TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 7

TRADE IN AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. SUMMER CLEARANCE SALES. PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. Retailers had all the conditions favourable for good , business on the long day last Friday, and the shopping areas were patronised by largo bodies of buyers. Prominent among the buyers were schoolchildren making their last purchases before returning to school this week. A great many had only just returned to the city from their holidays and their varied requirements had to be met in one day's shopping. This week has also opened well, in spito of a noticeable absence of children in the shops. The advent of the warmest weather of the summer season is attracting attention to light clothing, and buyers are in the fortunate position of being able to make their selection while Iho summer clearance sales at reduced prices are in progress. Nearly all departments are now featuring lower prices, and this is attracting a good deal of extra business.

Tho wholesale houses are putting through a normal amount of business. There is a regular call for tho wants of those city retailers who depend upon buying comparatively small quantities from week to week, while the country orders maintain much of their former characteristics, namely, laiger quantities at longer intervals. Commercial travellers who have returned from the country districts report a fairly optimistic tone prevailing. A substantial increase in the output of dairy produce has resulted from the exceptionally wet season, and this will almost meet the deficit that would otherwise liavo resulted from tho lower prices ruling this year. Hardware houses are only moderately busy. All (lie special requirements for dairying and cropping have now been ' met, and it will be a few months before i dairying has slackened off sufficiently to ] allow farmers to undertake the improve- , incuts and other activities which bring in a demand for fencing and building 1 materials during tell lato autumn and the ; winter. In most departments a good deal of , rutting was going on even before the special summer sales began, so that the general public is now well served in the matter of prices. EASTERN GOODS. Although the direct steamer does not leave Calcutta until next month, a gopd deal ot buying has already taken place 111 Indian and oilier Kastern goods as importers aro reluctant to take the risk of finding all tho space reserved. A large proportion of the cargo will probably be Rangoon rice. ; us tho vessel will not arrive until early in Mny and by that time there will be no risk of weevil developing. During the winter there is always a good demand for this grade of rice on account of its lower price in comparison with Australian dressed. Latest, advices show tapioca unchanged, with siigo fluctuating only a tew pence, so that both lines will be indented in full quantity. Pepper is down a little and mace is also lower: Desiccated cocoanut is exceptionally low just now, making it an economical ingredient for cooking, and importers are arranging for good quantities to meet the special demand. Singapore pineapples have come down so much that thev can now bo landed at less than, pre-war cost, one of the very few products in that position. It is not clear what has brought about this fall, for it •was understood some months ago that the canners were going to hold out for full rates this year. However, the substantial reduction is all in favour of local consumers, and a good sale iB expected to continue. Cocoa beans are down a little, like so many Eastern and Island products, and this is .reducing the cost of several by-pro- | ducts. Kapok lias been fluctuating a good deal lately, apparently owing to powerful interests, and the latest move is upwards. There was a shortage of 10 per cent, in the crop, but the financial chaos in America is doubtless responsible for this being ineufT.cieiu lo ensure a high price. SUGAR. Householders arc well served with sugar nt :i cheap price this year, and large quantities are being bought for the preserving season, us most varieties of fruit are plentiful and cheap. The month of February is the most active in this respect, and the hardware houses report heavy sales in jars for packing plums, peaches, nectarines, pears and apples. The local glassworks are capable of supplying nil requirements in jars, but a few special makes have been imported in moderate quantities. GINGER. The period of maximum demand is near at hand, as large quantities will be wanted for the preserving and pickling season. Prices for all descriptions arc rather high at present. "WALNUTS. Although the demand is not at its highest just now, recent arrivals of Chinese tire moving off fairly well. A steady demand is coining in for halves as they are so convenient for baking, and they ore selling nt reasonable rates. ALMONDS. Bakers are also buying ground almonds very freely, as this ingredient is offering at low rules, following upon an exceptionally easy market in the whole almonds this year. DATES CHEAP THIS YEAR. Low prices are responsible for a good demand being maintained even in the off season; Largo quantities are being used for cooking, and this fruit is more popular than ever for dessert now that they ore obtainable in the loose pack recently adopted. Retailers tire taking advantngo of the present, low quotations to tako good quantities for the regular demand expected. PAINT OILS. The market is considerably easier in linseed oil, white lead and turpentine, making this season a favourable lime for painting. EGGS. Tho steady increase in tho price during the past_ fortnight, due to tho falling oif in supplies, has now caused tho retailers to adjust their rales in accordanco with tho wholesale cost. This week they are asking Is lOd for best hen eggs, based on the wholesale at Is Bd. and they are selling duck eggs at Is Sd. POTATOES. ■ Heavy supplies havo prevented any further recovery in tho price, tind merchants aro able lo quote £5 5s on trucks at Pukokohe, or Gs lid ex Auckland store. Digging is proceeding at a great rate in all tho potato districts round Auckland, especially since the weather improved, and a very heavy crop is being obtained. The most fortunate feature ia the comparative absence of blight, even after all tho wet and misty weather, but some samples are affected, and this makes buyers careful in taking delivery. ONIONS. Imported aro all gone, but local new season's arc so plentiful that, tho price is down to 7s ex store. A good crop is being gathered, but growers will need to dry them well, as this year they are unusually wet. Very often* tho necks are soaking with water, and damago ia suro to follow if tney aro sent to market without being perfectly dried before bagging Fortunately the weather has cleared up in time for thiß to bo done, so that no more should bo arriving in poor condition. Recent quotations from Canterbury bitggest that, a very good crop will also ho gathered in that province. In addition to the large supplies of potatoes and onions flooding tho markets this seaspu, it must be borno in mind that tho consumptive buying is now at its lowest ebb. This is due to so many households having all they require in their own gardens to last for two or threo months, so that they aro buying nono at. nil at present. Ail other vegetables except tomatoes are also exceptionally plentiful this year, and there is not, tho usual demand for potatoes and onions at tho markets when private gardens aro full of peas, boans, carrots, parsnips, leeks, cabbages and lettuces to an extent that has probably never been known beforo in Auckland during tho month of February. It will take a long time to exhaust theso this year, so that growers must expect low prices for potatoes and onions unles3 they can storo them. NEW SEASON'S OATS. A few very small lots of new season's grain have now come to hand, and the opening prico shows an advance of about sovenpenco on that of last year, it is not expected that there will be much reduction as tho season advances, if any, for the crop is not a large one, and llio carry-over from last. Beason is almost negligible. Old season'B grain is firm at 4s lid to ss, ex store, with local stocks exceptionally small.

