TRADE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20641, 13 August 1930, Page 7

TRADE OF AUCKLAND.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. r ' 6 BRISK SHOPPING WEEK-END, PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. Retail business at the week-end was of considerable magnitude, a largo number of buyers attending in the main shopping areas, largely to take advantago of tho final oilers at tho winter clearanco sales. Tlio new week has opened rather more quietly, but patrons are beginning to inspect the new fabrics imported by thp drapers and tho new season's styles and patterns are expected to receive a good deal of attention during tho next few weeks. Wholesale houses have entered upon a comparatively quiet weok, but several overseas (shipments are now landing. These are receiving more than tho usual attention, on account of tho large number of prices that require adjustment, consequent on tho new scale of customs duties. Provision houses have been fairly busy, although forward business on a large scale has naturally been checked by the want of confidenco in the markets, for buyers have been wondering when bedrock was to bo reached in a long list of falling prices. Commencing with the sensational drop in wheat, which recently went below pre-war value for the first time, unexpected declines have taken place where thero seemed to bo nothing to warrant such a move, having regard to tho statistical position. During tho past week or two, however, merchants Have been watching tho United States/ where crops have been devastated by excessive heat during a prolonged drought, and it now looks as if the reduced production resulting will bring about a definite advance in prices for foodstuffs. It seems likely that the reduced output of many crops in America will alter tho markets of the world, as tho universal drought has been reported as very serious in 12 States. DRIED FRUITS. This is one of the first commodities affected, for indications point to a complete change from the recent downward" tendency. A fortnight ago prunes wero being quoted at about half tho price ruling at the beginning of the year, although tho carryover into tho now aeason promises to be negligible, but the market is recovering, and importers arc endeavouring to cover their requirements while thero i 3 time. Opening prices aro lower than they have been for 13 years, even lower than in 1927. when a good crop brought down tho price to a low level, and even then it was most difficult to dispose of tho output. t RAISINS. Prices have been stoadily falling 1p a very attractive level for importers, but tho failuro of the crops iu tlio Eastern States will probably result in immeiiHO quantities of fresh grapes being railed from California, aud this must reduce tho dried pack. FIGS. Most importers have indented their likely requirements in Californian tigs, to keep them going until tho Turkish urrive. Tho news of tho drought is also causing increased attention to this line, as brick figs alwaya sell well early in tho season. CANNED FRUITS. Recent reductions have left tho door opon to tho importation »f Californian apricots and peaches (but not pears), and the iPresent quotations look attractive, as ] Australian and South African quotations are sure to follow any rise that takes placo in California, if tho shortage further east has to be made good by that Stato.

RICE. This is tyiother line imported from Amorica in increasing quantities, on account of its quality, and the reduced output is likely to affect prices. CANNED TOMATOES. Fair quantities are often imported from Canada or the United States, but it -is impossible ut, present to know whether the crop will bo reduced, In Auckland the. crop anonis to bo all the better if there ia nd rain, for the rain last summer ruined the crop almost entirely. HARDWARE. Country orders are arriving a little moro freely, but there is no improvement in city business. The opening of the dairy ssr.son in calling for the usual supplies, and there is also a little activity in building material for country districts. IRON AND STEEL. Overseas quotations remain fairly linn, not on account of the business offering, but because prices are apparently leaving little or no margin of profit. The industry is quiet in most parts of Britain, and blast furnaces aro being blown out. It is estimated that two-thirds of the blast furnaces on the north-east coast, usually an active district in all departments of iron and steel, aro now inactive. News by the mail this week is to the effect that the'lnternational Cartel Works aro also badly off for orders and the process of tohmtary curtailment of output continues. At a recent meeting of producers an all-round reduction in prices waß discussed, but the general feeling was that no good result or increase in business was likely, ta the only benefit would accruo to those merchants who were " bearing" the market. TIN. The market is very weak, with the restriction of output apparently unable to check the downward tendency. COPPER. It seems that American producing interests were successful in combining to stabilise the price for 12 months. At the end of this poriod they dropped the official price from 18 cents to 14 cents, and since then there haa been ft steady decline to a record low level. Stabilisation, however, was an exponsivo procedure for the pool, for during the year the accumulated stocks rose from 53,000 tons to 25G,000 tons, and* the liquidation of the extra 200,000 tons would necessarily involvo heavy losses. A disturbing factor is the hew output from tho Canadian copper mines tliat are not in tho international arrangement, as these will soon bo entering upon large scale smelting, two months ahead of programme, and their output will have to bo placed. POTATOES. Tho local market remains fairly steady at £7 5s ex wjiarf and HI 10s ex store, undisturbed by a firmer attitude on tho part of Canterbury shippers. The Waipiata brought only U2OO sacks this week, including seed, and as tho local market is not overstocked it seems probable that present prices will hold. Seed potatoes are in regular demand, with the main varieties moving off in moderato quantities, but most of the early varieties aro now unprocurable. ONIONS. A lew more Australian are to hand this week, but most samples require careful repicking, and tljey are moving off at lis,' Local aro selling at irregular prices, according to quality, somo growers having succeeded in etoring their crop in rather ??ood condition. A small shipment of California]! camo last weok in good order, although some Samples appeared to bo hardly matured, and any that wero not booked to arrivo are moving off at 20s a bag. There woro nolio on tho Aorangi and tho Waiotapu

