TRADE OF THE WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 5

TRADE OF THE WEEK

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE BETTER MONTH REPORTED TURNOVER BEFORE EASTER A particularly busy week was completed on Thursday evening by tho retail trade in tho city. Most businesses report increased activity, with the public spending more freely. The stimulation in the retail trade was passed on to tho distributing houses very quickly, as retailers are not now carrying very heavy stocks. Merchants state that substantial orders for every-day lines, as well as Easter novelty good, wero filled. In some cases a 10 per cent improvement in trade was recorded for the past month. Importers are awaiting with interest quotations for new season's Australian dried fruits and canned fruits. Prices are late this year, and it. is now thought probable that publication of the terms of the new trade treaty is affecting the position. The produce market is quiet, except for a firming in potatoes. However, buying is not keen, as it is expected further supplies will bo available next week. EASTERN MARKET Sago and tapioca show a. slight firming tendency but, othev lines nre unchanged, with the exception of a slight l(uctuatiou in pineapples. The market lor pineapples has remained very steady for some time, but it is expected that a rise will tnko nlace shortly. Shipments by the April direct steamer will be made from Singapove shortly but, owing to tho lack of demand for canned fruits in the winter, buy in 2 has not been very heavy. DESICCATED COCONUT The market for desiccated coconut, shows a slight reduction for both prompt and forward shipment. Lately the local market has been somewhat short of supplies and there is a fair inauir.v. AUSTRALIAN RICE ! It. is expected that supplies of new I season's Australian rice will bo available ; toward the end of April or early in Mav. : Prices are not yet to hand. The oualitv of j the Australian product has been favourably ; commented upon. BRAZIL NUTS j Further reductions in prices for new I season's Brazil nuts for Junc-Julv shio- ! ment are advised bv cablegram this week. Present prices are £1 a ton lower than last, week's rates, and represent a total decline of £4 10s a ton since quotations were first named in January. Owing to tho lartre carry-over from last season. onlv I limited business has so far been placed by | merchants, most of whom pjefer to wait until tho market settles before niacin? I orders for theii- forward requirements. COFFEE j Quotations for all Indian grades of coffee | have been showing a steady decline and cabled prices received during the week have been exceptionally low, especially for | the Mysoie and Coorg varieties. Owing to | Indian coffees entering New Zealand under j the British preferential tariff, more interest I is beins shown in these lines. DATES j Shipments of dates are now dependent upon London stocks, and • the market is I based on tho quantities or surplus likely to I be offered. Until recently it appeared there | would not be a great surplus for export i from London, but the demand has evidently i fallen off and quotations for forward shioI ment show a reduction. Latest information | from London shippers is to tho effect that. | while stocks of loose pack and stoned erades I are short and prices are firm, there are i still fair quantites of bulk Sairs available. . and prices have been reduced 9d oer cwt. j for prompt shipment. Fair stocks of all dates aro held locally, sales not being as brisk as in former years, but an increased demand is expected to be in evidence during the next few months. Up to the present new crop prices havo not been named. SICILY ALMONDS The market for present supplies of Sicilv almonds lias eased considerably although it is difficult to stAto what movements will take place in the near future. However, quotations have no doubt been affected bv I tbe publication of new season's prices for 1 September shipment. These must be j largely speculative but. judging by the low level at which they are offered, it is evi- ! dent there is promise of a good cron. A ! London cable message advises that a good ! crop is anticipated in Sicily. Spot stocks of old season's in London and Sicilv are very short The almond producing countries, Sicily. Spain and Italy, are at present endeavouring to raise prices for all almonds, which will cover Jordans. Valencias, and Sicilians. If this scheme materialises. then higher prices look imminent. TEA At the Colombo tea auction this week 3,500,0001b wa;? offered, tho Quality showing a falling-off. There was a good demand for all common and low medium grades, which advanced l-8d to Id a lb. Good I mediums were slightly easier. The next j auction, which will comprise 3.500.0001b. j will bo held on April 25. SEEDS i The market for seeds is steady, but it is i still difficult to obtain supplies of some j varieties from the producing countries. Can- ; ary seed is likely to be dearer in the near j future as the Argentine crop this vear is ' reported to be very noor. I POTATOES The potato market is firm, with a scarcity of supplies. It is considered that the present position is onlv temporary and sunplies are expected by the. digging of the late Pukekohe cron. and from Raneitikei. It is thought there will be ample supplies available toward the middle of next week at prices ranging from £5 to £6. There has been a firming in the Christchurch market. Large supplies Are not available and the price asked has put a check on business for the time being. ONIONS Ileavv supplies of onions arG still available. They aro worth £G a ton through store. , MAIZE The maize market is unchanged. Stocks are firmly held and the present price is about 5s 2d a bushel through store. % FOWL WHEAT Fowl wheat prices, are steady and fair quantities aro available. The demand is good and present rates are from 4s 5d to 4s 6d' a bushel through store. BARLEY The market, for barley' is quiet and stocks are fairly heavy. It is worth about -Is 2d a bushel clipped. OATH Inquiry for oats is dull, the market being very weak Feed oats aro worth '2s 7d a, b,,aheL CHAFF Prices for chaff in the South seem to have reached bed-rock but buyers show no indication of operating for forward shipment.. The value through store is £0 6s to' i'G 10." a ton. BRAN AND POLLARD There is no change in late rales for bran and pollard. Pollard. which is arriving weekly from Australia, is meeting with a sustained demand. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE (Received April 14, 0.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 13 Wheat. —Country prices, 2s 3d for bagged lots, and 2s 2}d for bulk, equal to 2s 10(1 and 2s 10 jd ex trucks Sydney. Flour, £9 15s; bran and pollard, £4* ss; potatoes, Tasmanian, £9 10s to £10; Victorian, to £8; onions, to £5; maize, yellow, 4s; white, 4s Id. Adelaide prices are: —Wheat., growers' lots, 2s 7id; flour, £8; bran and pollard, £1 17s 0d; oats, Is 5d to Is Gd. Melbourne prices nre:—Wheat, 2s ]o}d; Hour, £7 17s Gd; bran and pollard, £1 10s; oats, milling, 2s to 2s Id; feed, Is 9d; maize, 4s lid. PROPERTY SALES Richard Arthur, Limited, havo sold the following properties: —10J acres, with dwelling, at Manurewa, for £790; half-acre at Papakura, for £120; and 2,| acres, with five-roomed bungalow, at Papa toe toe, for £llOO. DOMINION RUBBER CO. Tho secretary of the Dominion Rubber Company, Limited, Dunedin, has been advised that the crop of rubber harvested at the plantations, Malay States, during March was 47,0001b.