GRAIN AND PRODUCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22719, 4 May 1937, Page 7

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

MAIZE PRICES REDUCED LOCAL POTATOES DEARER Grain and produce merchants in Auckland state that business is being maintained in increased volume. On account of weather interfering with the digging of potatoes at Pukekohe, local prices have firmed and a better demand for southern stocks is noticeable. Onions also are firmer. A fairly large shipment of maize from Java is due on Friday and this will be welcomed as stocks'are light. The price has been reduced. Australian pollard, oats and chaff are strong and supplies are fairly scarce. POTATOES The market for potatoes is slightly firmer and supplies from Pukekohe are selling from 3s to 4s p bag, through auction, according to quality. Fairly plentiful stocks are-avail-able and the quality is good, btorks from the South Island have arrived by the \vaimarino and Wingatui, and these are selling at about X'S 15s a ton, through store, I here is a better demand for southerns on account of the broken weather having interfered with digging at Pukekohe. It is reported that the Southland crop is a failure on accoun. of the wet season, but the crop in Canterbury is stated to be a record one. ONIONS The colder weather has stimulated the demand for onions and the positiw is again firmer. Ample stocks are still coming forward from Pukekohe and values are slightly higher at about AOs (id a bag, through store. It is not considered to be necessary to impori onion* until about September or October. FOWL WHEAT Practically all the business in fowl wheat is being done, in supplies from Australia Values are practically unaltered at- about .a •>d a bushel, through store. There is a fairly good demand as poultrykeepers have neglected barley in favour of fowl wheat. MAIZE Stocks of maize held in Auckland are fairlv light, but relief will be afforded b> a shipment from Java which is due to arrive bv the Narbada on Friday. Shipments will arrive from South Africa in June and July. Prices are lower at about (>s_ lOd a bushel, through store. Crushed maize is meeting with a ready sale at the same price. BARLEY Trade is slow in barley and the, through store quotation shows little alteration since list week the current price being about <>s l' ( i a bushel for clipped. Small quantities arc si ill available from Australia. OATS AND CHAFF An unfavourable harvest in the South has resulted in a shortage of chaff and the position is strong. There is a good demand and values remain high at about £0 15s a ton. through store. The market for oats also is firm on account of stocks being fairly scarce. Through store quotations are practically unaltered at about oS a bushel. BRAN AND POLLARD The position of pollard in Australia is very firm and few merchants are offering quotations This is reflected in a strong position locallv. Values remain high at about .£9 109 a ton, through store. Local supplies are still short, and the price, as fixed by the Wheat Committee, is unaltered .at £7 a ton. There is still only a limited inquiry for bran, which is selling at the unaltered rate of £0 15s a ton, through store.