RATES AT ADDINGTON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21708, 25 January 1934, Page 7

RATES AT ADDINGTON

DEMAND FOR STORE SHEEP LAMBS ALSO SELL WELL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHUECH, Wednesday Continued interest in the store sheep sections at the Addington market to-day saw values firmer for all classes. Store Sheep.—A representative yarding included several station lines. Young and good sound-mouthed ewes were in keen demand at an advance of Is to 2s. Values were: Good two-tooth Corriedale ewes, 27s to 28s 9d; medium two-tooth half bred, 23s Cd to 25s 4d; inferior, to 18s; good four-year-old Corriedale, 20s to 23s Od; sound-mouth halfbred, 16s to 18s; sound and failing-mouth, 12s to 15s; aged. 9s to lis 6d; forward halfbred wethers, 39a to 20s 7d; Merino, to 8s 6d. Store Lambs.—There was a big yarding of mixed quality, including a number of good station lines. Prices were very firm. Buyers have established a definite basis o£ values and are holding to it. Values were: Good rape, to 18s 3d; medium, 16s to 17s Cd; ordinary, 14s to 35s Od; small, 10s to 13s; good ewe lambs, 17s 9d to 19s 4d. Fat Lambs.—An entry of 2000 head met with a keen sale. The increased export schedule and keen butchers' competitioif forced values for prime light-weights up Is. Values were: Extra prime, to 26s 4d; prime, 2ls to 23s 6d; medium, 18s to 20s Od; light, Jss to 17g Od.

Fat Sheep.—The entry consisted of 3600 head. There was a good demand for prime light-weight ewes and wethers, but at unchanged prices. Heavy ewes were Is cheaper. Exporters helped to sustain the market. Valiiß were: Extra prime heavy wethers, to 33b 7d; prime heavy, 26s to 295; prime medium-weight, 23s 6d to 25s 6d; ordinary quality,, 21s to 235; light, 18s to 20s 6d; extra, prime heavy ewes, to 265; prime heavy, 22s 6d to 255; prime mediumweight, 18s 6d to 225; ordinary quality, 16s to 19s; light, 12s 6d to 15s 6d. Fat Cattle.—There was an entry of 450 head., including a nunibel' of lines of good steers. The market was erratic throughout and weaker. Best beef made from 24s to 26s per 1001b.; good, 18s to 20s; heavy-weight, 16s to ,18h 6d; medium. 13s 6d to 15s 6d; rough, 9s to 13s. Values were: Extra prime heavy, to £ll 7s .fid; prime heavy, £8 10s to £9 17s 6d; prime medium-weight, £S to £9 15s; ordinary quality, £5 to £7; light, £3 10s to £4 15s; extra prime heifers, £7 2s fid; prime, £4 to £6; medium, £2 10s to £3 15s; light, to £2 10s; extra prime cows, to £7 12s 6d; prime, £3 10s to £5 ss; medium. £2 5s to £3 ss; light, to £2. Fat Pigs.—There was a medium entry. Pork was a little easier. Bacon sold firmly, but little was purchased for export. Values were: Choppers, 30s to £3 13s 6d; baconers, 45s 6d to 54s Gd; hea?y, 58s Gd to £3 5s Gd; extra, to £3 lfis 0d; average price per lb.. 4Jd to 5111; porkers, 283 6ci to 32s Cd; heavy, 34s 6d to 38s 6d; average price per lb., 5d to sid.

BASE METAL MARKETS HIGHER AVERAGE PRICES LEAD REMAINS WEAK Apart from lead, which is the chief product of the Broken Hill mining companies, the chief base metals commanded higher average prices during 1933 compared with quotations for 1932. Average metal prices for the past three years are compared in the following table:— 1931 1932 1933 Per Ton Per Ton Per Ton Electrolytic £sd £sd £ a d copper . . 42 13 3 36 7 9 36 14 2 Lead ~. 13 0 fi 12 0 9 11 16 1 Spelter . . 12 810 13 13 10 15 14 10 Tin, spot . . 118 9 0 135 18 10 194 11 1 Prices of copper and lead remain weak, and although spelter has made headway, a further improvement would be welcomed by producing companies. Tin hardened appreciably during the year and the average price of £194 lis lid a ton was £SB 13s Id and £76 2s lid higher, compared with the average quotations for 1932 and 1931 respectively. The substantial advance was due to the improved statistical position, increased American consumption and curtailed production accounting for a shrinkage in visible supplies.

FRUIT EMBARGO ACTION BY AUSTRALIA DISCUSSION 'BY EXPERTS [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, Jan. 18 It is generally felt in Australia that the Federal Government is extremely anxious to inaugurate better trading relations with New Zealand, and • so succeed in a task which has proved a stumbling block to its predecessors. Maybe the attitude of the present Government is dictated by the necessity for opening up new markets, but be that as it may, it is regretted in many quarters that there is not closer cooperation between the two Dominions which have so many interests in common. It cannot be said that the whole field has been explored, and the recent treaty between the two countries was disappointing to many. The Minister of Commerce, -Mr. F. H. Stewart, when he visits the Dominion shortly, may bo able to carry a step further the good that has already been achieved..

The embargo which Australia has placed on the importation of New Zealand fruit is still the most serious hurdle facing those who selected to carry on the negotiations for Australia. The conference of experts held in Canberra this week was for tho purpose of assisting the Minister of Health to arrive at a decision whether tho present quarantine regulations should be amended to pormit of the importation of fresh fruit from New Zealand. Technical officers from various States attended, and although no official statement was issued, it is believed that no recommondation has been made to tho Minister as to the courso he should take.

The Minister of Commerce, who has been giving Now Zealand trade matters his closest attention, said that apart from the important commercial aspects involved, tliero was the not less important matter of reciprocal goodwill between the two Dominions. It was because New Zealand had expressed sotuo doubt about tho bona iiiles of Australia in tho matter of firoblight that the conference was called. Mr. Stewart aaid he believed that New Zealand, as well as Australia, was anxious that such doubts should be definitely dissolved. The Commonwealth Government was much concerned at the loss to Australian fruit producers of tho valuable New Zealand market, conservatively valued at £160,000 a year, but was even more concerned that no action it should take should in the slightest degree imperil tho cleanliness and freedom from disease of tho Australian orchards. It was added by Mr. Stewart that the issuo really reduced itself to tho biological question whether the lireblight bacillus was communicable by means of marketable fruit. Up to tho present tho weight of world opinion available to the Government suggested that tho organism responsible for this disease was capable of being so carried, although this opinion was strongly challenged in authoritative quarters. Tho Government, the Minister said, was anxious to obtain tho latest results of research. For that reason ho hoped that the recommendations of tho conference would bo conclusive, and would enablo tho Government to formulate a policy which, while conserving the best interests of Australia, would nlso assure New Zealand of Australia's desiro to deal fairly and equitably with her.

APPLES FOR IRELAND LONDON, Jan. 23 The Irish Free State Government has decided to permit the importation of raw apples from February 1 to August 1 free of the duty of one penny a pound imposed in 1933.