TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20419, 22 November 1929, Page 9

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

BUSIER SHOPPING. PERIOD. PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. The wholesale houses have been busy all tho week in preparing orders for delivery on next month's account. The general report is that country business is of good volume, but larger orders seemed warranted by the good season that has commenced, and it is assumed that a good many country retailers have decided to delay ordering until a little closer to tho festive season. By that time will bo ablo to have tho latest arrivals from overseas included.

In city trade the forward booking is now down to relatively small dimensions, for retailers find no occasion to s.tock heavily when several travellers wait on them every day. So far, the orders for delivery next week aro of the usual character, small quantities of a multitude of lines

Perfect weather during the week has coincided with tho loading of several vessels for overseas and immense quantities of produce have been put on board with none of tho interruptions which caused such inconvenience last week. Present indications point to November being a. very heavy export month, a noticeable feature being the large consignments of butter to Canada. There will still be a good many vessels loading during the rest of the week

Retailors have had' the advantage of move attractive weather to bring buyers into tho shopping areas and the rise in Ihe temperature lias caused more attention to l)e given to the light summer fabrics which were neglected last week. Fancy goods houses are beginning to receive a little more patronage as a great many presents have to be bought before Christmas, but even they have noticed that there is an increasing tendency to bujs useful presents, rather than the largely ornamental ones which were supposed to be almost compulsory in earlier years. Leather goods of various kinds are a popular choice and these are a little cheaper this year. Provision houses are now decidedly busy in the wholesale, the new season's fruits receiving prompt attention as each line comes to hand. One noticeable change lately has been the reduced sales in Christmas hams, owing to a larger proportion of (he large firms going direct to the curing factories for their requirements. DRIED FRUITS. Every year a larger proportion of the population is accustomed to Southern Hemisphere conditions and this spells the gradual disappearance of the Christmas plum pudding which for generations has been associated with the festive season. Importers have mot this with. relatively smaller indents each year, but this year the reduction seems to be more pronounced than usual, although the total change will not be known until the official figures are gazetted. However, all that arrive must be handled at once, as they are already later than usual in many varieties. MEDITERRANEAN FRUITS. The Kairanga will commence discharging the first of the Levant fruits to-day, but some inconvenience will be caused by these consignments being subject to a general average deposit. If everything is on board according to advices there will be prompt delivery of Malaga muscatels, Greek currants, Smyrna sultanas and Turkish figs. A few of the new season's forward almonds are already here, alao Barcelona and Brazil nuts, and further quantities may be on board, but new season's dates are not likely to arrive until close on Christmas. Sicily almonds have been fluctuating a good deal and are now a little cheaper. AMERICAN FRUITS. Californian golden bleached raisins in bulk are to hand and have opened up 111 fine quality, so that they will sell against Smyrna sultanas. Prunes are here and more arc to arrive. DRIED BEANS. The demand has fallen off a good deal, but fair quantities of Lima are still selling. The price is high, but, easier rates will rule when the new crop is available. PEAS. Importers are working on stocks of Canadian canned, but the _next arrivals will be much dearer, and this will help the sale of local, the canning of which will commence shortly. EASTERN GOODS. The usual indents are going forward for the next, direct steamer to load in Calcutta and Singapore very shortly. Singapore pineapples will require to be heavily imported again, for they have sold well lately, and the summer demand is always good, even when local fruit is plentiful. Pepper has been a disappointing line, for everything pointed to importers being able to get in at a lower price by now, whereas the market j has held unexpectedly firm. Jute goods are quoted at low rates, although the final estimate of the Indian . Government puts the crop at 9.760,000 bales, compared with an estimated world consumption of 11,202,000 bales. Sago and tapioca show very little change and only moderate quantities will come by the direct steamer. _ _ ■ Chinese preserved ginger is lower for forward. shipment. TEA. At the Colombo auctions last Tuesday the catalogues comprised 2,250,0001b. The quality generally was poor and prices declined. Commons were down two to four cents and low mediums three to fivo cents, while good mediums were steady at late rates. Good grades were a little dearer.

EGGS. Prices are unchanged at Is 2d retail for hen eggs and Is Id for duck eggs. The final packing for export for the season has now been completed. POTATOES. Old are steadily working down and the market is weak at 8s 3d to 8s 6d ex Btore, with very few buyers taking any interest in the line. New have been dug in much larger quantities during the fino weather this week and growers are now getting only £9 5s to £9 10s on trucks at country stations. The quality has improved so much that merchants do not hesitate to stock heavily and the present cost allows them to sell at lis fid ex store. ONIONS. Canadian are plentiful, hut the demand has fallen off a good deal, possibly on account of the condition not. turning out as well as usual." Distributors are buying very sparingly and the price is weak at 17s in bags and 18s in crates. OATS AND CHAFF. Business is very quiet owing to the exceptionally good state of the pastures and the fact that not much contracting work is going on at present. Any small sales are being booked at 4s 8d to 4s 9d for B grade ontß and £ll 10s for best. Southern chaff. Tasmanian chaff is comparatively neglected. WHEAT. Fowl wheat is in fair demand at 7s 9d and very good samples have come to hand lately. BRAN AND POLLARD. Millers are better ablo to meet the demand now that pastures are in such good order, but merchants are relieving the pressure on the local mills by importing a littlo of each from the South, for which they are asking 10s 3d and 10s 9d respectively. MAIZE. The demand is easing off and supplies are equal to requirements at 6s 6d ex store. Seed maize is still selling, but. Hickory King is no longer procurable, and farmers are taking yollow seed, the best samples of which are quoted at Bs. FODDER SEEDS. Most of the demand has apparently been satisfied in rape and soft turnips, but Japnneso millot is still selling. Swedes are not yet in much demand, but the main sales will take place next month. FERTILISERS Good orders are coming in, but very few are for immediate delivery, most farmers preferring to book for delivery from January onwards, Super is receiving most attention, but there is a fairly active demand for basic slag and North Afrioan phosphate for later delivery. FLAX. Tho advance of the season is enabling millers to . turn cut larger quantities, although drying has been delayed by the broken weather. There is no improvement ■ in the markets overseas, -the financial disturbance making business most difficult in New York, and this condition is apparently reflected ill London. Lower prices will have to be accepted for the present.