TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 7

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. DEMAND FOR FOODSTUFFS. PRODUCE MARKETS REVIEW. Auckland merchants continue to report quiet trading, with all seasonal foodstuff lines meeting with u steady demand. The improved weather of the past, few weeks has heen reflected ir a slight increase in orders for paints. Summer commodities, generally, are selling comparatively I reel v.

The general adoption of a policy of hand to mouth buying and the tendency to reduce forward commitments to a minimum is being reflected in the city at the moment where there is a decided shortage of many overseas grocery lines. One of the popular brands of seeded and seedless raisins, the larger sizes of Californian prunes, nuts, matches and whiting are some of tho lines affected and there is consideiable inquiry among merchants for small paivels to carry on until the arrival of further shipments. Even sago and tapioca, which arrived on the Eastern steamer shortly after tho New Year, shows signs of becoming short before the next steamer.

Comparatively little shipping has arrived during the past day or so. Tho City of Glasgow from New York during last week-end brought general cargo mado up largely of machinery and spare parts. Tho Wiiiiima later in the week brought canned salmon from Vancouver, and over 10,000 cases of motor spirit from San Francisco among other miscellaneous cargo. A few raisins were also included in the shipment. The Maunganui from Sydney carried a miscellaneous cargo, a largo part of which was mado up of transhipped lots from the East. There was a fair quantity of white spirit for local paint merchants. Drugs, rice and dessicuted cocoanut were also included in tho shipment. A considerable quantity of matting and matting goods ex the Eridan, tea ex. the Baradine and cotton goods and walnut meat ex the Tsutu Muru, were also carried by tho vessel. AUSTRALIAN DRIED APRICOTS. Prices are now out for Australian dried apricots on levels below the South African parity, and it now remains to bo seen whether South African shippers are prepared to make a bid for the Now Zealand business. Unless they come down it is unlikely that they will secure many orders this season. PINEAPPLES. Reports from the Straits Settlements indicate that quotations for canned pineapples are still generally on very low levels. The market shows a continued declining tendency, in spite of efforts of farmers to hold prices by refusing to accept the extremely low offers fruni Europe. Indications are, however, that they cannot hold indefinitely, and that even lower prices may follow NUTMEGS AND MACE. The market for nutmegs and mace continues weak with a downward tendency. The demand is poor in the bigger selling centres and has been insufficient to absotb arrivals. Accumulating stocks are forcing dealers to quote lower anil lower prices in their efforts to quit. Sound slirivallerls are not 30 plentiful and the price is slightly firmer. DEBSICATED COCOAN UT. The market for dessientcd cocoanut continues on low levels with the c.i.f. rind e. price to New Zealand merchants in the vicinity of 323 I'd a cwt. GREEK CURRANTS. The market for Greek currants has recceded slightly lately. POTATOES. Increased supplies of Pukekohe potatoes have started to come on the market again. I although the heavy ruin had a temporary I effect on digging. Supplies are being forwarded to all parts of the North Island at the moment on a basis of around i' 7 IDs it, lon, f.o.r. Through store. Auckland, small lots are selling at, around 9s Cd to 10s a cwt. In the city markets good duality potatoes were averaging 'ls 9d si bag. The Southern forward market which hardened 75 Gd a ton early in the week, has sinco eased slightly, but there are no buyers and the market is very weak. lew merchants are prepared to commit themselves for any period ahead. ONIONS. The quality of the local onions coming into tho market still leaves a little to be desired, many lines being not quite matured. The market has an easier tendency with increasing supplies, however. A few Australian onions are still left in the citv and these are selling through store at slightly reduced prices to quit. Quotations are now out for the Canterbury crop of onions on a basis of xo ss, I for delivery from March onward. Little, if nny, forward business is being put through. BRAN AND POLLARD. Recent low prices for brail and pollard continue, but. even so, very little business is being transacted in these bnes. farmers not appearing anxious to buy at this timo of the year. Sales of bran arc particularly low. Through Auckland stores bran is selling around r.s 3d a cwt. and pollard around 5s (id a cwt MAIZE. The maize market and showing practically no movement, I hrough store, Auckland, merchants ask around as .)d J bushel for small lots. BARLEY. Ample cheap Australian barley is available nt the moment and, " though n.erchaiiiU me asking down to 3s Od a bushel through store for parcels which/have not beer, put through a machine, pig aiid imuUij fcpde s urn not responding as well as niifcht >o expected. Machine dreflfiC'd barlcy iH snl m, at up to. Is fid a bushel for Australian and slightly more for New Zealand. OATS. The oaf market continues weak, rcflectin" the early arrival of the new season s crop on the market. Through store, Auckland B Cartons are selling at around 'ls 'id a bushel with A's u shade higher. CHAFF. The market for chair is weaker and through store, Auckland, good Southern is selling at around .£9 10s a ton. Indications nre that the Blenheim crop will be an excentionally good one this season and on present, quotations this should be■ through Auckland stores at an earlj at around £8 10s a ton. WHEAT. Whe'il i" selling through Auckland stores at. 7s tld to 7s lOd a bushel. here is an •ill round tendency to cut stocks f.j all louna , season 3 crop minimum befotc t.ic arrives. HIKURANGI COAL COMPANY. NET 1 OF L 4262. \ „ot loss on tho year's operations of t'42b2 is shown in the annual report arid balance-sheet, of the. Ilikmang. Coal Cck, Ltd.. for the year ended Oecembt i oU, 1930 'llie directors in their report slate t | ri |' when the mine was nil watered tn Januarv of 1930 the coal output was rc_ suiiied' and continued until tho end of Julv, when a further inrush of water again caused a cessation ot all work. A powerful pump was obtained from the fiovernment and the workings were now almost free from water. l"o finance m lieavv c ' ns t incurred in uuwutermg tlic mim - deepening No. 2 shaft, and providing a larger water lodgment, a loan from the Government had been arranged. With the net loss for last, year accumulated losses now stand at .1122.459. ( hief items in the balance-sheet include capital at t'7o 000. debentures 130.000 and sundry creditors C 14.979. Mine properly is shown at £3303, plant and buildings 157,832, shaft and works £31.021. CHICAGO WHEAT" MARKET. CHICAGO. Jan. 21. wheat .--March. 80£ cents per bushel: May, 821 cents: July, bb cents.