TRADE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 11

TRADE OF AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

SOUND COUNTRY ; BUSINESS. PRODUCE MARKETS, REVIEW. The wholesale houses have now cleared up all their special deliveries booked forward on May account. The general report follows earlier indications that country trade has turned out well, whereas city buyers are only operating on a moderate scale. , In the country there is increasing evidence that the fp, ,ners are taking advantage of a good season to improve their properties by more fencing and more shed facilities, but still more by a continuous use of fertilisers on the larger scale which cheap prices first made possible. Reports recently received show that the farmers are satisfied with their policy of heavy fertilising, for reasonable weather conditions have resulted in an immense increase in production, whereas last season the long dry spell did not give top-dressing a fair test.

Retailers still report business rather on the quiet side, speaking generally, but a very fair amount was put through during the long day !<ast Friday, beautiful weather attracting a larger number of buyers than usual to the shopping areas.

Drapery is receiving very satisfactory attention, the cooler weather lately being all in favour of the new season's autumn and winter goods recently opened. Several houses report better business than for the same period of last year, all seasonable lines meeting a good demand, A pronounced feature is the tendency , to • take better quality, rather than cheap goods, and the public are prepared •to pay a fair price, realising that this is more economical in the long run than buying what is commonly called shoddy. There is now only a very small demand for poor quality, and. if the public are not buying quite so often : they are certainly buying better, preferring the quality that will stand. EGGS. The price has recovered in hen eggs, and these are being retailed this week at Bs. Duck eggs, however, reflect the expected increase in supply, and are selling at 2s Cd. CANNED FRUITS. Now that there. are fewer varieties of fresh fruit coming into the' markets, the growers are beginning to receive a better demand for the canned article. As the importers arranged their indents before the recent rise, tlie public will get the benefit of this forward buying for a good part of the winter. The frosts in California occurred only a fortnight ago, bo packers seem undecided how to risk the forward market. One cablegram states that quotations for peaches are suspended until it is known how much damage was done, whereas apricots were at once advanced enough to make the landed cost about Is 9d a dozen higher. Prcbably most damage was caused to plums, prunes, apricots and peaches, and in case this results in such a shortage as to justify the present advances it will enable Australian growers to obtain better prices also. To ha on the safe side some Australian packers have withdrawn quotations in the meantime, but most importers are already covered for a good deal of their likely requirements in Australian fruits, which again this year will be ohiefly peaches. Up to two years ago ( largo quantities of apricots were also imported from Australia, but this fruit has now developed so much in South Africa that the chief importations this year will bo from that country. Pronounced success has again been achieved in the local oanning of pears, and these will apparently meet, most of the demand. In air varieties, however, small iniportations are taking place from California, and these seem likely to dominate prices, even though they pay the highest rate of duty, and Australia pays a bounty on ex-, port. The industry is wonderfully well' organised in California, and during the abnormally cold weather early in February, which seems to have been general all, over the Northern Hemisphere, it was quite a common thing to make fires on the windward side of the citrus orchards. Selling agencies are also well established, and during last year America,n commercial travellers were touring Britain with raisins, prunes, peaches, apricots, figs and rice, mostly in lib. cartons. . DRIED FRUITS. ! Prunes are likely to be seriously damaged by the frosts in California a fortnight ago,and a substantial advance in last season's fruit has been facilitated by the small stocks left in the better qualities. Bulk seeded raisins are not imported into Auckland, but a rise of about 6s per cwt. in San Francisco indicates the present trend of the raisin market, and quotations are all withdrawn in one, two, three and four crown loose muscats. Apparently the fruit market hardened up partly on account of the absence of rain in California during the cold winter, EASTERN GOODS. Lower quotations for desiccated cocoanut are coming through, but the demand is not very brisk. Sheeplarmers will receive the full benefit of an easier cost in woolpacks, for local stocks are practically exhausted, and the new season's will land considerably lower. Advices from India report favourably on the jute crop, due to ample seasonable rains, so cornsacks and woolpacks should all rule low. RUBBER, The market has survived the shock of the enormous quantities released in, November, when the restriction scheme terminated, and prices now seem more stable. Whereas hitherto' the chief outlet ha 3 been for the manufacture of tyres, it is now thought that with the price likely to hold at a low level an immense new use may be found for rubber, in the construction of roads. A con-' ference was recently held to discuss thi3 possibility, when it was stated that considerable success had. been achieved in over-, coming movement and creep, but so far the paving could not be'constructed lit an econ-' omical cost, and vulcanisation in situ had also proved impracticable. In the meantime enormous purchases are being made for America,'to take advantage of the low price brought about by the large quantities released. • IRON AND STEEL.