OATS. In quiet demand at 4s 10s ex stove for B grade and 4s lid to 5s for A. CHAFF. Bosfc southern is selling at .Ell cx store, but supplies aro not very plentiful and 'i'asmanian is being imported. A substantial shipment which arrived by the Kartigi should moot nil requirements for the present, and this is soiling at £lO. WHEAT, Fowl wheat is firm sit 8s cx store, with demand only moderate. Poultry keepers Iconsider the prico is too high when this grain is ruling at loss than 4s in Australia and they aro now using a larger proportion of oats and maize, N BRAN AND POLLARD. Both aro in good supply, but pollard has fallen ill Australia, in sympathy with the world-wido collapse in wheat, as Roneinl rain has fallen ovor a largo part of t.io counlij. thus relieving anxiety as to n shortage of feed. Local merchants mvo taken advantage of the consequent reduction m Iho shipliing prieo of pollard and have ai ranged for importation of small quantities, the first of which will be hero next week. MAIZE. Selling well nt 63 3d for const maizo. which is now in good order, or 6s 5d for South African, of which only small quantities remain unsold, FERTILISERS. An improved demand is coming in. and this is expected to increase next month, when the muin top-dressing of pastures will take place. While the main inquiry is for super, there is a good inquiry for special grass mixture*.

FLAX. The overseas market ia very dull, with no active inquiry from any source. Not much is left in stock here, and very little is arriving from the mills during the winter, KAURI GUM. Returns to tho end of July show that during the first seven months of the j;ear the exports amounted to 2503 tons, against supplies of . 2717 tons to hand from the fields, whereas previously the tendency has been for a steady reduction of the stocks in store. During July 303 tons arrived, mostly second and third grade chips, and 257 tons were shipped, comprising 185 tons to England and the Continent, 08 to the United States, and 13 tons to Australia. WHITE GUM. There aro no heavy stocks of rescraped white, us recent prices have prohibited tho making of this grade, while .stocks of seveneighths and three-quarter scraped are email compared with recent years. These latter grades are selling very slowly. Sales of ordinary white have cleared up all recent stocks and only stocks with heavy reserves uro now hanging fire. Stocks of whito nuts are moving off satisfactorily, also white chips and dust. Swamp is slow, with no inquiry. Some small lots have been pushed out at slight reductions, BLACK CUM. Rescraped black is not required at present and is not moving off. Several inquiries have corae in for washed steel, but orders havo not yet materialised. This appears to bo a very useful gum with the manufacturers. The few sacks of threequarters and seven-eighths black coming to hand are not difficult to sell, but light brown colour ordinary hfis gone off, and this has been sold as ordinary black gum at lower prices. Several small orders havo moved off surplus stocks of tho latter grade. Brown chips aro slightly easier, also sound black chips, whilo stocks of poor chips havo been steadily accumulating and selling at lower prices. Tho American market has been very unsatisfactory. Inquiries continue to come along, but very little business ia finalised, whereas business from tho Continent is more satisfactory in that respect. BLED BUSH GUM. Buyers are offering lower prices and securing some small parcels. Soveral gangs have ceased climbing and havo left for other employment, as tho lower prices do not allow sufficient margin for the risk of climbing and. tho usual 40 per cent, royalty for green trees. Bush garbs are unsaleable. THE LONDON MARKETS. PRICES FOR METALS. SILVER A LITTLE FIRMER. (Received August 12, 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. (Quotations on August 7 m parentheses.) Copper.—Spot, £4B Is 3d (£4B 4s 4J,d); thrco months, £47 18s 9d (£4B 4s 4£d). Electrolytic Copper.—Spot, £sl (£51); three months, £52 (£52). Wire Bars.—£s2 (£52). Lead.—Spot, £lB 5s (£lB 7s 6d); three months, £lB 5s (£lB 6s 3d). Spelter.—Spot, £ls 2s 6d (£l6 2s 6d); three months, £l6 12s 6d (£l6 12s 6d). Tin. —Spot, £136 6s 3d (£136 lis 3d); three months, £l3B Is 3d (£l3B 8s 9d). Silver.—Standard, 16 3-16 d (15 15-16 d) per 07..; fine,

BRADFORD TOPS. On the Bradford tops market the tone is firm. MOTOR-CAR INDUSTRY, "NEED FOR BRITISH CARS.". [FROM OUR • OWN CORRESPONDENT.3 LONDON, June 27. Mr. A. W. Redford, chairman of the Stevenage Urban District Council, who was in New Zealand with the farmers' touring party, has been giving hi 3 impressions to the Bedfordshire Express. Asked about the motor industry, ho said:—"The Americans have the bulk of the trade. The condition of the roads, especially in the mountainous districts, where there are inerg tracks, demand a machine somewhat different from those in Great Britain. Conditions are different, and the highpowered heavy type of American car certainly appears to meet the need. There is a tremendous market awaiting the British manufacturer there, and I know that the subject is now being seriously considered by makers in this country. I know that in New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania there is a crying need for British cars. The people say frankly they want British motors—they prefer them, and it is up to us to see that their wishes and needs are met."

