TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 9

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

SEASON'S BRIGHT PROSPECTS

PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW.

Tho wholesale houses have now attended to tho bulk of tho special orders booked forward on August account, and havo settled down to normal trade, in the full expectation that business will bo on an active scale during the coming producing season. Conditions indicate a prosperous year, with production on a high scale, and prices satisfactory. Retailers are gradually closing their winter clearanco sales, and a few days will see some houses finished, ready for opening up new season's goods. Clothing houses are likely to continuo featuring winter goods for a little longer, as the cold weather is still bringing in a good trade in heavy materials. BUILDING MATERIAL. Easier advances seem likely to increase the call for timber during tho coming summer, but so far tho moat noticeable demand ib for bricks and cement for large structures ill tho city. COAL. Tho Waikato mines have been heavily engaged recently in coping with an exceptionally good demand. Household coal has naturally been required in maximum quantity during tho cold wciUher, and orders havo got behind in somo districts. the partial interruption to Newcastle and West Const coal has brought heavier pressure on tho local mines, not only for supplying tho city and province, but also for meeting a larger share than usual of the demand from Wellington and Taranaki. The railways are also using larger quantities of local coal than hefoce, all these intluoncea com bining to keep the mine 3 very busy. fortunately, thoro iias been no shortage of trucks to transport all theso extra quantities, owing to the fact that general merchandise is quieter during tho winter, and tho only unusual tonnage of any magnitude has been the thousands of tons of imported fertilisers which arrived late, on account oi delays in Europe. EASTERN GOODS. Shipments from Calcutta and other ports hro now being made up for the direct steamer, and quantities' in most lines will be increased on account of the loss of so much on tho Sussex. Rangoon rice is an oxcoption, as no importers would care to bring down very much for tho atimmflr. The main requirements in woolpacks for the season will be on board, and they will land at a considerably lower cost than last year on account of the good crops of juto. Small quantities of comsacks will also land cheaper, but more important will be tho largo consignments of cement bags at a lower cost. Sago and tapioca have lately been fluctuating within narrow limits, and normal quantities will be brought down, as there is no indication of a largo move either way. Singapore pineapples are distinctly dearer, on account of the competition among packers having censed, but the advance is hardly enough to affect the sales, so that full Quantities will be wanted. Pepper is hovering on the brink of a reduction that is confidently expected when the new crop is ready, which will be very soon, after a period of record prices largely due to the manipulation of the market in Singapore. Mace and nutmegs are a shade easier, Chinese ginger is much higher, and probably reduced quantities will be imported for

(i few monlliH TEA. At the Colombo sales on Tuesday 2.500,000 !b. were offered. Quality was not oo pronounced as in the previous week, and the market in commons was irregular. Thore was a strong demand for all other irades, and prices advanced, more especially lot teaii showircr good quality. Next week about 2.300.00!!lb. will be offered. DRIED BEANS. The loss of the haricot beans on tho Sussex brought in a keen demand for tho limited stocks available, and also turned more trade to Limas. All have been telling at extremo rates, but Limus are a little easier this week, and it is expected that the coming bean crop in the northern hemisphere will be large enough to bring all quotations down further. DRIED FRUITS. Greek currants are offering at lower rates, but most of the demand still seems likely to go toward the Australian fruits. The same applies to sultanas, but Californian seedless and seeded are sti'l selling well, in >=pito of the rise in the market. SOAP. Anomalies in quotations for laundry eoaps from different manufacturers have been adjusted by an advance of £2 n ton on the part of thoso' who recently reduced their quotations. All makers are now turning out their soaps to a definite uniform size of bar. HARDWARE. Tho only change in business is the increased demand for all kinds of dairy requisites, consequent on the opening of the new season. Ordinary farming materials are quieter again, and building material is not in much request. IRON AND STEEL. Prices keep firm, with a slightly firmer tone, duo to tho improvement in British output. A steady expansion has taken place, without anything sensational. Production has been well maintained, particularly in tho north-ea?t coast, where 42 furnaces arc in blast, compared with 31 at tho beginning of the year. A peculiar development in the business of American steel merchants has been their recent tendency to push European material in their trade with Mexico, South America, the Philippines and tho Far East. Cut out of the trade in American products, owing to the combine, they aro drawing supplies from Germany, Franco and Belgium. EGGS. The unprecedented fall in the market a month ago has been completely arrested. Prices now average about threepence above those ruling at this time last year, whereas a month ago they wcro about sixpence less than at the corresponding period of last year. Supplies during the past few days are a little more plentiful, and yesterday the retail quotations were a shade lower at Is 8d to Is Od for duck eggs and Is 9d Jo Is lOd for hen eggs. POTATOES. Spot, stocks aro very light, and merchants are eagerly awaiting a shipment duo by the, Kaiwarra to-day. The quantity on board-is not largo, and most will be required for immediate orders at £ll to .£ll 10s on the wharf. It ii. not expected that ihere will be any fall in the near future, for the position in the South is very firm, although it is hard to know to what extent that attitude is influenced by tho temporary delay in supplies owing to bad weather. All hope of export to Australia seemß to have been abandoned, but hot oven the growers themselves will know for another month what amount of good quality will be available (or feedinn 'he market until the new crop is ready. A better demand has come in for Reed potatoes, and this must rapidly improve if tho weather keeps fine enough to allow planting to be resumed. ONIONS. A fair quantity of Japanese arrived by tho Maheno, but most went in the execution of forward bookings i»t 17s fid. The quality was about ns cood as might be expected for so early in the season, but several lots look immature, and next shipment should he better Any local that have been carefully stored are readily selling at the same price. Growers were fortunate this year, as tho weathor round Auckland was perfect, for onions during January and Februnry, and they ripened so well that llicv havo stored better than usual. OATS AND CHAFF. Demand is dull, bnt chaff is rather firm at fit) ex store, and there is d better tono in oats, although merchants still quoto 4s fid ex store for B erride. FOWL WHEAT. Tho upward movement continues for later deliveries, and about threepence more is quoted for September shipment. The prowers hold a safe position behind the tariff wall, and local merchants expect to tie forced to ask more very shortly. This week tho quotation is 7? Ed to 7s 8(1. BRAN AND POLLARD. A good demand continues for both Hues, and merchants have arranged for further supplies of pollnrd from Australia. MAIZE. Tho tendency is toward e'ighHy lower prices, as the now grain is offerm a MUo moro freely. Growers at Bay of P' oll ** stations are realising 5s 4d to m Gd on trucks, and any fall from this rate is not likely to be very pronounced. The quotation ex Auckland store is fis od. and a good demand continues. FERTILISERS. Tho beginning of August has brought in tho usual requisitions for spring top-dress-ing, of which good quantities wcro boolted in advance, to await delivery as required. Most of tlmse nre for- super, and they will bo moving out in increasing quantities during tho next few weeks.