GRAIN AND PRODUCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22725, 11 May 1937, Page 7

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

TRADE IN AUCKLAND HIGH PRICES CONTINUE ADVANCE IN POTATOES Although an improvement has been noticeable in business in grain and produce in Auckland following the colder weather, trading is still restricted on account of the high prices which continue to rule. Export business in potatoes with South America has strengthened tho market considerably, while onions also.are dearer. Pollard is becoming scarce and prices in Australia are rising rapidly, with a slight reflection locally. Oats and chaff are in short supply and quotations are firmer, A shipment of maize has arrived from Java, while a further quantity of fowl wheat will be imported from Australia by the Government POTATOES There arc still quantities of potatoes on (tie local market from Pukekobe, but unsettled weather has interfered with digging and the market is slightly firmer. The position in the South Island is very -firm and there has been a sharp upward movement in prices on account of further export business with South America. Potatoes in the South are quoted for June, July and August shipment to show a landed cost of over X' 9 a ton. Spot stocks are fairly light, as difficulty is being experienced in obtaining ship- | ping space. Current quotations are about £9 I a ton, through store. ONIONS So far only very small quantities of onions | have come from the South, but more are ] expected shortly if the Pukekohe values coni tinue to advance. Latest rates are higher at | from Us Gd to lis a bag, through store. FOWL WHEAT | Stocks of fowl wheat held in Auckland arc not large and the market is firmly steady. Another shipment, from Australia has been arrange,', by the Government. No particulars as to the quantity are available, but it has ! been announced that the price to merchants will be higher than (he previous shipment. Local values are about unchanged at 7s 4d a bushel, through store. .MAIZE j A shipment of Java maize arrived by tho | Narbada on Friday in good condition, a large proportion being sold to arrive. Limited quantities are being offered through store at about Gs lOd a bushel. This will be the last shipment from Java until the Government embargo is lifted. Further stocks will arrive from South Africa by the Tairoa on June I*l and the Matakana on July 10, and these will be the last shipments to arrive duty free BARLEY Little interest is being shown in Australian barley on account of the high price I of about (is 3d a bushel, through store, Tor clipped. The demand is largely being taken over by maize, values for which arc comparatively cheaper. OATS AND CHAFF Supplies of chaff in tho South Island are fairly short owing to a poor harvest. The market is strong and local values are higher at up to CIO a ton, through store. The market for oats is very firm and supplies of graded are becoming more difficult to obtain. Through store quotations are again increased to about 5s 3d a bushel. BRAN AND POLLARD Local supplies of pollard are still unprocurable in the quantity required by merchants. The market in Australia is strong and prices are rising daily. Merchants are unable to offer quotations before June. Prices have been advanced to up to £lO a ton, through store.« The local price, as fixed by the. Wheat Committee, is unaltered at £7 a ton. Ample supplies of bran are available at the unaltered quotation of £G 15s a ton, through store. , RABBIT DESTRUCTION REDUCTION OF RATE TE AKAU BOARD'S DECISION [from OUR OWN correspondent! TTJAKAU, Monday The To Akau North Rabbit Board, at its monthly meeting at Tuakau today, decided to reduce its rate this I financial year to 3d an acre. This is I id less than last year. It was agreed to continue the policy of requiring the landowners to carry out the work of rabbit destruction. Mr. H. W. Wilson suggested that the board consider extending its district to include tho country lying toward Huntly from the present southern boundary. The chief inspector, Mr. G. F. Soilness, was deputed to make a trip through the territory to view its condition in regard to rabbits and discuss the question with ratepayers. He is to report to the next meeting of the board. Mr. Souuess reported that while good; takes had been obtained with the autumn pollard poisoning over a great deal of the board's territory, some farmers had not experienced results which they considered satisfactory, and the trouble was attributed to the feed being too long. The board decided to reduce the price of strychnine by half, INCREASED IMPORTS AUSTRALIAN GOODS BUSINESS MAN'S PREDICTION "There is no doubt that the Dominion will be faced with greater imports of Australian goods this coming [ year, and particularly woollen goods," said Mr. F. N. Ambler, president of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, who returned from Sydney by the Awatea yesterday after a business visit to Australia. Mr. Ambler said he had seen several woollen mills in Sydney, and there was no doubt that imports would increase. Australian manufacturers had had one season in the Dominion since the new legislation had been introduced, and they had done very well as was evidenced by the import statistics. They had realised the possibilities of tho New Zealand market, and from what they had learnt were making special preparations. "This tan only effect local and British manufacturers," said Mr. Ambler. "The Australian manufacturers have a bigger market, and although there is no suggestion of dumping, they can produce a wider range of goods, which makes their products attractive." Mr. Ambler said that all Australian factories seemed to be busy. There was a definite shortage of female labour, and there were notices outside most of the factories A number of overseas companies seemed to have started branches in Australia on account of the high protection, and several modern factories had been built outside Sydney. "Ail the manufacturers are interested in our social legislation, although they do not seem to be particularly well informed, as there is a lack of New Zealand news," said Mr. Ambler 'They are particularly interacted in the 40-hour week, as several unions are making application for it and higher wages, factory wages for women workers range from 8s for apprentices to 43s for journeywomen, although apprentices usually' start at 12s, com-' pared with 15s to 45s and the 40-hour week here. Employers seem to realise that they will he called upon to pay slightly higher wages, and they are interested to know how the system is working here."