MARKET REPORTS. FRUIT AND PRODUCE PRICES. Little change took place in fruit prices at the Auckland City Markets yesterday. Apples and pears remained at substantially tho same low rates as havo prevailed for some weeks. Lemons came in in larger quantities and prices were fairly low. The sales of Poorman oranges were very'slow; sizes were small and there was little demand. The shipment of citrus fruit which arrivad yesterday from Australia on tho Maunganui had' an effect on the prices for this class of fruit. Mandarins sold at from 8s to lis a case. A shipment of Island oranges and tomatoes ex tho Waipahi was also received yesterday, - In the field produce section, cauliflower, lettuce and celery were heavily stocked as the result of the milder weather experienced in the last week or two. There wero also good supplies of new potatoes and other vegetables in season. The demand was fair. A supply of Island kumaras was on sale and realised prices considerably in advance of the Tauranga product. Tho supply of poultry was medium and tho demand keen. Prices paid remained on a level with recent sales. A large increase in the supplies of hen and duck eggs took placo and prices dropped by from ono penny to twopence. Tho demand was moderate, buVers expecting a further decline in prices. Moderate 6up s plies of farmers' butter sold at from Is to Is 2d. . ' . Following aro yesterday's prices:— FIIUIT. Apples, Delicious, 4s to 7s Gdj Sturmors,, Cs to 8s: Munroes, 4s to 6s; Grannie Smith,, 7s 6d to 9s; Doughertys, 8s to 7s Gd; Bol* larats, Gs to 7s; pears, Coles, 6s to 8s 6di Nollia. ,Gs to 9s; P. Barry, Ss to 7s: tomatoes, Jiothouse, 4d to Is 2d lb; tree tomatoes. 2s Cd to 4s Gd; dark variety, 7s to 9s; lemons, choice, 9s to lis; others, 6s to 7s Gd; passions, Gs to 10s; Australian. 12s Gd to 14s 9d; grapefruit, good counts. 9s to 10s; small, 4s to Gs; pooinian oranges., large, Gs to 7s; small, 2s Gd to 3s; oranires. lslatul repacks. Aitutaki, 13s to 17a Gd; Australian Navels, 9s Gd to 335; bananas. No. I's, 18s to 22s Gd; No. 2's and medium, 12s to 15s.

UIELD PRODUCE. Potatoes, Southern, Gs Gd to 7s 3d per cwt; new. 2d to 33d v>er lb: onions, 5s to 6» a sugar bag, 9s to 12s per cwl; kumaras, Island, lis to 11b Gd per cwt; Tauransa, 7« to 8s 6d; cabbage, Ss to 8s a sack; cauliflower, market glutted, 2s Gd to ss: swedes,, 2s to i!s a bag; pumpkins. 5s to 13s a cwt: green peas, Is to Is Gd a lb; beans, hothouse. la to Is Gd a lb; lettuce, 2s to 5s a case; cucumbers, hothouse, 4s Gd to Gs a doz; vegetable marrows. Is Gd to 2s Gel; cabbage, on benches, la to 8a; cauliflower, on benches. Is to 6s; colery, Gd to as a bundle: rhubarb, 3s Gd to 5s a doz; spinach, 9d to Is 3d; pumpkins, on benches, fad to 2s Gd each; radish. 3d to Cd a doz; snrinjr onions, 4d to Is a bundle: carrots, parsnips, beot and turnips. Is to Is Gd a doz: looks. 3d to Gd a bundle. POULTRY. Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, Gs to 7s Gd each; not prime. 3s Gd up; light breeds, primo, -is to ss; not prime, 3s up; fat roosters, heavy breeds, pj-ime, 3s to 4n: light, 2a Gd to 3s: fat hens, heavy breeds, 3s Gd to 4s Gd; light, 2s 9d to 3b Gd; pullets, heavy breeds, best, 4s to Gs Gd; smaller, 2s Gd up: light breeds, best, -Is to Gs Gd; smaller, 2s 6d up: drakes, young, prime, 3s to 4s; old. 2s Gd to 3s;- ducks, young. 3s to 4s; old, 2s 6d to 3s; geese. 4s 6d to Gs; turkey hens, 5s Gd to 9s: gobblers. 10s to 18s Gd; guinea fowls. 4s to ss. DAIRY PRODUCE. Hen oggs, specini erode, best quality, Is (VI dozen: A grade, Ib ud: B grade. Is 4d: C grade, Is Id; duck eggs, special grade, la Gd; A grade, la sd; B grade, Is 4d; C grade, Is 2d; farmers' butter, Is to la 2d.