CHAIN STORES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22726, 12 May 1937, Page 7

CHAIN STORES

PROPOSED MERGER

COLES AND WOOLWORTHS

NEGOTIATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

(Received May 11, 10,55 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 11

The Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Sun says negotiations are proceeding between G. J. Coles and Woolworths to combine the two companies. The chain store businesses of the two organisations in Australia and New Zealand are worth in the aggregate about £3,000,000. Probably a holding company will be formed to acquire the existing concerns, hut no details have yet been worked out.

The directors of Wool worths, Limited, in Sydney issued a statement to-day that the directors of the two organisations felt considerable concern recently owing to the rising cost of commodities, and held a series of conferences with a view to arriving at some common basis for the control of future expansion. This, it is believed, will safeguard the best interests of the employees and shareholders, while at the same time guaranteeing to the public a continuance of the present low prices.

BUTTER QUIET IN LONDON

RETAIL PRICES MAINTAINED

STOCKS IN STORE HIGHER

Although butter prices on the London market fell sharply last weekowing to a quieter demand, no change has been made in the retail prices of either New Zealand or Danish, which remain at Is Id and Is 2d per lb. respectively. Store stocks of both New Zealand and Australian butters are substantially heavier than they were at this period last year. By arrangement with the Primary Products Marketing Department the Dairy Board supplies the following information for the week ended May 8, figures for the previous week being given in parentheses: Butter. —New Zealand, salted, 104s (108s to 109s); 88s to 89s; unsalted, 106s (110s), 88s to 89s. Deliveries: New Zealand, 2286 tons (last year, 2053 tons); in ' store, 6031 tons (last year, 4176 tons). Australian, salted, 102s (107s to 108 s); unsalted, 105s (109s). Deliveries: Australian, 1491 tons last year, 1847 tons); in store, 5578 tons (last year, 3412 tons). South Africa, 98s to 101s (103s to 106s). Danish, 88s f.0.b., 108s to 110s spot (93s to 945; 115s). Dutch, unsalted, 995, exceptionally 104s (106s to 108s). Siberian, salted, 101s to 102s (—). Lithuanian, unsalted, 105s (—). With a quiet demand prices are lower this week. Retail prices are unchanged; Danish. Is 2d; New Zealand, Is Id. Cheese. —New Zealand: White and coloured, 70s (70s). Deliveries: New Zealand, 23.079 crates (last year, 18,446 crates); in store, 97.820 crates (last year 97,867 crates). Australian: White and coloured, 67s to 68s, exceptionally 69s (67s to 695). Canadian: White "and coloured, 76s to 78s (76s to 78s). Deliveries: Canadian, 2567 boxes (last year, 4330 crates) in store, 60.750 boxes (last year, 67,62-1 crates). English: Finest farmers', 89s to 96s (89s to 965). South African: White and coloured, 68s (G9s).

