TRADE IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21878, 14 August 1934, Page 5

TRADE IN AUCKLAND

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE CANNED FRUIT STOCKS INTEREST IN WHEAT MARKET Wholesalo grocery houses report that «i steady volume of orders is being maintained, with few market changes. With tho arrival of tho Karepo from Australia, larger supplies of Australian dried fruits are available. A rapid clearance of Australian canned fruits is indicated in a recent report from a Melbourne house. The consuming demand for this lino 011 tho local market is just commencing. Tho market is short of potatoes and a firm tone is likely to bo maintained until replenishments arrive toward tho end of tho week. Tho higher price of wheat jn tho world's markets is focussing attention upon the South Island position. Higher rates overseas will give the Southern grower an increased margin on exports. Last season shipments were made at a loss, which had- tho effect of reducing the average return to tho farmer. Tho area of wheat sown to dato, however, is not nearly so great as at this time last season, but it is probable that this Will bo offset to a largo extent by increased spring sowings. - RAISINS ' A decline of. 2s per cwt. in quotations for new season's golden bleached raisins for September-October shipment from San Francisco is reported. Tho heavy import duty 011 this lino us compared with Mildura sultanas is expected to have tho effect of severely limiting the quantities imported by merchants this season. WALNUT MEAT Advices from Tientsin shippers of walnut meats indicate that tho new season's crop of walnuts has been damaged, the- extent of which is estimated np to 25 per cent. In consequence higher prices are expected to rule for later shipment. CANNED FRUITS For eoine time stocks of New Zealand canned fruits havo boen depleted, while latest reports from Australia indicate tho approach of a similar position there. A trade report daled July 3l elates that never in the history of the industry have stocks been cleared so effectively, and the poßitiun to-day is that most canners are oversold nnd aro trying to buy back from merchants and storekeepers. Buyers who have yet to take delivery of Australian apricots und peaches aro warned that the landed cost will be more than tho estimates made in January, which were based on the then home consumption values of, standard apricots, Gs; standard peaches, halves and slices, 53 3d net. Several advances wero made subsequently, tho last one being on July 23, when current domestic values, Melbourne, for 30oz. tins, were declared to be:—Standard apricots, Gs 9d a dozen net; peaches, halves, 7s; slices, 7s sd; pears, 7s lid. Tho lifting of deliveries promptly is urged, as it is possiblo that domestic prices in Australia will bo advanced still further, the. effect of which will be to increase the duty assessment on parcels landing in New Zealand,

POTATOES Owing to the break ill arrivals from tho South Island, spot stocks of potatoes have been substantially reduced, . and aro now down to small compass. Delayed last, week owing to tho shipping dispute, tho Wingatui, with tho normal weekly shipment,' is not likely to arrive xmtil Thursday and replenishments will probably not bo available until Friday. A small quantity, amounting to about 1500 nncks, camo to hand by the Port Waikato, but in spite of this tho market is short and is likely to remain tirni until the end of tho week. Prices uro nominally from i'G to £6 5s a ton through etoro for whites, and £G 53 to iIG lO.s for rids. OX lONS The market remains very firm for good quality onions. Many lines, however, are showing signs of growth and will not keep. Heavy arrivals of Southern onions came on the market and had a depressing effect upon prices. Best quality Pukekoho lines aro bringing lip to £lO a ton through store, but poorer quality grades are worth less, while Southerns aro substantially cheaper according to quality. WE EAT The market for wheat is very firm in. tho South Island. Very few lines nro offering on sample and graded lines aro becoming moro difficult to secure except at increased rales. Tho urea sown in wheat lip to tho present this season is only about one-third of that at tho corresponding date, last season. Values are showing a strong upward movement throughout tho world and it is considered that prices in New Zealand will tend to move in sympathy. At present tho market for fowlwheut remains firm at 4s lOd to 5s a bushel through store, with lower rates according to quality for sample lines. MAIZE

There is a steady demand for maize. Sufficient is arriving to meet all requirements. Holders in the Bay of Plenty are fairly firm in their ideas of value. Uiero is still a fair quantity of old season's available for shipment from Gisborno at rates which have been ruling for some time. If tho market for wheat continues to advance an" increased demand for maizo is likely. Current prices through .--store aro around 4s to 43 3d for old season's and 3s 9d to -Is "* OATS AND CHAFF

The market for grado oats is very much firmer on account of the report of a small volume of export business. The movement is not yet reflected in spot valued, which remain steady at 3s to 3s 2d for feed lines Chaff is unaltered. Blenheim chaff is worth £7 10s to £7 15s a ton through store. Lower prices aro being accepted for Canteibury chrdT ' BRAN AND POLLARD

No change has taken place in tho local prices of bran and pollard. Bran is selling at £5 15s a ton through store. New Zealand pollard at £'\ ss, and Australian at £6 7s lid ton on the same basis. A fauly heavy shipment' of Australian pollard airived by the Knrepo, which was discharging yesterday. The bulk of the cargo, however, was sold to arrive. This will supplement present stocks, as the local mills -UU_lveen unable to accumulate socks for some littles time past. 'J he market is still firm in .Australia and lower prices arc. not expected to rule.

RAILWAY SLEEPERS AUSTRALIAN ' EXPORTS New Zealand is a substantial importer of railway sleepers from Australia, according to figures stfpplied by the Australian Department of Comtnoreo. I'rotn January 1 to June 30. 1934, the total exports from the Commonwealth were 400,320 sleepers, valued at ;Lllu.u»A compared with 252,714 sloepers, with a value of £62,517, for the corresponding period last year. Tho importing countries are:- —South African Union, 93,546; Portuguese East Africa, 11,789; Mauritius, 18,000; Now Zealand, 70 962; Nauru, 4367; fiji, 3*00; Ceylon, 89,427; China and Hongkong, 115',036. PUKEKOIIE PRODUCE PRICES [vitOM otril OWN CORRESPONDENT] PUKEKOHE, Monday Quotations for locally-grown onions remain at about 10s per cwt., f.0.r., Pukokolie. Cauliflowers ore priced at. Cs Od per large sack; Drumhead cabbages, 3s Od per Back; enrrots, 2a (>d per sugar bag; parsnips, 2s ,'l<l per bag; beetroot and swedes, 2a per bag; onion plants, 4s 3d per 1000,