TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20519, 21 March 1930, Page 9

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL".

BRIGHTER TONE OF BUSINESS.

PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW*

Wholesale business has brightened up during the week owing to the receipt of orders for execution on next mouth's account. Deliveries by rail will commence to-day. It has been noticeable that, the orders are not of very great volume. The reason is that many retailers are stocktaking at the end of the month, and they therefore hold over as much ordering as they at present, preferring to take delivery after April actually begins. Otherwise the reports from tho country districts are hopeful, and the heavy distribution of payments this week for February supplies of butterfat will allow purchases to continue on a liberal scale.

City trade remains only moderate. There is still a marked tendency to work on small stocks, allowing the wholesale houses to supply in small quantities every week. This is all tho more pronounced at a time when so many prices aro inclined to recede.

Tho usual business for tho Islands has kept export houses busy in firopaiing their shipments for the Tofua. Ihese consist largely of locally-canned goods and other produce. Retailers are gradually opening and displaying now goods, the drapers specially featuring attractive importations for autumn wear. As soon as the weather becomes a little cooler these will doubtless receive more attention, but it i 3 expected that a good many suburban and country buyers will inspect these goods during tho long day to-day. Seedsmen are busy in supplying autumn seeds and plants, besides taking orders for later delivery. A feature just now is the heavy trade in bulbs. Agricultural seeds are selling very quietly. Hardware houses report business quiet in nearly all lines. Farmers aro taking very little just now, and building requisites aro in only moderate demand.

IRON AND STEEL. Fairly good business keeps British prices rather firm, and an advance of 2s 6d a ton in France has tended to decrease the pressure of Continental competition. Manufacturers seem confident of a gradual lmprovement in the heavy trade ; construetional material being specially in demand. It is surprising that even India has been shipping a fair Quantity of iron to Britain, and now there comes news that extensive plans for increasing the output of iron Ind steel are being pushed forward in Russia. EASTERN GOODS. It is understood that most of the buying is now completed for the direct steamer due to sail at any time from Calcutta. _ and therefore importers are not urgently interested in quotations just at present. Burma rice has been ordered in good quantity by the direct steamer, as the quotation is favourable and any imported now is very unlikely to develop weevil during the winter. Linseed oil is rather low, and this is oncouraging ft little more business. Preserved ginger is not required much more for making jam, as the season is nearly over. This fact is limiting the response to the low quotation offering. However, fairly large quantities are often boufcht during April for making various preserves, and buyers will then get the benefit of low rates, which seem likely to advance before loll £- . TEA.

At the Colombo auctions on Tuesday there was a fair selection, with quality about equal to that of last week. Common kinds made an advance of two to five cents, but other descriptions were irregular, with an easier tendency.

FIJI PINEAPPLES. Another shipment of canned pineapples arrived by the Tofua, and was quickly distributed in an active market, owing to previous supplies being short of requirements. The "crushed" packing is turning out very popular, and there are even inquiries from San Francisco, owing to short supplies of Hawaiian fruit. The Aorangi took a substantial shipment direct from Suva to Vancouver. as it is the intention of the packers to cater for the Canadian trade. Supplies have also gone to London. The main packing season is from November to February, so that it is unlikely that any more ca.n be allocated to Zealand until the smaller May to July packing commences. However, efforts are being made steadily to increase the area in Eiji under this fruit, so that the output should soon bo of larger dimensions. NUTS AND ALMONDS. Sicily almonds are quoted nt exceptionally low rates, but higher prices wijl have to be paid for the new season's Brazil nuts. Walnuts also seem likely to be a little dearer, as the Nelson and Canterbury crops are not promising. SUGAR. A steamer has been loading sugar for the South during the last few days, and this has limited deliveries to the city.. However. it is expected that all the arrears of orders will bo overtaken very shortly. RICE. A little American long-grain rice is regularly imported for the first-class trade, but quotations lately have been rather high. PEAS. A good crop in the South will probably ensure favourable quotations for dried pejs during the year. Canned peas are selling freely at last season's rates. CANNED FISH. The Lenten demand is not as pronounced as it was some years ago, as facilities for obtaining fresh fish in the city and suburbs are now very convenient. However, the grocers report a stewdy demand, chiefly for herrings and salmon. The former are packed in slightly smaller tins this year and the prices are proportionately lower. EGGS. Selling to a good demand, with supplies only moderate. Best hen eggs are retailing at 2s 2d to 2s 4d, with a likelihood of a further advance in a few days. Duck cpgs are so scarce as to realise 2s 2d. POTATOES. The bulk of the business is now being done in supplies arriving from Rangitikei and Canterbury. Tho Bangitikei potatoes are of prime quality and many of the Canterbury consignments are very fair, considering that it is so early in the season. These importations are selling at £8 to £8 53 and further quantities are due from both sources next week. Local are not receiving much attention, except where it is convenient to use them for direct railing, and the price is £7 on trucks. The Tofua is taking the usual consignments to the Islands.

ONIONS. Heavy supplies keep the price down to £5 on trucks at Pukekohc, allowing for sale ex Auckland storo at Gs. A pood crop in Canterbury suggests that there is no P'cspect of a recovery in the price, as there is no export demand to the Northern Hemisphere. m „ OATS. Offering a little more freely in Canterbury, as the new harvest is beginning to come in. Local quotation is firm at 4s lid ex store for B' grade and 5s for A. CHAFF. Steady at £lO l!is ex store for best Southern. Demand is very quiet, owing to the exceptionally good pastures. WHEAT. Offerings of fowl wheat are restricted and the local price is quietly firm at 7s 9d. POLLARD. A likely shortage has induced importation from Australia. The first lot arrived by the Ulimaroa and is selling at £lO ss. The price has since fallen in Australia and it is expected that the next shipment will sell at the same price as local. MAIZE. The first importation from South Africa arrived by the TTlimarop. and is Selling at fis 9d, the quality being. good nr.d free from weevil. This has still further ree'veed the interest taken in local, which w:)l have to sell at the same price. GRASS SEED. A few orders are coming in, but only for very small quantities, and _it is understood that no large areas will be planted this autumn. FERTILISERS. Heavy deliveries havo been made in supci and other top-dressing fertilisers from the mills and from recent arrivals from overseas. Tho railways have now overtaken the congestion of traffic and prompt deliveries are being made.