TRADE OF THE WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21881, 17 August 1934, Page 7

TRADE OF THE WEEK

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE INCREASING ACTIVITY CLEARANCE OF POTATOES Wholesale grocery houses in the city arc now receiving orders on September account and business is reported to be coming in very well. Present in- j dications point to larger clearances. A number of the more remote despatches j will be sent forward on Monday, while tho general country deliveries will be commenced on Wednesday. The demand continues to cover tho general range of basic foodstuffs. Improved inquiry is being receited for agricultural and gardening imrdements. In this respect a large quantity of American lines arrived duriaig the week, together with a shipment of motor-cars and parts, wireless sets and machinery. The shortage of shipping frtom the South Island has resulted in an effective clearance of potatoes on the Auckland market. Two shipments are due between to-day and Monday, but these will be hardly sufficient to break ruling prices. Wheat remains ftrm and pollard is in strong demand. DESICCATED COCONUT An advance of about 9d per cwt for both prompt and forward shipment in Ceylon desiccated coconut, is announced. RESIN AND TURPENTINE A rise of 2d a gallon in American turpentine took effect, this week. The resin market, remains fairly steady. PRUNES Prices for new season's puppKr-s of Californian prunes have been namod. The new rates are from Is 6d to 4s per cwt higher than those for present crop. Shipments of the now fruit cannot be marie until Sep-tember-October. WALNUT MEATS Several agents ore already quoting prices for new season's Manchurian walnut meats, but as prices are higher than at this time last year, little interest is being shown by buyers in the meantime. CANNED FRUET Local eanners of fruit have advised merchants that only peaches, halves, are available and that prices of these have been advanced Is a. dozen. EASTERN PRODUCTS The Singapore market for tapioca this week is unchanged. Sago is slightly firmer. Pineapples, generally speoiking, are about id lower, but tome lines remain steady. Pepper is about Id per lb dearer. Current quotations are for November-December steamer, the Narbada with July-August shipments having cleared Singapore. ACIDS Australian tartaric acid is now being olfered in New Zealand for the first time. The prices quoted are very favourable. Quotations for English citric acid have been reduced £i a ton. '

CREAM OF TARTAR No changes have been, reported in prices for cream of tartar. Current rates are extremely favourable for both prompt and forward bookings and a fair volume of business is being done. FIGS Californian shippers have announced prices for new season's figs and very good business has been transacted at prices about equal to last year's rates. Shipment for August, September and October is quoted, but the bulk of the business baa been donjj for early despatch to meet requirements prior to the landing of Mediterranean supplies. ALASKAN - SALMON New season's Alaskan salmon is now being quoted for spread shipment up to December. Levels are a shade higher than those of last season, but are still attractive, and good business is reported. A new departure has been made by ono leading shipper who in offering halves. It is reported that owing to the Pacific Coast strike delaying the delivery of cans to some of the packers, the quantities packed are below those at the corresponding date a year ago. Red Sockeyes are short by about 163,000 cases. The run of reds has been disappointing, particularly in Bristol Bay, usually the largest producer of Alaska reds. It is expected that fishing in the bay will be prohibited nest year. - RAISINS Quotations for new season's Thompson's seedless raisins have come to hand this week. The new rates are Is 6d per cwt above prices for present crop. New season's Californian muscatels in lib packets are being quoted for October-November shipment frorn San Francisco. Prices for 4crown quality are the same as those of last year, while 3-crown ore fractionally lower. Although business has already been booked in both Australian and Spanish, there i» always a fair demand for the Californian article which lands at a cheaper rate. TEA The quantity of tea offered at this week's auction at Colombo was 1,810.0001b. The quality of up-country estates was very gdod and high prices were realised. There was a good general demand. Commonest ond commons were slightly easier. Mediums and good advanced }d to Id. Fine teas brought very high prices. Exchange is quoted at la 6 7-32 d. Next week's sale will comprise approximately 2,000,0001b. At Calcutta there was a good general demand. The market was firm at late rateß. POTATOES There has been almost a complete clearance of spot stocks of potatoes owing to the delay in arrivals from the South Island, and the shipment due by the "Wjngatui to-day is awaited to meet requirements. The Wnii?atiu will be followed on Monday by the Waimarino, but the total arrivals by the two steamers is expected to be about "POO sacks only, which will be barely sufficient to carry the market until tho return of the Waipiata on August 27. In the meantime the market is firm at around 6s 6d per cwt through store. Prices for delivery after the week-end are around £6 5s a ton through store, and £5 15s ex wharf. There is a strong demand for seed potatoes, stocks of the main lines of which aro available.

ONIONS Quotations for Pukekohe onions ex cool store are now available, offerings being mado at around lis a crate on rail. Supplies of Southern onions are still plentiful and good quality lines from Pukekohe ore ulso available. Prices through store show a fairly wide range according to quality. Merchants are quoting the best, Southern lines at- around Os Per cwt, and Pukekohe at lis (3d through store. WHEAT The South Island market for wheat has advanced suddenly and current rates are about 3d a bushel higher than those ruling n week ago. The spot market is firm around 5s a bushel through store. MAIZE The high prices ruling in the wheat market are being reflected in maize. Firmer rates are reported from Gisborne and while ample supplies are still available nn upward movement in the market is expected toward the end of the yeor. At present the grain is worth around 4s Id a bushel through store. OATS AND CIIAFF The oat market is maintaining a firmer tone on the strength of reported export business in the South Island. Feed oats are worth around 8s "2d a bushel through store. Chafl is steady at £7 10» to £7 las a ton through store. BARLEY The price of barley in Melbourne and Adelaide has advanced too high for importation to New Zealand. Contracts for shipment have been finished and stocks on spot aro not very large. The present price is around 4b a bushel for clipped. New season's will not be available until JanuBRAN AND POLLARD An advance of 5s a ton in pollard prices was made in the South Island earlier this week, but a report has since been received by an Auckland merchant, that the rise is not being maintained. No alteration has taken place in Auckland, although a very good demand is being experienced. The Sydney market has eased ft shade, but not sufficient to make importation profitable. Present prices in Auckland, through store, are:--Bran, £5 15s a ton; pollard, £6 ss; Australian pollard, £6 7s 6d.