GRAIN AND PRODUCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 5

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

TRADE IN AUCKLAND POTATOES FROM THE SOUTH LOCAL MARKET QUIET After the accumulation of business at the Easter holidays, grain and produce merchants in Auckland report that conditions are quiet. Southern potatoes are coming on to the local market, but the quality so far is unsatisfactory. Pukekohe stocks are almost exhausted, but supplies from the South should now be plentiful. of Australian barley are particularly light, but relief should be forthcoming next week by the arrival of the Omana. There lias been an advance in the Australian market for pollard. Graded fowl wheat is still difficult to obtain, but good supplies from the South Island are expected. POTATOES Satisfactory supplies of potatoes continue to como forward, a shipment from the South Island arrived last week, but the qualfty was indifferent. Further stocks are due to arrive by the Waipiata on Thursday, but merchants are not inclined to buy largely until the quality in known. It as anticipated that larger quantities from the South Island will be available at lower prices in about three or four weeks, and it ia considered that the recent Btorm damage was over-estimated. Values for Ohakune potatoes ranee from £8 15s to £9 10s a ton. through store, while Pukekohe stocks are bringing from 3s 6d to 4s 3d a bag, through store. ONIONS Onions continue to be a drag on the local market, for in 6pite of heavy stocks there is no export inquiry. Supplies are not keeping well on account of the wet weather. Prices remain at about 3s 3d to 3s 6d a bag, through store. FOWL WHEAT Although there has been a slight easing in the market for graded fowlwheat in the South, values in Auckland are unaltered at about 6s -2d a bushel, through store. The bulk of business is still being done in sample sorts. Recent improved _ weather should assist in threshing operations and supplies of graded kinds should soon be more plentiful. MAIZE Business in maize is quiet on account of the high price of Gs 8d a bushel, through store. Spot stocks are light, but a shipment is due from South Africa by the Waipawa on May 9. Indications point to there being only light crops in the Poverty Bay district. The cooler weather has brought about a keener demand. BARLEY Supplies of Australian barley are practically exhausted and a shipment by the Cmana next week is being eagerly awaited. Values are firm at about 4s 5d a bushel, through store. OATS AND CHAFF The market for oats is steady, with a firming tendency in the South. There is no alteration in the rate of 4s a bushel, through store. Chaff is slightly firmer at about £7 17s Gd ft ton. through store. BRAN AND POLLARD Stocks of Australian pollard are short, and the Melbourne market has advanced by about 5s a ton. There are good supplies on the Auckland market which are selling at about £'B 10s a ton. through store. Although good supplies of bran are held, there is little inquiry. Merchants' prices are unchanged at about £6 103 a ton. through store.

COMBATING RAGWORT SPECIAL RATE OPPOSED COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION [by telegraph OWN correspondent! • TE AROHA, Monday The menace of ragwort was the subject of further discussion at to-day's meeting of the Piako County Coifncil. Mr. W. R. Lowry moved that a special rate of id be struck over the whole county in order to provide a fund for combating the pest. Such a rate, he said, would provide approximately £llOO a year. Mr. W. McLean expressed himself ap in favour of a rate, provided the funds were used solely for the prevention of further spreading of the weed, but it would not be fair to expect those farmers who had kept their properties clear to contribute toward the clearing of those farms which had in the past been neglected. The chairman, Mr. W. C. Kennedy, predicted considerably opposition from ratepayers if a rate was struck. Such funds as the county could raise would not solve the whole problem, for which Government assistance was essential. This assistance had been promised in the past and was now perceptibly nearer. The Minister of Agriculture had recently made some definite promises to a 'deputation in connection with ragwort, and the county would be well advised to wait for the Minister's promised action. The proposal to proceed with the immediate striking of the rate was lost by four rotes to three.

STOCK SALES YARDINGS AT PIOPIO [by telegraph—owx correspondent] TE KUITI, Monday Dalgety and Company. Limited, reports that at its sale at Piopio last week there was an average yarding of sheep and a good offeting of cattle. Prices for sheep were very firm on late rates, but cattle values were if anything easier than recent Bales. Quotations:—Sheep. Store two-tooth \vethers made from £1 to '2ls lOd ; five and eix-year breed, ing ewes, to 21s Gd; medium woolly ewe lambs, to 20a (id; good mixed sex lambs, to 19s Id; good shorn wether lambs, to 17s 3d; medium woolly wether lambs, to 15s; small blackface lambs. 7s to 10s 6d; email whiteface wether lamb 6, to 13s 4d. Cattle; good fat cows sold at from £5 to £5 10s; medium. £4 to £4 15s; light, £3 to £3 15s; light fat heifers, £4 to £4 lis; fresh-conditioned cows, £2 5s to £2 12s 6d; boner cows, £1 5s to £2; medium 2}-year steers, £4 5s to £5 12s; 24-year Polled Angus speyed heifers, to £4 17s Gd; small lj-year Polled Angus heifers, £2 5s to £2 12s; good Shorthorn steer calves, to £3 17s Gd; good Shorthorn heifer calves, to £2 9s; good Polled Angus heifer calves, to £3 7s; small, to £2; empty Polled Angus cows, to £3 2s Gd; 21-ycar Hereford heifers. £4 5s to £4 13s: medium dairy heifers. £3 5s to £4. . , » , Abraham and Williams, Limited, reports that there was a small yarding of sheep and cattle, Sheep were somewhat easier of sale, while cattle, mostly rough lines, sold on a par with recent. rates. Quotations;— Sheep: Forward-conditioned lambs made' to ISs sd; medium lambs, to 14s 7d; small lambs, to 12s lOd; cull lambs to 10s 4d- fair store wethers, to 21s lOd. Cattte. Small Polled Angus weaner steers, to £2 17s (id; small Tolled Angus weaner heifers, to £2; light fat .cows £3 17s fed to ±4 ss; Jersey heifers, ill calf. £3 178 Gd to £4 ss; Jersey cows, to £3 12s 6d. MORRINSVILLE PRICES Dalgety and Company, Limited, reports that it held a stock sale at Morrinsville last week. There was a medium yarding, which realised full market rates. Quotations:— Fat cows made from £3 ISs to £5 ss: fleshy Jersey cows, £- 4s to £. llis; boners. 29s to £2 2s; potter bulls to £4; medium quality Jersey heifer calves, to £2- inferior, tc 355. Sheep: Small twotooth ' wethera made to '2os 9d; light fat and forward-conditioned lambs, to ISs. t lgs: Baconers sold at from £2 12s to £3 i»; porkers. 31s to £1 19s; store pigs, las to 21s.

PUKEKOHE PRODUCE [FROM OUR OWN" CORRESPONDENT] PUKEKOHE, Monday No alteration is shown in to-day's quotations for Pukekohe potatoes, which still range from 7s to 8s a cwt., f.o.r. Pukekohe. Onions sell at from 4s 6d to 5s 6(1 a cwt., and pickling onions at 7s 6d a cwt. Carrots and parsnips' are quoted at 4s a sugar bag: beetroot and swedes, 3s 6d a sugar bag; French beans, 6s 6d a sugar bag; rhubarb, 3s a dozen bundles; Red Warren pumpkins, 4s 6d a cwt.; Crown pumpkins, 6s a cwt.; cauliflower plants, 10s a 1000; cabbage plants, 7s 6d a 1000.