NEW SEASON'S CHAFF. Tho first shipment of new season's chaff is now discharging, and this is selling in a hare market at £lO 10s. However, many buyers prefer td take old season's on account of its condition, and as a little Taamanian arrived by the Kartigi which importers are also able to Hell at £lO 10s, this is also receiving a fair demand. Being oaten chaff, it is accepted more readily than the wheaten chaff often obtained from Australia. WHEAT. Local merchants are still quoting 7s lid for fowl wheat, but they have not their former confidence in 'he market, so that ihey are buying only in small quantities in case it declines during the month. BRAN AND POLLARD. Supplies of bran aro ample to meet the demand, as there is not much _ call when pastures are in such good condition as they aro this year. Consequently the local mills aro able to supply all requirements, thus avoiding the necessity to import from the South Island at tho advance of 10s recently noted. Pollard, however, is getting scarce and it may be necessary to follow the southern advance before long. MAIZE. Coastal maize is selling fairly well at 7s to 7s 3d, ex store, according to quality, but tho steady advance has been arrested by tho purchase of South African maize to Vie shipped next month. As this will sell at about Gs Gd to Gs 9d. local merchants are inclined to let their stocks of coastal maizo run low, so that the wholesale demand is slackening off. Favourable quotations for maize of excellent quality have also been received from Java, and some of this may be imported a month later than tlie South African. These should suffico until tho new local crop is available. FERTILISERS. Many farmers aro arranging to have delivery of their purchases of top-dressincr fertilisers delayed until their grass is down low enough to permit tho drills to get through their paddricks. Rarely. if ever, has there been such u growth of grass in February as there is this year, in many cases the grass being 12 to 18 inches high in paddocks thai were cut for hay or ensilage. These cannot very well be drilled for top-dressing, bo that tho farmers are waiting. This week, however, they aro taking delivery of tho basic slap just to hand, to gel the lower price quoted for direct delivery ex ship.

