TRADE OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21117, 26 February 1932, Page 5

TRADE OF THE WEEK.

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE.

DEMAND FOR FERTILISERS. PRODUCE MARKET REVIEW. Normally our of (.lie easier months of (lie year, owing to preparations for storktaking itnfl oilier activities associated with (lie end of the financial year, February has heen a fairly quiet month for trade. This week merchants have heen occupied with Mai eh deliveries, which, although below (he average in sonje cases, have come in fairly well. Until (ho Government has made known its decision in regard to exchange rates and something is announced in regard to the trudo treaty with Canada, merchants aro not operating in overseas niutkels beyond the limits of absolute necessity. Most foreign markets are quiet and show little movement, apart Irojn fluctuations in exchange. Produce markets arc quietly steady, the principal featuro being the demand which has arisen for top-dressing fertilisers since the recent rains. SICILY ALMONDS. Quotations for Sicily almonds for MarchApril shipment, have heen reduced i' 7 10a a ton. Present rules appear to ho most favourable, but as slocks on hand are fairly heavy and tho demand (luring the summer months is limited, merchants are displaying littlo interest at present. DUIED FRUITS. Prices for new Benson's Mild lira fruits are expected to be named early in March. Owing to the fact that the Canadian und United Kingdom markets have been opened since hint season uud that there lias been sio carry-over either in Australia or abroad, combined with the exchange difficulties in dealing with California, higher rates are generally expected. EASTERN MARKET. A report this week from Singapore indicates an easing in the market for tapioca and saso, which have declined ljd a lb. Pineapples are fairly steady, the only movements being an advance of Sd a dozen in ljlb. tails and a slight easing in crushed. TEA. Close upon 2.000,00011). were ofTered at this week's Colombo lea auction. The quality of up-country teas was exceptionally good and low mediums were bright and useful. There was u strong genera) demand. Common grades advanced 3d a lb. and mediums ljd a II). Good kinds were exceptionally strong. Exchange is quoted at Ik 0 ] 5-32 d for 00 days usance. The Colombo ruble also advised that fine weather still prevailed. In consequence quality is likely to bo good and supplies small. A cable message received in Auckland from London this week staled that huyerß (here were increasing their efforts to secure British-growji tea* and wore neglecting those of Java and Sumatra. If this is so, British-grown teas arc likely to advance in nice to tho detriment of the foreign varieties. The high exchange on Java has been responsible for Australia paying more attention to Ceylon teas. In view of this position merchants holding stocks will be favourably situated. POTATOES, The 7nnrket for potatoes is heavily supplied, but quality is reported to be disappointing on account of smallness. The benefit of tho recent rains should be noticeable in about 11 days' time, when size and quality generally are expected to show an improvement. The present price is around £7 a ton through store. The first of the new season's from Rangitikei are available and are worth i'S a ton through store. The forward position in Canterbury is weaker on account of the rain which has been experienced. ONIONS. The position in the onion market remains firm and supplies are worth 10s Gd a cwt. through store. FOVVLWHEAT. Heavy shipments of fowlwheat are coming to the Auckland market and the price is generally weak. Graded is worth G3 4d a bushel through store and unuer-grade Ga a bushel upward. MAIZE. The demand for maize is quiet, but the matket is firm at late rates. It is worth from 5s 9d to 6s a bushel through store. South African whole maize is selling around Gs a bushel and South African crushed at 5s 3d. OATS. Inquiry is exceedingly quiet for onts and stocks are light. The Southern position is firm and the value through store is 4s Id a bushel for feed oats and 4s 3d for A Gallons. CHAFF. C'haff is in slow demand and ample supplies aro available. The price remains at £8 10s a ton through store. AUSTRALIAN BARLEY. Conditions ore particularly firm for Australian barley on account of the difficulty of securing any further ndvantage of a favourable exchange. The altered conditions have not been fully felt \et, but stocks are firmly held. At present clipped is selling at 4s .'id a bushel, with the probability of an early rise to 4s Gd. FERTILISERS. Since (he rain earlier this month very heavy deliveries of top-dressing fertilisers of all descriptions have taken place. Superphosphate has been going out fairly freely from the local manufacturers and basic slag from the Kent, which has arrived from Antwerp with about 7000 tons. Most of this was bought at very attractive rotes before Great Britain left the gold standard. GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDS. The usual seasonal demand is now setting in for autumn grass and clover seeds. Prices are generally nt a higher level than those ruling last season, especially in respect of New Zealand-grown seeds, including white clover, cocksfoot, cowgrass and ryegrass, upon which dry conditions experienced in the growing areas have had a serious effect. BRAN AND POLLARD. The local prices of bran and pollard remain unaltered, while the Australian market continues to show a firmer tendency^Fair storks are held and the prices at i'G 10s a ton for pollard, through storu,' and £5 15s a ton for bran. NEW COMPANIES. AUCKLAND REGISTRATIONS. The following companies have been registered in Auckland :

PUBLIC. Bovisan (Wanganui), Limited, Wanganui, manufacturers of, and dealers in, veterinary, pharmaceutical, medicinal, chemical, industrial and other preparations and articles, etc. Capital, £7OOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: 0. J. Thedens, J. T. F. Mitchell, W. J. Simpson and J. S. Harrison, 100 shares each; Phyllis SI. Yates, Joyce P. Johnston and Zita M. Saunders, 1 share each. The Economy Switch Company, Limited, Whangarei, to purchase, licence or otherwise acquire patent rights in connection with electrical contrivances in any part of the world. Capital, £3OOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: A. 11. Curtis, R. Hoey, Margaret Alexander, W. McAra, H. Jamieson, J. Iloey and Edna G. Biggs, one share each. PRIVATE. Marshall and Baxter, Limited, general merchants and importers, etc. Capital. £3OOO in £1 shares.* Subscribers: A. E. shall and H. Baxter, 2500 shares each. Shield Products, Limited, oil and colour merchants and manufacturers, etc. Capital, £3OOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: A. E Kcllam, 2000 shares; J. R. Lynoss, 1000 shares. C. S. Findlay, Limited, Napier, hardware merchants and ironmongers, etc. Capital, £ISOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: C. S. Findlay, 1199 shares; Edith A. Findlay, 1 share, Bates' Pharmacies, Limited, chemist* and druggists, etc. Capital, £IOOO in £1 shares. Subscribers; G. D. S. Rates, 995 shares; S. L. Armstrong, 5 shares. Magnetic Health Clinic, Limited, health specialists and dietitians, etc. Capital, £IOOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: R. G. Mason, 600 shares; J. O'Grady and Mercantile Brokers, Limited, 200 shares each. T. Wyatt Dickeson, Limited, chemists and druggists, etc. Capital, £7OO in £1 shares, Subscribers: T. Y. Dickeson, 699 shares; A. W. Stewart, 1 share.