PRODUCE MARKETS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22086, 16 April 1935, Page 5

PRODUCE MARKETS

TRADE IN AUCKLAND POTATO POSITION FIRM SOUTHERN POLLARD PRICES Steady conditions are being experienced. in the grain and produce tradfl in Auckland, although buyers are showing some hesitancy on account of tha forthcoming holidays. The potato market is very firm, but the arrival of the Omana with about 300 tons on Thursday will result in an easing after Easter. Southern pollard prices have been advanced by 10s a ton, and, although no movement has occurred locally, it is anticipated that values will advance shortly. POTATOES Owing to the late arrival of the Wingatui and the Omana from the South Island, the market for potatoes for immediate delivery ia very firm, although the forward position shows an easier tendency. At present merchants are experiencing difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of good quality. The Wingatui is expected with a shipment from Timaru to-day. and a further shipment of 5057 bags and sacks, equivalent to about 300 tons, will arrive by the Omana on Thursday, but this will not be in time' for distribution beforo the holidays. For immediate delivery merchants are asking up to £lO a ton, but for delivery after Easter values are around £8 5s to £8 15s a ton, according to quality. ONIONS The market remains firm for good quality onions, although the demand is restricted. It is considered that supplies will be available for all requirements until Japanese and Canadian importations arrive in August or September. Present rates are around 13s 6d to 14s per cwt., through s'ore, while Japanese onions are being quoted "to arrive" at 17e 6d per cwt., and Canadian at 15s 6d per 1001b bag. "WHEAT The wheat position is firm, as difficulty i 3 being experienced in the South Island in obtaining supplies of graded lines. Tho Wheat Purchase Board's price for last season's milling wheat is unaltered, and very few undergrade lines are offering. Values ary around 5a Sd a bushel, through store. MAIZE Sufficient supplies of maizo are comixu: forward from Gisborne. With the. approach of colder weather, it is anticipated that this demand will improve. Values are unchanged at 4s 5d to 4s 6d a bushel through stora, and 4s 2d to 4s 3d a bushel ex wharf. BARLEY The Australian position for barley io unaltered, and further supplies are expected by the Omana this week. There is only a limited demand for poultry -feeding, as on a weight basis barley is very little cheaper than wheat. Through store clipped is' worth about 4s 3d a bushel and unclipped about 4s a bushel. BRAN AND POLLARD There is a good demand for bran and pollard. Although it is difficult to obtain supplies in Sydney,- pollard may still be obtained in Melbourne. Prices of New Zealand pollard have been advanced by 10s a ton in the South Island, and it is anticipated that similar action will be taken locally. Australian pollard is quoted at from £6 7s Gd to £6 12s 6d a local pollard at £6 5s n ton, thjouirfi store. Bran is unchanged at £6 a ton, through store. OATS AND CHAFF Oats are very firm in the South Island, lis graded linea are being taken by miller*. There is a steady demand in Auckland. X grade Garion oats being quoted at 3s 3d a • bushel and B Gartons at 3s 6d a bushel, through store. Chaff is unchanged at £7 to £7 10s on the same basis TRADE OF THE WORLD DECLINE LESS MARKED The decline in the gold valus of world trade, which has been very rapid since 1929, slowed considerably in 1934, j according to figures compiled by the I League of Nations. In 1930 it was 19.2 j per cent; in 1931 28.6 per cent; in 1932 I 32.2 per cent; in 1933 10.0 per cent; and in 1934 3.9 per cent. The gold value of world trade in 1934 only amounted to 33.8 per cent of its value in 1929. This decline is largely a reflection of the drop in prices on the world markets, which slowly continued in terms of gold during 1934. The quantum of world trade, which by 1932 had fallen to about 74 per cent of what it was in 1929 and recovered slightly in 1933, appears in 1934 as a whole to have maintained the level of that year, about 75 per cent of the 1929 figure.