HIDES AND SKINS SALES. j ——— 1 1 DECREASED VALUES RULING. J £ { The effect of the low prices recently ( ruling for wool was shown at the auction j of hides and skins conducted at the Auek- j land Chamber of Commerce yesterday, t The prices obtained for sheep skins aver- j aged about 4d a lb. lower than the values < at the close of last year. There ; was also a weak market for salted skins, which is attributed to the poor markets ; J overseas. . Following arc yesterday's prices:— s Cow Hides.—Best grade, light and 1 medium, to 6d per lb.; heavy, to sgd; second grade, light, 5-id to s£d; medium, 5d to s|d; rough and slippy, 3d to 3^l; ox, best grade, to 6Jd; second grade and cut, to 5Jd; yearlings, best grade, heavy, 7J,d to 8d: light., to BAd; second grade, to 7d; calf skins, heavy, 8d to B^d; medium, llad to light, to llgd; cut and meaty, 7|d to 8(1; slippy, 7d to 7£d. Sheep Skins.—Dried, three-quarter to full-woolled, medium to fine crossbred, 6Jd to per lb.; coarse, to 6gd; damaged 4d to 4id; faulty, to 6d; badly damaged and broken, 3gd; quarter to half-woolled, best grade, to 7d; faulty, 4kl to s^d; salted sheep skins, bare to quarter-v/oolled, best grade, Is 9(1 to 2s 3d each; light and small, Is 3d to Is 6d; lamb skins, best grade, 2s to 2s 4d; pelts, sound, 6Jd to 7d, per lb.; faulty, and unsound, 5d to 5J,d. Tallow, in barrels, good mixed, 26s 6d ' to 27s per cwt.; second grade, 24s to 25s 6d; in tins, good mixed. 25s 6d to 265; inferior, 22s 6d to 23s 6d; bones, clean, dry, £5 10s to £5 15s per ton; horsehair, best, Is 8d to Is 9d per lb.; short and mixed, Is 3d to Is 6d; manes, 8d to Sjd. MARKET REPORTS. FRUIT AND PRODUCE PRICES. Large stocks of all classes of fruit were offered at the Auckland City Markets yesterday. Apples, plums, peaches, pears and tomatoes were in heavy supply, and sold at comparatively cheap rates. Tomatoes showed a slightly rising tendency. There was no demand for small and inferior grades of apples, and plums met with a poor response. A fair demand existed for peaches. Californian oranges continued to bring the high rate of 37s 6d to 45s a case, while bananas made 16s to 18s a bushel case.

Potatoes met with a slightly improved demand, selling at 2s 6d to 4s a bag. The first of the new season's kumaras, in good condition, realised' 3d to 3jd a pound. Heavy supplies of beans, cabbages and onicms were marketed", and there were adequate stocks of all other classes of vegetables in season. There was a, fair demand. The values for the majority of the lines showed an easing tendency. There were no changes in the prices for the various grades of hen and duck eggs. Moderato supplies met with a very fair demand. Average stocks of farmers' butter sold at the unaltered rate of Is Id to Is 3d a lb. Following are yesterday's prices:— FRUIT. JL'eaelies. choice, coloured, 5s fo 7s (5d a ease: medium and small, 3s to -Is 6d: plums, Burbanks. small, la to Is Gd; large, 2s to 2b Gd; Sultans. Is 9d to 3s Gd; Purple Kins, 5s 3d to 9s Gd: greengage, Gs to Gd; tomatoes, outdoor, No. 2, 2s to 2s Gd: No. 1. 3s to 4s Gd; hothouse. 4s Gd to Gs Gd; apples. Gravenstein, choice, coloured, 5s to Gs; Albany Beauty, 5s to 8s; small, 4s to sa; cookers. 3s Gd to 4s; windfalls, 2-s; pears, Bon Chretien. 6h 6d to 8s Gd; cookins, 3s to 4s; apricots, 4s 1o ss; grapes, hothouse, lOd to Is 2}d pex lb. : orange.?, Californian, 37s Gd to 45s a cose; lemons, local, 9s to IGs; bananas. IGs to 18s a bushel case; nectarines, 3s to 7s Gd a case; apple cucumbers, 2s to 4s. FIELD PRODUCE. Potatoes, 2s 6d to 4s a bag; onions. Is 9d to 2s Gd; spring onions, 3d to Sd a bundle; kumaras, Taurnnga, 3d to 3}d per lb.; cabbage, 2s to 5s a sack; on benches. Is Gd to 3s a dozen; swedes, is Gd to 2s Gd a bag: pumpkins, 4s to 7s per cwt.; on benches. 4d to Is Cd each; green peas. 3s to Ss a bag: beans, ljd to 2!d per lb.: lettuce. Od to 3s a case; cucumbers, outdoor. Gd to -s a dozen; vegetable marrow, Gd >° ] * : rock melons, 2s Gd each: celery. Is Gd in ■ls a bundle- rhubarb. Is to Is Gd a dozen; spinach, 9d to Is; radish, Gd to is: carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 3d to Is 3d. DAIRY PRODUCE. Hen eggs, special grade. Is lOd a dozen; A grade, Is 9d: B grade. Is 3d; duck eggs, special grade. Is Sd; A grade, Is 7d; B grade, Is Gd; farmers' butter, Is Id to Is M per lb.