TRADE OF THE WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 7

TRADE OF THE WEEK

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE "PHENOMENAL BUSINESS" TOBACCO DELIVERY DATES Wholesale merchants in Auckland describe the Easter trading as almost phenomenal, and orders were being carried out right up to the last minute. Overtime was again necessary in the majority of houses. There was again a keen demand for Easter novelties, canned fruit and other items suitable for tbe holiday period. The tobacco delivery for the new period will be sent out next Thursday to both town and country. Bookings for May commence for the country on April 22, and the following day for the city. Overseas business is steady. New season's prices for Australian dried fruits are considered to be favourable. Raisins and prunes both show advances. CLOTHES PEGS. Following a firming in the market for clothes pegs, un advance in price of about Jid a box is now announced. DESICCATED COCONUT The market for desiccated coconut is reported to be easier, and prices show a reduction of about Is per cwt. EASTERN MARKETS Both Penang sago and tapioca are unchanged. Nutmeg values show a slight easing, while there is no alteration in the prico of pepper. PINEAPPLES It is roported that there is no change in the values of pineapples, with the exception of crushed, which are lower, and cubes, first quality, which show an increase, BIRDSEED After a general strengthening in the birdseed market there has been an increase in the Values of loose sorts. It is expected that this advance will rule for come time. BATH SOAPS An advance of about 10 per cent in the .price of a line of New Zealand-made bath soaps was announced on Thursday. This increuse has been delayed and most merchants were expecting it at the end of last year. RAISINS Advice received by merchants from San Francisco shippers of raisins shows a general price increase. Thompson's seedless unbleached have advanced a further Is 3d per cwt. for prompt shipment, with still higher prices being asked for shipments later in the year. Bleached raisins also arc higher by la per cwt. PRUNES Quotations for new season's Australian prunes in tins, A grade, show no alteration on the rates ruling last year. Cablegrams from San Francisco shippers advise a very firm market and all-round rises in price. The larger sizes are now 4s per cwt, higher, while other sizes are from 2s 9d to 3s per cwt. above previous levels. AUSTRALIAN DRIED FRUITS Prices for new season's sultanas, currants and lexias have been announced by the Commonwealta Dried Fruits Control Board and the rates are lower than were expected by some local merchants. Sultana prices are slightly lower, and no cheap grades are available. Merchants are not able to give delivery beyond May, when it is expected that values will rise. Currant prices are lower than Inst year, and ns the crop was damaged by rain it is thought that there may bo a shortage. Lexias are dearer.