THE CITY MARKETS

APPLES SLOW OF SALE

MUSHROOMS IN KEEN DEMAND

There was a rather slow sale for apples at the City Markets yesterday. Winter Cole and Keillor pears of picked sizes were in good demand. Mushrooms were in keen demand. There was a plentiful supply of bananas. Celery arrived in large quantities and prices were lower.. The 1 market was still oversupplied with cabbages, but cauliflowers were not so plentiful, as the early crops seem to have failed. The supply of poultry was medium and the demand very fair. Iliere was a drop in hen egg prices. Values were:— FRUIT Apples, Delicious, 2s Od to Os; Ballarat, 3s io os; Granny Smith, -Is to 6s; Jona* than, 5s to 7s; Monro, 3s to 4s; 'Rome Beauty, 5s to 7s 0d; Statesman, Is to ss; Sturmer, 4s to (is; Winesap. -Is (id to ss*. windfalls and others, 2s; pears, Keiffers, 5s to 8s; Peter Barry, r>s to <S« Od; winter Coles, 13s to 15s; tomatoes, outdoor, extra choice, «Ss to lis 0(1; others, 2s to 7s; hothouse, od to ~Yzd-, tree tomatoes, new black, 7s to 8s; yellow, 0s to 7s; oranges. Jamaican, 2-->s to 05s; grapefruit, Jamaican, 2()s to 3-s <>d; lemons, choice, cured, 14s to 18s: others, (is to 12s Od; mandarins, Fiji 27s Od; bananas, ripe, 8s to 10s; pines, Queensland, 20s to 255; drapes, _ hothouse, Coleman, extra choice, 2s to 2s 7d; others, Is to Is 0d; cape gooseberries, 1(1 to 4y?d; passion fruit, Os to 10s; fids, 2s Od to 4s; guavas, 3s Od to ss; persimmons, 3s to ss; mushrooms, 2s to .'is per lb. FIELD PRODUCE Beet, 3d to Od a dozen; celery, cooking, Is to IS. (k) a bundle; dessert, 2s to 3s 2d; carrots, Od to Is a dozen; cauliflowers, -Is to 10s Od a sack; oil benches, Is to Os a dozen; cabbages, Is to Is a sack; on benches, Is io 1s Od a dozen; cucumbers. 3s to Is Od; French beans, Is to .Us a bad; stringless beans, 0s to lis; green peas, 3s to 7s; kumaras, local. Is to (is a bag; Tau-rang.-i, '_'s (id to -Is; leeks, 3d to Id a bundle; lettuce, 2s Od to Os Od a case; marrows, Is to 3s (id a dozen; melons, citrons, lis to 32s Od a cwt; onions, Is to 5s Od a bag; potatoes, local, 3s Od to «ls Od; Southern, 8s Oil to Os 3d a cwt; pumpkins, Crown, 7s to 10s a cwt; Triumble and others, Is Oil to (is a sack; parsnips, (id to Is a dozen; radish, 3d; rhubarb, 2s to 'ls; spinach, Od to Is !)d; spring onions, 3d to Od a bundle; swedes, Is to 3s a bag; turnips, Od to !>d a dozen; Brussels sprouts, 1 /id to 5 1 / 2 d per lb. POULTRY Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, 3s Od to 5s (id; not prime. Is Od up; light breeds, prime, 2s to 3s Od; not prime, Is up; fat roosters, heavy breeds, prime, 2s to 3s; light breeds, Is Od to 2s; fat hens, heavy breeds, 2s (id to 3s Od; light breeds, 2s to 2s Od; pullets, heavy breeds, best, 3s to (is Od; smaller, is Od up; light, breeds, best, 3s to (is (id; smaller, Is (id up; drakes, young, prime, Is Od to 2s 3d; smaller, is up; old, Is 3d to 2s; ducks, yountf, 2s (id to 4s (id; old, 2s to 3s; geese, (is; turkey hens, 4s; gobblers, i)s to l is. BUTTER AND EGGS Edgs, hen, A grade, 2s OVid a dozen; B grade, -_»s 2'/ ? d; C grade, Is 7'/ 2 d; duck, A grade, 2s 3'/id; B grade, Is l l'4d; C grade, Is -t'jd; butter, farmers', Is to is 2d per lb. W. 11. SOUL AND COMPANY A net profit of £32.557 was earned bv Washington H. Soul, Pattinson and Company, Limited, druggists and chemists. Sydney, for the half-year ended January 31, against £30.10.'} in the previous half-year. A dividend of 10 per cent per annum and a bonus of 3d a share, equal to 2.} per cent per annum, an unchanged rate, require £19,687, while a total of £12.870 is placed to general reserve. The directors state that no losses were incurred by subsidiary companies. WHOLESALE EGG PRICES The Auckland Egg Marketing Committee announces that wholesale egg prices are unchanged, as follows: — Hen: First grade, 2s GUI a dozen; 15. 2s 2.1(1; C, Is 7ld. Duck: First grade, 2s l.Jd; 13, Is IO.Jd; C, Is -IJd. Country storekeepers' minimum buying prices for first grade eggs are: —Hen, 2s a dozen; duck, Is 7Jd.