TRADE OF THE WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 7

TRADE OF THE WEEK

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE DRAPERY SALES CONTINUE INQUIRY FOR DRIED FRUIT Wholesale business in Auckland _is steady, while in retail trade the principal feature is the continuance of the drapery sales. In groceries there has been unusual attention paid to dried fruits, such as apricots and prunes, which normally are "dead" lines at this season. The increased demand is attributed in some quarters to the storm damage to the fresh fruit crop. There are few important changes in overseas markets, although there was an easier trend at the Colombo tea auction. TURPENTINE The price of pine tree turpentine haa eased by Id a gsllon. CARAWAY SEED An advance of £5 a Jon is notified in the price of caraway seed. CONDENSED MILK The price of a cheap line of condensed milk has been reduced by about 2s a case. MADAGASCAR BEANS A shipment of new season's Madagascar beans arrived this week and opened up in very good condition. RICE Cablegrams from London report an advance of £3 10s a totr in the price of European quality genuine Patna rica. COCOA A new price list for cocoa states that although costs are higher values for the coming season are unchanged. CASTOR OH, A reduction of Id a gallon is announced in the price of Australian manufactured medicinal and crude castor oil. DRIED APRICOTS Dried apricots are selling particularly well, and although a shipment arrived only a fortnight ago the market is short. CANNED FRUIT. Reports from Nelson state that if the weather continues favourable, the crop of *•' fruit for canning, particularly peaches, ia expected to be ample. PRUNES The new season's pack of Australian canned prunes is expected to be 6mall in the 30-40 and 40-50 sizes, according to advice received in the South. EASTERN MARKETS Cablegrams from Penang advise a slight firming in medium pearl tapioca, but seed tapioca is unchanged. There are no alterations in Singapore quotations for sago, pineapples and pepper.. . TEA There was a good demand at slightly easier rate 3 at this week's Colombo tea auction, when 2,000.0001b. were offgred. Quality fell off. Common kinds were irregular at last week's rates, medium sorts declined id per lb. and good types, where quality was inferior, dropped by id. Next week*a auction will comprise 1,575.0001b. KAPOK All gradeß of kapok have been advanced by 5/32 d per lb, according to latest cablegrams from Java. The increase will affeca the April and August direct steamers. The Dutch East Indies Government also has assumed control of the export of peanuts and coffee. In future licences to export will be required, and all overseas shipments will be under strict control. GLYCERINE The high price of glycerine still holds, and from all appearances this position is . likely to remain so for some time. For Bome years Germany has exported a very large amount of glycerine, but the export from this country has ceased, or _ very nearly so, and it seems that the line ia being used for the manufacture of explosives. With a -large amount off the market that was in the past furnished by Germany. prices have hardened to such an extent that now values are very high in England and America.