Prices are well maintained, generally speaking, and importers state that they are able to procure increasing quantities from British manufacturers- The latter are not now troubled so much with competition from foreign countries, cither on the domestic market or for shipment, abroad, and recently some largo contracts have been hooked, in addition to steady orders for _ the larger amount of shipbuilding now_ in progress. Among others were 13 locomotives for South Africa,- 46 super-heated locomotive hoilers for India, 520 bogie waggons for Central Argentine, 81 steam rail-cars for the London and North-Eastern, and a new express locomotive for tho London Midland and Scottish, using steam at the remarkable, prossure of 9001b. a square inch. This is attrading close attention, for tho Insnesi; hitherto used is 2501b. Hardware houses are receiving increased orders for wire, as buyers are getting in their supplies ready for fencing during the win(er, and hero there is a decided preference for British make. POTATOES. The market is fairly firm at X'S ex sto:re for repickod Southern, and this often entails a loss to importer?, as a large proportion of recent consignments has arrived in very indifferent condition. There is no difficulty in getting ample supplies, and the Waipiata will be discharging another shipment toward tho end of the week. Southern shippers aro very firm in their quotations, evidently influenced by the farmers, for the latter are apparently still hoping that Australian restrictions will bo eventually relaxed. So far, however, it is understood that all that have gone acrofs are for transhipment, and that none can bo landed in the Commonwealth. Local potatoes are still available in fairly good quantities in Pukekoho and neighbourhood, and these aie being utilised for rail orders, to save freight. ONIONS. Most of the trade is now being supplied in Southern, at £9 10s to £10,,.as the Pukekohe quotation is £9 on trucks, which does not permit of business at present. However, the growers have the balance of their crop safely under cover, and this will quite possibly be wanted between the time Canterbury supplies are exhausted and tho first of tho Japanese arrive. Meantime stocks in the South are beinK:drawn upon for direct shipment to Australia, thus finding an outlet for tho good crop, although the returns are not particularly attractive. OATS AND CHAFF, Prices of oats and chaff are unchanged at 4s 5d and £9 10s respectively, ex store, but the difficulty over supplies of Southern chaff is no v oyer, aa the shipments delayed by bad weather are being rapidly overtaken. During the past week some consign-ments-have arrived which were ordered for February shipment, but the farmers were first delayed by bad weather at harvest, and then tho cutting was similarly held! up.

Demand is not at ell brisk, and present indications point to feed oaia and chaff being in excessive supply for the wllole year, unless an export demand can be found. WHEAT AND FLOUR. , Prices are well maintained by the sliding scale of duty, j but growers appear rather anxious to place their holdings. This may .slightly ease prices later, but at present there is no weakness, and' fowl wheat continues to sell in small lots locally at 7s 9d ex store. BRAN AND POLLARD. ~ The position is unchanged, with pollard regularly imported to make r up for the local deficiency. Demand promiaies to continue etrogg during the winter, as large quantities "will bo .required for ■ pigs and poultry, particularly the former. MAIZE. Stocks have run so low at the Bay of Plenty that any small parcels available are being utilised for consigning inland by rail. City trade is being met by importations from Gisborne, and the price is firm at 6s 9d ex store. SEEDS AND FERTILISERS. The grass seed trade is over for the season, but large quantities of top-dressing fertilisers are being sent out from tho mills, consisting chiefly ot Super.