u« to abundant pastures, and the rain on Monday will remove any unxiefy a_B to this condition remaining for some time. Farmer* state the rain was wanted, and it came in time to catch the grass at tho flush, tfaut preventing any falling away in milk production. At this time last year tho pauture« wero already beginning to give way. OATS AND CHAFP. A fair nmount of business is posainfr, the chief' demand lately coming from country districts, where a good deal of work in going on. Quotations nrc unchanged at if 8d an 1 £0 10s respectively. MAKE. Larger shipments have arrived, but a good demand continues at 6s 6d ex store. Soveral nice samples from Gisborne have opened up, hut some of tho coastal parcels are hardly of the quality the senders describe, and are not being very eagerly sought for seed. However, most of tho seed demand is now over, and thero will be eufiicicnt for the remaining orders. FERTILISERS. Very few orders aro coming for immediate delivery, as the Quantity required for swedes is now very small, tho popular demand being for top-dressing. Tho 7s <3d reduction for delivery of super from December to February has brought in very heavy bookings, and it is noticeable that since February bookings were filled most, farmers have stipulated late Janunry delivery, with the evident intention of autumn top-dressing. A good mauy are willing to take delivery in December, mostly to use after haymaking, and tho break in tho weather this week is expected to encourage more farmers to treat their land in that way. A goon crop of hay should bo gathered this year. FLAX. The London market retains the improved tone already noted, and all arrivals from the mills are readily taken for shipment at the slightly better prices quoted. Porfect weather has helped the mills lately, and larger quantities continuo to arrive, but millers would welcome a more substantial advance in the price. MARKET REPORTS. FRUIT AND PRODUCE PRICES. Most varieties of summer fruit nrc coming forward in increasingly largo quantities at the Auckland City Markets and at yesterday's salo met with a fair demand. No improvement was shown in apples and pears, which have been hard (a soil recently, prices remaining at the level of previous saies. Gooseberries also were unchanged, while the price of oranges showed no alteration. A fresh shipment of citrus fruit from Sydney arrived yestorday by the Ulimaroa and will bo sold to-morrow. Larger supplies of strawberries came forward, the price receding from Is 8d to Is 3d for the choicest fruit. An increased quantity of hotliotiso tomatoes was offered and met with a good demand, prices showing no change compared with Friday's sale. In the field produce soetion tho market was heavily supplied with cabbage, cauliflower and green peas, the keen demand keeping the prices at recent rates. New potatoes wero temporarily scarce, on account of the rain, and showed an average rise of 2s a bag. Rhubarb also realised an advance on the last salo price, while both broad and French boans showed a marked drop all round. All root vegetables were plentiful. Thero was only ono chango in dairy produce prices, duck eggs receding Id a dozen. Tho following prices were realised yestorday : FRUIT

Apple?, Sturniers. (is to 8s a case-, Delicious, 5s to 8a; Dougherty, os OH to (is; Cranny "Smith, 8s to 9s: Canadian Delicious,, lGs to ISs: Canadian Jonathan, IGs to 18s. Penis, Nelis, repacked, Cb to Os; Coles, repacked, 4s to (is; P. Parry, repacked, to ss, Oranges, Island, 21s: Sydney Valencias, Us to 15s; lemons. Oh to lis, tomatoes, hothouse, first grade lid to Is Id: second grade, !)rj to lOd; others, 4d to 7d; bananas •52s fid to 28a; strawberries, 10d to Is 3*l a chip; pineapples 15s a case; loan at*. 4s to 7s; gooseberries, 5s lid to Gs Gd: cherries. Grey town B<* (id to 10s FIELD PRODUCE

Potatoes, new, (is to Ps a liiß: onions. 2Gs to 28a a crate; Itumaras, Ma to IGs pes cwt,; cabbage, 2s 'o Gs a sack; on benches. Is to 2b Gd a dozen; cauliflower, 3s to 0a a sack; on benches Is to 4s a dozen; pumpkins. 10s to Ms per cwt; on benches, '<>» to .Is 0(1 each; preen peas, fis to 7s a bag; French beans. 8d to Is per lb; broad beans, 2d to 2id; lettuce, la (,'d to 5s a caso; cucumbers, hothouse, Cs to 8m a dozen; outdoor, oa to lis; vegetables marrows, 2s to fis (Id; rhubarb, 13 Gd to (is a dozen bundles; spinach, Gd to 9d; spring onions. 4d to la; radish, (id to Od; carrots, parsnips, beot and turnips, la fld* to Is 8d: asparagus. 5d to lOd a bundle; leeks, 4d to 7d. DAIRY PRODUCE. lien eggs, Is Id to Is 2d a dozen- intermediate size, lid to Is. Duck eggs, Tod to Is; Farmors' butter, Is Id to Is ad per lb.