TRADE OF THE WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21935, 19 October 1934, Page 7

TRADE OF THE WEEK

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE GOOD CLEARANCES MADE POTATO MARKET FIRMER Grocery distributing houses report a continuance of an improved volume of business. Orders on November .account are now at their height and rush conditions are expected next week, following the Labour Day holiday. Indent business is quieter as most of the Christmas lines are now on the water or ready for shipment. Owing to the reduction of duty on cigarettes, which becomes effective next month, retailers are working off shelf stocks at present and placing orders for replenishments for November 1 delivery. Tlio chief development in the grain and produce trade is the firming of the potato market, following upon smaller shipments from the South Island and a consequent shortage. Other markets aro unchanged. ALMONDS AND NUTS The spot market is very short of rriost kinds of almonds and nuts, but most of these aro expected to arrive during the next few weeks. Prices generally remain steady with an upward teudency. DRIED FRUITS Cablegrams just to hand from San Francisco shippers of Californian prunes advise reductions in most sizes for prompt shipment. No alterations have been made in the prices for raisins, which are firm at. recent rules. SAGO AND TAPIOCA No change is reported from Singapore this week in the sago and tapioca markets. Pineapples also remain unchanged. AUSTRALIAN CURRANTS Advice has been received from the Australian Dried Fruits Board that supplies of two-crown currants have been exhausted and auotations arc withdrawn. Similar action in regard to three-crown was taken recently, while supplies of one-crown have not been available since early in the season. Sultanas aro still available for October shipment. CIGARETTES The forthcoming reduction in duty, unon cigarettes has stimulated activity in tho trade and orders are being placed for November J. delivery. In the meantime merchants aro clearing only a minimum supply from bond, but owing to that is expected to occur as a result of the rush clearances at the opening of next month, it is almost certain that two or threo days will elapso before tho distribution of stocks is completed. TEA Tho quantity of tea offered at this week's Colombo auction amounted to 1,790.0001b. There was a good general demand for all grades. Common and low mediums were slightly dearer and mediums and good kinds advanced id to Sd per lb. Exchange was unaltered. Next week's auction will comprise approximately 1,500,0001b. There was no auction at Calcutta this week owing to the native festival. PEPPER The pepper market continues to show exceptional strength and this week's auotations from Singapore for white show a further advance of 2d per lb. Prices are now upward of ssd per lb. higher than they were a year ago. The rise in black pepper over tho week was of epialler extent, prices being about id tier lb. dearer. DESICCATED COCONUT The advance iu shippers' quotations for desiccated coconut is being maintained. Recent reports from Ceylon have indicated tho severe effect upon the coconut plantations of the drought which has only recently broken and tho market is row reported to be firm and advancing. Fair business is reported by local agents. » POTATOES The market for potatoes is firm, a distinct shortage resulting in a sudden upward move in prices. The shipment last week was smaller than usual and mechants' stocks aro insufficient for requirements Values range between £5 and £G a ton. through store. The quantity arriving next week is not yet known and prices will depend entirely on. the size of this shipment. The supply of new potatoes has improved and these sold from lid to IJd per 10. through auction yesterday. ONIONS Most merchants are confining their operations in onions to Canadian, which aro worth about 13s 6d a bag of 1001b. Owing to the advanced stage of the season holders of local onions are anxious to clear quickly at about 103 per cwt., through store. FOWL WHEAT The market for fowl wheat is steady, the price being around 5s 2d ft bushel, thioush store. MAIZE Maize is being offered freely without any material alteration in price, which is about 4s 2d a bushel, through store. OATS AND CHAFF The demand for oats and chaff is very quiet, with no alteration in values. Feed oats are worth about 3s 4d a bushel and chaff remains at £7 15s a ton through store. BRAN AND POLLARD The Australian position for pollard is slightly easier, with freer offerings. The local situation is unchanged. Merchants aro selling both local and Australian at £6 las a ton through store. Values for bran are unchanged at £6 a ton on the same basis. WESTFIELD QUOTATIONS POOR DEMAND FOR COWS An indifferent demand caused an easing in values at the Westfield weekly stock sale yesterday. This was particularly noticeable in the dairy cattle section, where small yardings were offered. Most of the stock was' of backward quality, but even cows of outstanding condition failed to stimulate competition. In consequence, many lines were passed over. Store cattle were yarded in large numbers and the demand was up to recent average. There was a restriction, however, on offers, and top values receded soni6wlin.tr. An jidvGrtisGcl line of empty Shorthorn heifers in forward condition enlivened competition and realisations were from £3 10s to £4 2s. The top price for store cows was £3 15s, showing a drop of 10s on last week's rates. Dairy cows also showed a weakening tendency, tho best realisation of £5 5s for Jersey heifers being considerably below last week's values. The ruling prices were as follows: Store Cattle.— Young cows, good condition, from £2 15s to £3 15s; good quality, less condition. £2 to £2 12s Gd; others, 25s to 355; boner and aged cows, 14s to 2as; boner bulls 20s to 455; yearling Shorthorn breeding bulls, £2 10s to £4; two-year-old Jersey bulls, good quality, £3 to £4 Ss; yearling Jersey heifers, good quality, 30s to £2 ss; others, up to 20s. Dairy Cattle.— Jersey cows, good quality, closo to profit, from £3 10a to £4 15s; good quality, moro backward, £2 5s to £3 10s; backward and inferior condition, 30s to £2; Jersey heifers, good quality, close to profit. £1 to £5 ss; good quality, move backward, £2 10s to £3 10s; others, 30a to £2 ss; three-year-old Shorthorn heifers, good quality, close to profit, £3 10s to £5; good quality, more backward, £2 to £3 ss; others, uj? to' 355. FIRM WOOL MARKET COMPETITION IN SYDNEY (Received October IS, 10.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 18 At the Sydney wool sales to-day 11,715 bales' were offered and 10,174 were sold. Also 2635 bales were sold privately. The market closed with good competition and .prices equal to the best point of the week. The average price of wool in Sydney on the first three days of the week was £l2 (3s Id a bale, or 9.3d a lb. PROPERTY AUCTIONS Robert C. Carr and Son will offer at auction at their rooms, 20 Swanson btreet, at noon to-day, section of four acres at Valley ltoad, Henderson. C. F. Bennett, Limited, will offer at auction at its rooms, corner of Queen and Short land Streets, at noon to-day. fourroomed bungalow and section at 49 Commercial Road, Grey Lynn. Neville Nowcomb, Limited, will offer at auction at its rooms, 4 Wyndnam Street, at noon to-day, four-roomed liou6e at .Bona Street, Kingsland.