TRADE OF THE WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22402, 24 April 1936, Page 11

TRADE OF THE WEEK

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE BRISK BUSINESS CONTINUES GINGER PRICES ADVANCE Wholesale merchants in Auckland state that business still remains particularly brisk. In previous years a quiet period has almost invariably followed the mild Easter boom, but this season large orders have continued to come in. The demand is general, but winter lines in particular are selling well. Overseas business is steady, but few price alterations have been announced. New season's date values for October shipment are slightly lower. There was a heavy tea auction this week, and in spite of unattractive quality the demand for all grades was keen. The main market feature has been a sharp rise of £2O a ton in the price of whole ginger. PINEAPPLES Latest advice from the East states that there has been a general easing tendency in the values for pineapples. •EASTERN MARKETS Quotations for Penang sago and tapioca and Singapore sago for the July-August steamer are unchanged. Pepper is fractionally easier. WHOLE GINGER j From latest cablegrams it is advised that the price for whole ginger has advanced sensationally, both bleached and unbleached having risen £2O a ton KAPOK Th<-re is a shortage of kapok in Auckland at present, but the position should be relieved by the arrival of the Narbada from Singapore about May 10. PEANUT KERNELS Both merchants and shopkeepers report a shortage of peanut kernels. Supplies are being keenly awaited by the Narabuda from Singapore, due to arrive in Auckland about May 10. AUSTRALIAN DRIED FRUITS Fairly heavy supplies of new season's Australian dried fruits arrived by the Wanganella. This shipment was being eagerly awaited as the local market was almost bare. Present stocks should be sufficient to meet the demind. Lexias (seeded raisins) in packets have not yet arrived, but a further shipment is due by the Omana on Tuesday. AUSTRALIAN PRUNES The first shipments of the new season's pack of processed prunes from Australia have now arrived in good condition. These were urgently wanted by the retail trade and the demand has been exceptionally keen. Costs work out on the same basis as last year. Stocks are reported to be short, particularly in the larger sizes. and some packers are already sold out of the 30-40'b. MUTTON BIRDS A small shipment of mutton birds from Tasmania is expecte-.l to arrive by the Omana on Tuesday. This will be the first of the new season's supplies, and further stocks are due in about two or three weeks' time. No definite prices have yet been announced. Reports state that on account of rough weather supplies this reason may bo fairly light. DATES ' ' Quotations for new season's dates for shipment by the October direct steamer from Basra have been announced. Compared with the opening ratea for last year the values are slightly lower. As there are good stocks of present season's dates held locally and orders booked for shipment up to June are still to be delivered, only limited business has so far been placed. TEA On account of the Easter holidays there was no tea auction at Colombo last week. This week's offering comprised the large amount of over 4,500,0001b., and the result of the sale showed a very strong demand for all grades. The quality was unattractive. Common grades remained very active at recent rates, while medium and good kinds advanced from id to id per lb. Next week's auction will total 2,500,0001b. THE CITY MARKETS TOMATO VALUES FALL CAULIFLOWERS DEARER A fair demand for all classes of fruit ruled at the City Markets yesterday. Although there was a good demand for tomatoes values were not as high as those ruling last week. Passion fruit sold fairly well, but tree tomatoes were dull. Oranges were sought, but stocks were light. The sale was easy for good quality Cape gooseberries, although persimmons were hard to quit. Values for hothouse grapes varied considerably, according to quality. The demand for apples and pears was only fair. Heavy supplies of cauliflowers were offered, prices showing a firmer tendency, while cabbage values were lower. Pumpkins were in heavy supply, with very little demand. Stocks of kumaras were heavier and were keenly sought. Celery was dull of sale, while spinach sold at low rates. The supply of poultry was medium and the demand fairly keen. Prices remained practically unaltered. Values were: — FRUIT Apples, Cox's Orange. 5s to 9s: Delicious, extra choice, 5s to 6s 6d; others. 3s to 4s; Ballarat, 4s to ss; G. Smith, 4s to Gs: Jonathan, 5s to 7s; Munro, 3s to 4s: Rome Beauty, 5s to Gs; windfalls and others, Is Gd to 2s Gd: pears, L.8.J., 5s (id to Gs Gd: Iveiffers, 3s to 4s; P. Barry, 3s to ss; W. Coles, Gs to 8s; tomatoes, outdoor, extra choice, local, 8s to 9s; others, 4s to 7s; hothouse, about 10s to lis a case; Hutt, Gs Gd to 9s; tree tomatoes. New Black, 3s to 4s; oranges, Californian. 30s; Jamaican, 25s to 325; Fiji, 14s to lGs Gd; grapefruit. New Zealand, extra choice, 9s; Californian. 30s; lemons, choice, cured, 10s to 12s; others, 3s to 8s; mandarins, Fiji, 17s to 19s; bananas, ripe, 18s to 255; pines. Queensland, according to count. 13s to 20s; grapes, Te Kauwhata, 5s Gd to 9s; hothouse. Hamburg. Gd to 7d; Coleman, extra choice, la 4d to Is Gd; others, Sd to Is 2d; Gape gooseberries, 5d to 5Jd lb; passion fruit, 3s to ss; figs. Is Gd to 3s; guavas, 4s Gd to ss; persimmons, 28 6d to 3s Gd; quinces, bushels. 8s to 12s; half-bushels, 3s Gd to 4b. FIELD PRODUCE Beet, Gd to 9d a dozen; celery, cooking, 3d .to 9d a bundle; dessert, Is to 2s; carrots, Gd to Is 3d a dozen: cauliflowers. 5s Gd to 7s 3d a sack; cabbages, 3s to 7s Gd: cucumbers, Is to 2s Gd a dozen: French beans, 2s to 4s Gd a bag; stringleßS, 4s to 9s; green peas, 3s to 7s (id; kumaras, 4s to Gs; leeks. Id to 2d a bundle; lettuce, Is to 3s Gd a case; marrows, Gd to 1b 3d a dozen; melons, water, 4d to Is 2d each; onions, 2a to 3s Gd a bag; picklers, 4s to 4s Gd; potatoes, Ohakune Suttona Supreme, 5s Gd to Gs 3d; Ohakune. other varieties, 4s 3d to ss; pumpkins, best Crown. Gs to 8s; Red Warren, 2s to 4s; parsnips. Gd to 9d a dozen; radish, 4d to Gd; rhubarb. Is 6d to 2s 9d; spinach, 3d to 9d; spring onions. Is to 2s 3d a bundle: swedes, 2s Gd to 3s a bag; turnips, 3d dozen. POULTRY Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, 3s to 6«: not prime. Is 6d up; light, prime, 2s 3d to 3s 9d; not prime. Is 3d up; fat roosters, heavy breeds, prime, 2s to 3s; light. Is Gd t" 2s: fat hens, heavy breeds, 2s 3d to 3s 3d: light, la 9d to 2s Gd; pullets. heavy breeds, best, 3s Gd to os Gd; smaller, Is Gd up; light, best, 3s Gd to ss,Gd: smaller. Is (id up; drakes, young, prime. Is 9d to 2s 9d; smaller, Is up; old. Is l>d to 2s Gd: ducks, young, 2s Gd to 3s Gd; old. Is Gd to 2a 6d; gobblers, 8s to 10s. EGGS Hen. A grade, 2s 4Jd a dozen; B, Is 10d; b. Is 7d; duck, A grade, 2s 2Jd; B, is lljd: C, Is 7id.