THE CITY MARKETS FRUIT SELLS WELL RIPE BANANAS CHEAPER Heavy supplies of fruit were available at the City Markets on Thursday and a good demand existed for most varieties. Apples, however, were slow of sale, Delicious being particularly hard to quit. Good pears, choice tomatoes and both hothouse and Te Kauwhata grapes, sold freely. A fresh shipment of Jamaican oranges arrived by the Tainui and was in good condition. Ripe bananas were plentiful and sold well at fairly cheap rates. Cauliflowers also were plentiful. Large quantities arrived from Ohakune and sold at slightly lower rates than last week. Cabbages were in heavy supply and sold freely. Swedes and pumpkins were practically without sale while lettuce and onions realised only low values. The supply of poultry was medium, but there was only a poor demand. Prices in most lines were slightly lower. Values were:— FRUIT Apples, Cox's Orange, 6s ta 8s a case; Delicious, 2s 6d to ss; Ballarat, 3s to 4s; Granny Smith, 3s to ss; Jonathan, 9s to 6s; Munro, 3s to 4s; Kidtfs Orange Red. 5s to 6s 6d; pears, L.8.J.. 6s to 8s 6d: Packhams. 3s to 4s 6d: Keiffers. 3b to 4s: P. Barry. 4s to 4s 6d: Winter Coles. 6s to 8s; tomatoes, outdoor, extra choice. 7s Gd to 9s; others. 3s to Gs; Hutt. 4s to 7s; tree tomatoes. New Black, 4s 6d to 6s Gd: oranges. Californian, 28s; Jamaican. 22s to 265; Fiii, 10s to 12s; grapefruit. Jamaican. 22s to 30s; lemons, choice, cured. 9s to 12s: others. 4s to 8s: mandarins. Fiii, 14s to 18s: bananas, ripe. 8s to 17s; crapes. Te Kauwhata, 6s to 8s; hothouse. Hamburg, 4d to Gd per lb: Coleman, extra choice. Is Id to Is 4d; others, Gd to Is; peaches. Otago, 6s to 7s 9d a case: Cape gooseberries. 4jd to s}d per lb; passion fruit. 3s to 4s 6d ft case: figs, 2s to 3s: persimmons, 2s Gd to 4s 6d: quinces. 6s to 9s; mushrooms, about 3s a lb. FIELD PRODUCE Beet. 4d to Is a dozen: celery, cooking. Sd to 9d a bundle: dessert. Is to 2s 3d: carrots, 4d to 8d a dozen: cauliflowers. 5s to 7s a sack; cabbages, 5s to 9s Gd: cucumbers. Is to 3s a dozen; French beans. 2s to 4s a bag; stringless, 5s to 8s: green peas. 3s to 9s: kumaras, 2s to ss: leeks. 2d to 3d a bundle: lettuce, Is to 3s Gd a case; marrows. Gd to Is a dozen: melon#, citrons, 3d lo 8d each; water. 3d to Gd: onions, 2s to 2s Gd a bag; Centals. 5s to 5s Gd: potatoes, Ohakune, Sutton Supreme. 5s to tis; other varieties. 4s to ss: Pnkekohe. No. 1. 3s to 4s Gd: medium. Is 6d to 3s: pumpkins, ■ Red Warren, Zs to 4s u cwt; Best Crown. Gs to 8s Gd: parsnips. Gd to 9d a dozen : radish. 3d to 4d: rhubarb. Is to 2s: spinach, Gd to 9d: spring onions. Is to 2s 3d a bundle: swedes, 1* to li 6d a bag: turnips, 3d a dozen.

POULTRY Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, 2s 6d to 4s (id: not prime. Is up; flight breeds, prime. Is "fid to 2s 9d; not prime. 9d np: fat roosters, heavy breeds, prime. Is 9d to 2s 3d; 1 ikht. breeds. Is to Is Gd; fat hens, heavy breeds, Is Od to 2s Gd; light breeds. Is to Is fid; pullets, heavy breeds, best. 3s fid to 5s fid; smaller. Is 6d up; light breeds, best, 3s 6d to 5s Gd: smaller, la 6d up; drakes, young, prime. Is 6d to 2s 3d: smaller. 9d up; old. Is Gd to 2s: ducks, young, 2s 6d to 3s Gd: old. Is 6d to 2s: geese. 3s to 3s Gd; turkey hens, 8s Gd to 4s 6d; gobblers. 5s to 12s Gd: guinea fowls. 3s Gd to 4s. „ BUTTER AND EGGS Eggs, hen, first grade. 2s 3Jd a dozen; B, Is Hid; C, Is 7Jd: duck, first grade. 2s 2}d; B, 2s.lid: C. Is 74d; farmers' butter, 9Jd to llid per lb. GOLD AND SILVER QUOTATIONS IN LONDON (Received April 10. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. April 9 Fine gold is quoted to-day at £7 0s 10id an ounce,- compared with £7 0s lOd vesterday. Silver was quoted yesterday at 19£ dan ounce spot, compared with 19 15-16 d spot and forward on Saturday. The quotation for silver at per fine ounce yesterday was 21 7-16 d, compared with 21id on Tuesday. The following is a summary of the fluctuation in the price per ounce of fine gold this year:— £ s d Highest price, January 2 . . 7 14 Lowest price, Feb. 4 and 10 7 0 G April 3 . • • • 7 0 7i April 4 ■ • 7 0 7 April 6 . . • • • • 7 0 i\ April 7 7 0 8! Apirl 8 I 0 10 April 8 1 0 10*