TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20981, 18 September 1931, Page 5

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE. FAIRLY QUIET PERIOD. PRODUCE MARKET REVIEW. Trade has been quiet in Auckland this week when several unfavourable factors have operated. Many houses have experienced some disorganisation as the result of the prevalence of influenza. Better conditions are looked for next week when merchants will be engaged in the despatch of next month's orders to both town and country. So far there has been little indication of the seasonal change, although there have been a few early inquiries for summer foodstuffs. Hardware houses report slightly freer movement in piping and galvanised iron to the country, but generally the trade remains quiet owing to the lack of any stimulation in- the building trade. Drapers are now displaying a wide range of summer goods. The only arrivals of note have been the Morinda from Norfolk Island, the Wingatui from the South Island, and the TJlimaroa from Sydney. The last vessel brought general cargo from Australia, including Sydney fruit, in addition to transhipments ex Nieuw Zealand, Commissaire Ramel, Changte, Comorin, Baradine, Templar, Kitano Maru and Nestor. DATES. Quotations for new season's t dates for spread shipment from Basra, November to March, show a rise of 9d a cwt. Recently easier rates were offered for shipment by the direct steamer to Australia, which will leave early r.ext month, but the market is now reported to bo advancing. EASTERN GOODS. Latest advices from Singapore indicate little change in the market for tapiocas. Sago is slightly firmer. Pineapples, fair quality, show a slight reduction. Other lines are also slightly easier, with the exception of 2lb whole and 2ilb slices, which are unchanged. x RANGOON RICE. The market for Rangoon rice 13 reported to be very firm and any merchants obliged to buy for the next steamer will he faced with higher prices. Most supplies for New Zealand's requirements for the 12 months, however, aro generally landed in May so that it is hardly likely that much business will be done at present. TEA. This week's auction at Colombo comprised 3.000,0001b, the greater quantity being due to the fact that no auction took place last week, owing to the tea traders' holiday. The market generally was irregular. Common grades were slightly easier without quotable change. For mediums the market generally was very firm and for fine kinds prices declined Id to lid a lb, owing mainly to inferior quality. Calcutta advices state that the market was very strong for all grades.

AUSTRALIAN DRIED FRUITS. The quantity of Australian dried fruits sold in the week ended September 9 established o, new record for one week's disposal. The London agency of the Commonwealth Dried Fruits Board reported that 5707 tons were sold for £260,100, to which is to be added exchange on transfer of the proceeds to Australia. Practically the entire balance of last season's sultanas, amounting to 1954 tons, were taken at an average oi £39 16s 8d a ton. while 2076 tons of new sultanas average £54 lis 8d a ton. The average price of 1640 tons new season's currants was £4l 3s 4d a ton. The quantity of dried fruit, season 1931, unsold in. and afloat to, British ports, is now reduced to 8547 tons, as compared with 30,787 tons at the corresponding period last year. Buying in the British mar-, ket ha 3 been stimulated by several factors, including higher quality of sultana 3 shipped this year. There is every prospect of a complete clearance of the Australian harvest by the end of October. This position would be unparalleled in the history of the industry. The unsold balances consist of 5090 tons sultanas, 1650 tons currants, and 1947 tons lexias. DRAPERIES. Although evidence of some preparation for spring wear is not lacking there has been no marked movement in new season's draperies as yet, changeable weather being a foremost reason for delay. The predominance of cottons, prints and other lowerpriced fabrics is the feature of the new season lines. More expensive silk materials, such as georgettes and crepe de chines, seem likely to bo ousted temporarily by voiles, muslins, linens and other attrac-tively-priced materials. The fashion this year is for < dull-surface materials so that even artificial silks are not expected to enjoy the same demand as in previous summers. Fuji silks and spun crepe de chines, however, are likely to remain in demand owing to their serviceability and economy. POTATOES. A fairly heavy shipment of potatoc° arrived from the South Island at the -'inning of the week. There is a slightly firmer feeling in the market. Weather conditions in the South are such as to cause, in all probability, a light shipment to arrive next week, and should tnis be bo there is a likelihood of a slight advance on present-day rates', which range from around £3 15s a ton, ex wharf, to £4 10s a ton through store. The position remains wea_k in the South and any shortage here is likely to be merely temporary. New potatoes. also, are likely to come forward now in increased quantities. Seed potatoes have been rather slow of sale, but a continued improvement in the weather will probably result in an improved demand. ONIONS. Merchants are working off stocks of Australian onions at around £8 ' / 5 5 ... a J Oll, Buyers generally are seeking Californians and these are being done at around 16s Gd a baS ' FOWLWHEAT. . The market for fowlwheat is quietly firm. There is no alteration in late rntes. Grade is selling at around 6s 8d a bushel and under-grade at around 6s 3d. OATS. Feed oats are dull of sale. The PJ' C ® remains steady at around 3s 8d a bushel. CHAFF. The market for chaff is inclined to weaken on a very poor demand. It is worth around £7 5m a ton off wharf to £7 15s a ton through store. MAIZE. Maize is steady at late rates. A fair volume of business is passing direct with the ; Bay of Plenty. The wholesale buying price jis around 4s on trucks. It is being I done at about 5s Cd a bushel through store, i Auckland. BARLEY.^ Australian harley remains in good de- ! mnnd. Undipped is being done at, around 3s fid a bushel, and clipped at around 4s a bushel. _ BRAN AND POLLARD. The Australian market for pollard is slightly firmer. Large quantities continue to be imported and are being sold nt from £5 12s 6d ex wharf, to £G a ton through More. The local mills' price is £6 a ton. The market for bran is quiet and prices are unchanged. Local mills are asking £5 5s a ton, and merchants are dealing through store at around £5 15s. ; VICTORIAN FLOUR. Last week the Victorian Mill Owners' Association reduced the price of flour by 7s Gd a ton, making it £6 7s 6d a ton of 20001b, delivered in Melbourne or suburbs.

RABBITSKINS SALE. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report that in order to enable American shippers to get their purchases on board a steamer Hailing on September 14, the sale listed for Septenibei 15 was put forward to September 11. Catalogues were consequently smaller than usual There was ugain a steady demand on American account for winter bucks and certain low grades like bloodstained and broken. Good bucks were up to 4d higher than last eale, while spotted sorts were a shade lower. Winter does were slightly higher and all low grades par to yd higher To a large extent the, firmness in the market was due to the necessity for buyers having to fill their requirements at this sal/and'ship by the American steamer. Wo fully expect prices for winter bucks to decline again in the near future. Skins now coming to hand are. of course, going off in quality. The following is the range of prices at the sale:—Runners, to 33d: summers, 3id : milky. 6d : springs, 63d ; summer broken, 3jd; thir' s winter broken, B}d: second winter broken, lid: first winter broken, 13d; second winters b.s., lljd; first winters b.s., 15d; prime racks, s}d : light racks, Old; dawny autumns, 8d; early autumns. lOJd; late autumns, 16} d: incoming winters. 261 d : early winter bucks. 34d; early winter does, 15id; second' winter bucks 36c!; first winter bucks, 48] d; second winter d'->es, 21d: first winter does, 33d: prime winter does, 37Jd; spotted wink'r bucks. '22 d ; spotted winter does, lid; second spotted winter bucks, 16d; first outgoing winter does. Isid : second outgoing winter does, lOd : summer blacks. sd; third winter blacks, P!d; second winter blacks, 16? d; first winter blacks, 2Sd; fawns, 21d; first winter fawns, 59d ; small, 2id; hareakius, s}d; horEehoir, 15d.