GRAIN AND PRODUCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22346, 18 February 1936, Page 7

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

TRADE IN AUCKLAND

GOVERNMENT CONTROL PLAN FOWL WHEAT VALUES FIRM Government control of the wheat industry has naturally had repercussions in the grain and produce trado. Although the price of fowhvheat is not regulated, it is anticipated values will be affected by the higher prices of milling wheat, and over the past week the through store price of fowhvheat has firmed by 2d a bushel, Bran and pollard also are affected by the scheme, and supplies now havo to be purchased through the Wheat Committee. The Australian pollard position is very firm as mills there are receiving very few overseas flour orders and values havo again advanced. POTATOES Heavy supplies of potatoes are coming forward, but business is quiet, as many consumers are digging home-grown crops. Values through Htore for first grade range from 2s 9d to 3s 3d a bag. ONIONS The market i"b heavily supplied with onions, which are worth around 3s 6d a bag, through store. As yet, there has been no inquiry from overseas. v FOWLWHEAT The price of fowlwheat is not being controlled by the Wheat Committee, but it would appear that the higher price paid for milling wheat will be reflected in the value of fowlwheat. The position is still very uncertain, but spread quotations are now 4d a bushel higher than when opening prices were named some weeks ago. Stocks of Australian wheat are practically exhausted nnd business is being conducted in new season's. Supplies are very short, but further quantities are due to arrive on Thursday. Values are very firm at around 5s lid a bushel, through store. MAIZE Supplies of maize are very short and business is quiet on account of the high jirice of 6s 9d a bushel, through store. A direct shipment of South African is due by the Unden about March 12, and the only other importation will be by the Narbada from. Java, due about May 5. BARLEY A fair shipment of Australian barley came to hand last week, and the price of clipped is unchanged at 4s 5d a bushel, through store, although a decrease in value is expected when the main shipments arrive next jmonth. Owing to the weather just prior to and during harvesting, some of the Australian barley will be discoloured, but this has no detrimental effect on the grain. An increased demand is anticipated on account of the high prices of other grains. OATS AND CHAFF Values for oats have again declined on account of the arrival of new eens°n's, current prices being around 4s a bushel, througu store, a drop of 3d on the week. Business in chaff is very quiet, but tho market in the South is firm. Values are unchanged at £7 17s 6d a ton. through store. BRAN AND POLLARD The new wheat regulation will result in all buyers of wheat offal being placed on the same footing in regard to discounts, which previously showed somo variation. Another effect will be increased supplies ol locally-milled bran and pollard owing to the importation of Canadiun wheat rather than flour, should importation become neces sary. At present merchants are unable to secure supplies of pollard from local mills and holdings are short, although a shipment from Australia arrived J"!* I™*: 1 ™*: Through etore, pollard is worth £8 17s b.l 11 There is a quiet demand for bran, which is worth £6 15s a ton, through store. PRIVATE POWER SCHEMES LICENCES TO CEASE STATEMENT BY MINISTER "The Government has made the decision not to issue any more licences to private companies for the generation of hydro-electricity," said the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, when replying to a deputation in Blenheim.

"1 have had enough experience to know that private companies have interests which conflict with those of the State in this respect, and that there has been some overlapping in the supply," he stated. "Rivers and streams belong to the nation, and are the heritage of the people. No one has any right "to hand them over to private persons for exploitation. This is applicable to irrigation schemes as well as to hydroelectricity. I am determined that the right to use those rivers shall not be transferred to private companies." BUTTER-FAT PAYMENTS OPOTIKI DISTRIBUTION ADVANCE OF 10D A POUND [by telegraph—OWN* correspondent] OPOTIKI, Monday The Opotiki Dairy Association will pay out on Thursday lOd per lb. butterfat for tho January supply of cream, compared with 8d per lb. in February, 1935. HOKIANGA DISBURSEMENT LAST MONTH'S-PRODUCTION [by telegraph OWN correspondent] KOIIUKOHU, Monday The Hokianga Dairy Company will pay out 10jd and lOd, respectively, for superfine and first-grade butter-fat supplied in January. Tho amount of butter produced for January was 233 tons, compared with 249 tons 3cwt. for the same month last year. Tho total produced for the season was 902 tons, a decrease over a similar period last year of. 179 tons.

THE RAGLAN COMPANY IMPROVEMENT ON LAST YEAR [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON. Monday Tho Raglan Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, has decided to advance its suppliers lOd per lb. butterfat for finest grade cream supplied for butter-making in January. The payout last February was BJd per lb. ' BEEF IN QUEENSLAND INDUSTRY UNPROFITABLE BRISBANE. Feb. 17 The serious' position of the beef industry in Queensland is reflected in the announcement that one of the bestknown Shorthorn studs in Australia, that of Mr. J. T. Scrymgeour, near Warwick, is to be sold next month. Mr. Scrymgeour stated: "I am selling out because it does not pay to keep going. There is very little demand for the best stock and our herds are definitely deteriorating. I shall turn my attention to breeding Clydesdale horses." QUOTATIONS FOR SILVER British Wireless RUGBY, Fob. 15 Silver was quoted to-day at 19 7-8 d an oz. spot and 193 d forward, com■pared with 20d and 19 7-Bd. yesterday.