DEMAND FOR FAT STOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20851, 18 April 1931, Page 7

DEMAND FOR FAT STOCK.

ACTIVITY IN PROVINCE.

EXPORTERS BUYING WETHERS. A decidedly brighter tone lias been recorded in stock circles throughout the province in the past week or so, and the tendency to let stock-£0 for whatever price offers, which was so noticeable a month or two ago, has been definitely checked. Many graziers with drafts ready for the market are now showing a tendency to hold,' expecting «ven higher prices. " The market has a decidedly firmer tone all round," stated a well-known Auckland buyer yesterday. Whereas drafts of fat wethers were being offered Auckland buyers from all parts of the province at up to 32s a head a week or a fortnight ago, holders are now asking 2s to 3s a head more, many not being keen to sell at the advance. The large stocks of surplus ewes which were offering two months ago have now mostly been worked off, and to-day drafts of good quality ewes are hard to secure. Many graziers who would have had drafts available for Auckland butchers at the present time had the season been a normal one, have nothing to offer. Many put everything they had through the freezing works on their own account early in the season, rather that trouble with the local market at the low prices which were offering. Few kept any ewes which could be got rid of, as indications then were not bright for an early improvement in the market. The result is that there is every indication that there will be a shortage of ewes this winter and butchers will have to depend almost entirely on wethers. A further factor in the improvement in the sheep market over the past fortnight has been the increased activity of exporters, who are reported to be buying wethers freely at around 12s in the paddock in the King Country for railing to Waitara. Three weeks ago exporters were only indifferent buyers at around 9s 6d a head. The improved prices for wool, which has brought the value of sheepskins up to around 2s 6d each from the lOd and Is of a month or six weeks, ago, is' an additional incentive to buyers to pay higher prices. Tallow has also shown a slight improvement. The beef market is also decidedly firmer, with exporters active on a basis of around 20s a hundred pounds on the hooks at Westfield works. The bulk of the fat stock for the Auckland butchering and export trade is being drawn from South Auckland at the moment. The dry weather of the past summer has left the North bare of feed, and indications are that Auckland butchers will again have to depend on the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty for the bulk of their fat stock requirements this winter. WHEAT IN AMERICA. .STOCKS ON THE FARMS. (Received April 17, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON,' April 16. The stocks of wheat on the farms on April 1 are estimated by the Department of Agriculture to have been 114,983,000 bushels, compared with 102,352,000 a year ago.

The Department of Agriculture announces that the wheat movement from -farms during March was the greatest for the six years in which such estimates have been made. The disappearance, including what was used for feed seed as well as for market shipments, was 45,299,000 bushels, compared with 27,402,000 bushels in March, 1930. CANTERBURY MARKETS. BETTER INQUIRY FOR WHEAT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]. , CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. In the wheat market there was not a great deal of business passing. There was a little better inquiry for milling wheat and the price .remains unchanged at 5s 3d on trucks for Tuscan. There is better inquiry for fowlwheat for forward, delivery. The quotation to-day for MaySeptember delivery is 5s 3d to 5s 4d a bushel, f.0.b.; prompt delivery, 4s lid to ss.

There is a fair amount of prompt business in potatoes at present. The quotation to-day was about 85s a ton, f.0.b,; quotation to farmers, about £3 a ton on trucks. It is' expected between 4000 and 5000 sacks will leave for Auckland nest week.

Peas are quoted at 3s 6d oh trucks. The North Island has been supplied with Garton oats from Timaru. There is a very limited quantity of Canter-, bury oats on the market. The quotation is 2d lOd, f.0.b., for A grade, and 2s 8d for B grade, equivalent to 2s 4d and 2s 2d a bushel on trucks. The nominal 'quotation for Algerians is 2s on trucks. Canterbury perennial ryegrass has been firmer this week. The quotation is 3s to 3s 3d on trucks to growers. Italian remains firm at 2s on trucks to growers.