TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20228, 12 April 1929, Page 9

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL,

GOOD BUSINESS CONTINUES.

PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. The week's trade is reported as good in most departments, although lacking the rush to obtain supplies which the wholesale houses experienced last week. A quieter period is to be expected for another week, but in the meantime a very solid trade with the country districts continues. Imports have been more heavy lately in anticipation of better trade. For some time there has been a pronounced tendency to frame indents on a smaller scale and this has, speaking generally, resulted in greatly diminished stocks.

EASTERN MERCHANDISE. Orders for the direct steamer leaving this week have now been completed. They are again on a substantial scale, as heavy inroads have been made into the stock 3 left over from the previous shipment. Sago and tapioca have had to ba ordered in good quantity, and some houses are expecting that they will not be able to wait and will havw to draw supplementary supplies from Australia. Spires have also been ordered rather heavily, the demand lately being very active, largely owing to thg pickling and sauce Reason Pepper has been fluctuating in price a goo< deal lately, and is now firmer. Singapore pineapples have been at such attractive rates as to induce liberal orders, and they are evidently going to figure very freely in the winter's trade, as the Fiji importations will not go very far. TEA. After closing for the Enster holidays the Colombo sales were resumed ou Tuesday when the catalogues comprised about 4,000,0001b, nearly double the normal quantity. Although thr qualitv showed a sligV falling oil, tiiere was a strong demand, for this excessive quantity. All descriptions were extremely strong except leuf.v_ grade" which are not of much interest to New Ze—land. Commonest and medium were firm at lato rates, and finer grades wee fairly steady. The pronounced feature of the sale was the sustained demand for the cheaper grades. Next week 3,250 OOOlb will bo offered, and it is stated that already heavy buyius orders are in. AUSTRALIAN FRUITS. The first shipment o c new season's drid fruit, landed this week from the Kaiapoi. opened up in prime condition. Heavy sales have .already been made, induced by ) the quality and the attractive price. Three Crown sultanas are in bright condition, and are selling at about lid less than last year, so that they are now no more expensive than currants. A feature o' the demand is the heavy inquiry for quality, and many buyers have preferred to pay the extra to get Four Crown in each variety. The New Zealand orders were shipped at a lower price than is ruling in Australia, and consumers will get the benefit of this difference throughout tho winter. Large stocks of Californian raisius of various kinds are still held in Auckland and are offering at low rates, but the price does not seem to disorganise the trade in the Australian sultanas.

CANNED FRUITS. Several varieties of new season's canned Australian fruits have also arrived. By far the heaviest line is peaches. which are again very cheap this year A few apricots have come to hand, hut they are meeting strong competition in the South African canning, and South African dried are also to hand in prime quality at an attractive price. Only a tew Australian pears have been ordered by importers (his year The local canning was known to he again pood and cheap, and doubtless it will again supply the bulk of the trade. EGGS. The price remains nominally unchanged n.t '2s 9d retail, but supplies are being keenly competed for, and sjme houses have to ask another penny or two. POTATOES. Fairly heavy supplies are now to hand from Canterbury, apparently quite sufficient for thc> demand. Unfortunately the qualitv does not show nil the improvement that was expected, and several parcels were far from period so they required to be picked over. Southern are meeting unexpected opposition front local supplies, whereas it was understood that these were about exhausted. Since the holidays digging has been resumed and much better quality are now showing than were on offer a fortnight nco. Increased quantities are offering at £7 on trucks at I'ukekohe. They are proving very convenient for rail orders, but orders ex store aro mostly supplied ill southerr, which are quoted at £8 10s to £9 for the best. A firmer tone has developed in the South Island, probnbly due to an inquiry from Australia since the sharp rise occasioned by the floods in Tas mania. No word has yet arrived as to whether, there will be a removal of the import restrictions in Australia which have so for made shipments from the Dominium impossible. ' ONIONS. Stocks aro firmly held, and southern shippers aro asking increased prices for later delivery. The local price has jumped to £ 10 ex store, and a cood demand continues. Quotations arrived from California this week for September to November delivery at about equal to last year's rates, but these are not' creating much interest here

oats Local merchants are tilling small orders at 4s od. but there is a feelinn that a rise of a penny will develop soon. It appears that a regular export trade to the United Kingdom is not workable, even at the lower rite ol freight. CHAFF

After several interruptions occasioned by the bad weather in Canterbury, supplies are now likely to arrive moie regularly, aud the price is unchanged at X 9 10s. WHEAT.

The price is steady. Conflicting estimates regarding the yield are not disturbing tho market very much, as the growers hold a safe position behind a strong tariff wall. Fowl wheat is telling well at 7s 9d, ex stora. FLOUR. Much in tho same position, and with a customs tariff designed to prevent either a rise or a fall the bakerr are quietly taking normal deliveries. BRAN AND POLLARD.

Both are potting into small compass and merchants have sect to Australia for niori pollard. It is not yet known if brun also will require to be imported. maize.

A firmer tone in Gisborne has established a, rise of one penny for immediate deliver", and threepence for forward. Local quotation is a shade , firmer at Ha lid to tiß Sd ex store, but this will probably rise, as the demand always increases as tlio weather boconies colder. SI3EDS AND FERTILISERS.

The demand for grass seed is now dwindling ami it is unlikely that any large areas nro still to be sown Farmers have had an exceptionally fortunate season for sowing this year, with just enough lain to bring on their seed to perfection, and it is reported that tho new grass is already looking very well. Fertilisers are moving off well, as there, is still a great deal of autumn top-dressing to be done, and (lie only disappointment is tho delay in the arrival of imported lines from Europe. Local fertilisers aro in brisk demand.

LATE QUEENSLAND DROUGHT

BENEFIT OF RECENT I? A INS. After a series -of hardships extending over four years, the breaking of the drought in central-west Queensland will afford much relief to those engaged in pastoral pursuits, says the Melbourne Argus. During the drought losses of stock have been heavy, and companies operating in the areas concerned have had to face heavy deficits on their trading. This, in turn, has been a misfortune for the State, as the production of wool and the export of meat lias been affected. Pastoralisls have tended the remaining flocks and herds in tho hope that conditions would improve but they have had to wait for a considerable period beforo their hopes were realised. While the rains will promote rapid growth of the pastures it will be some tiino before the runs can be restocked. Not only will the pastures have to be given the opportunity to bo restored completely, but the process of restocking will probably have to bo gradual. Larger companies may have*sufficient funds to enable this to be done relatively quickly, but the unfortunate graziers whose funds have been reduced largely will not bo in a position to obtain sheep and cattle as soon as they would wish. To those who have suffered severely from the drought financial assistance will, no doubt, bo forthcoming for the purchase of sheep and cattle to replace their losses.