TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 7

TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

WINTER CLEARANCE SALES

PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW

The combined influence of the Auckland Winter Exhibition and brilliant weather last week brought an unusually large number of visitors into tho city and retail business was specially brisk on Friday. All departments are now featuring special prices for the winter clearance sales, which are receiving good patronage. While drapery always holds first [dace during the special sales a feature this year is the large number of jewellers also offering reduced prices. The lonic has arrived with a large general cargo from London, and some of it is being opened at once. However, the cargo consists largely of new season's goods which are not required until after the sales.

A general shipment by tho Iluruntii has also proved very useful, for importers have been keeping their stocks rather low in many lines, tho present policy being to depend on regular arrivals at short intervals. Most importers have standing arrangements to cablo for any in gent requirements, and this facility will be utilised later on, if the spring trade shows the improvement that is expected. Island traders are busy with tho unloading and loading of the Tofua this week, but otherwise tho wholesale houses are rather quiet again. A good many in the wholesale and retail always take advantage of tho slack winter season to get through their stocktaking. EASTERN GOODS. Several lines ure quoted at easier rates, notably Indian castor oil. which will bo coming on tho nest direct steamer, to load this month. An unusual weakening has taken placo in sago and tapioca lately, bringing both these products down to n record level for recent timeß, and there is no indication that bedrock has yet been reached. Tho public is going to be well served during tho coming summer at exceptionally low prices. Singapoio canned pineapples are also very low, and this is expected to bring heavier sales, so large quantities are being ordered. It is not expected, however, that even the low cost from Singapore will interfere with tho moderate trado usually done in Fiii and llawau packing. SPICES.

Importers are hesitation about taking full advantage of the high prices ruling in pepper, which is at a record high level lor modern times, as they are looking forward lo easier rates when tho new crop is in. This mav not be in' time for the first direct steamer, so importations by that vessel will be light, as any extra freight via Australia after the new crop has brought down the price will be more than compensated foi by the expected fall. All kinds of ginger are also being quoted at high rates, but tho demand is auieter now. and importations arc slackening off. Locally packed preserved ginger is now receiving a larger share of tho trade. Maco and cinnamon arc a little easier. COCOA. Low prices for tho raw product from all sources are apparently beginning to inikience manufacturers, and it will not ne surprising to find a reaction in the general imco leveU ASBESTOS.

A virtual monopoly of asbestos production and in tho United Kingdom has been obtained by the meigei of tho two largo companies in Lancashire and Lonßon which own or control a number of important firms in the asbestos and allied trades. Another interesting feature of the amalgamation is tho fact that it brings together two of the leading automobilo brake-lining manufacturers in BEEF.

A report of the United States Department, of Agriculture states that while fewer cattlo were imported during the first Quarter of this year than in tho corresponding pefiod of 1928. more beet was imported. Tho report suggests that tho prospects are that beef will continue to arrive from Canada. New Zealand and Argentina. Cunada now supplies more live cattle than any other country, but New Zealund has displaced that great Dominion as tho chief source of supplies in beef and veal. Another noticeablo change is that Canada now sends moro cattle and beef to tho Lnitcd States than to Great Britain. EGGS. f Another Bharp fall in the price has taken place and this week the wholesale rate has dropped to Is 4d and Is sd. Tho lowest retail price is Is fid, but many houses are not yet in a position lo go down so low, and have been selling at varying prices up to about Is lOd.

POTATOES. Stocks are short on the spot, ns the Katosv brought only about 3000 Barks, and a few hundred sacks were for need. 1 lie price is a little firmer at £8 10s ox b ore and this is expected to hold for the shipment duo by the Wnipinta on Friday, as the local market will bo almost bare by tlion. Southern shippers have a very .high opinion of the market, but that attitude is not shared by Auckland merchants, who aro not operating nt all heavily. Seed potatoes arc meeting an improved demand, but thero is a shortage of tho early red varieties, and some nro unprocurable. Tho local preference is for white potatoes. ONIONS.

Only a few Southern are now left and they aro selling at £l2, after repickin*. Very few Pukckohe onions are now obtainable und they mostly reauiro repicking, when they command £l3. A few crates of Japanese are landing from tho Ulimuroa, the first of the new season's crop, but. they aro all Bold to arrive, so that none will appear on tho open market. Tho price is 17a Gd a cralo of ono cwt. net. OATS.

Slow of salo at 4s 6d ex storo for B urn do and tho Southern market is a littlo easier again. However, the feature in recent. quotations is the small difference o£ only ono penny between A and B grade, tho former boing apparently in good supply this year, owing to the favourable weather in Southland at harvest time. CHAFF. Supplies aro boing drawn from tho other end of the South Island, chiefly Marlborough und North Canterbury, where harvesting took place much earlier under unfavourable weather conditions. This is causing n great deal of trouble in securing really bright samples and tho market is firm for these at £9 10s to £9 15s ex store, with cvory probability that future deliveries will liavo to bo at £lO. Rather heavy supplies of ungraded sinnoles nro also arriving, but they aro not going through the ordinary channels of trade, and they Beem likely to causo somo disappointment. WHEAT. Fowl wheat i 3 selling well at 7s fid to 7s 7d ex store, with the forward market weakened by rather heavy offerings. BRAN AND POLLARD. Tho position is unchanged, with good sales in each line, and pollard so scarce that regular importations from Australia have been arranged. CALF MEALS. An improved demand is coming in for linseed and all tho special calf food preparations, but the usual instructions are to deliver early in August. FLOUR. Normal deliveries aro taking place, with prices kept steady by the sliding rate of duty on imported wheat and Hour. MAIZE. New grain is coming along, somo of it in perfect condition. Other samples aro too new and they liavo to bo pushed off at ft lower rnto to those who can uso them at once. . Tho general quotation for standard quality is 7s !id for old and 6s 9d for now, ex store, with a vory fair demand. FERTILISERS. Most farmers are delaying ncceptnnco of any more super until tho weather clears sufficiently for the usual spring top-dress-ing. Ono shipment this week will be delivered at once, when the King Gruffydd arrives with basio slag and North African phosphate. This is nil sold to arrive. NEW ZEALAND APPLES.

SHIPMENT TO ROTTERDAM

Australian and N.Z. Press Association. ROTTERDAM, July 8

Twenty thousnnd cases of Now Zealand apples have reached. Rotterdam. Thoy are in excellent demand at 14s to 17a per case.