GRAIN AND PRODUCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22743, 1 June 1937, Page 5

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

TRADE IN AUCKLAND LITTLE BUSINESS DONE HIGH LEVEL OF PRICES Business in grain and produce in Auckland is quiet. Merchants state that the present high level of prices is restricting the inquiry and poultrykeepers and pig-farmers are buying only when the necessity arises. There has been no easing in prices for the various lines this week, and the opinion is expressed that no relief will be afforded for some time. Stocks of fowl wheat, barley and Australian pollard are light, and practically the entire demand is being taker over by maize, shipments from South Africa having resulted in plentiful supplies being available, POTATOES Recent fairly heavy shipments from the South Island have resulted in the local market being well supplied. The demand is slightly quieter. The market in the South Island is firm, being stimulated by a continued esuort inquiry from South America. There has been no alteration in the local through store quotation of about IS lus a ton for reds and os a ton for wl ites. OXIOXS The demand for onions continues to be fairly steady, with good supplies available. Although stocks from the South Island are on the market most merchants are concentrating on supplies from 7'ukekohe, which are selling: unchanged at lis per cwt., through FOWL, WfiEAT Stocks of fn.vl wheat held in Auckland generally are light, but fortunately the main demand is being satisfied b.v maize. A further shipment, which has been arranged from Australia by the Government is due to arrive b.v the end of June. The local market is firm at last week's level of 7s -Id a bushel, through 6tore. MAIZE A substantial quantity of whole and crushed maize arrived from South Africa b.v the Tairoa last weeK and was particularly welcome owing to the continued keen inquiry. Fair quantities were *old direct from the ship's side and the balance went into store, where it is selling at, about (is (Kl a bushel. A further shipment is due to arrive from South Africa in July and the price for this from the ship's side will be (is 4d a bushel. BARLEY Only limited stocks of barley are available, but the inquiry is restricted. There has been no alteration in the valua of about 0? :3d a bushel, through stors, (r-jr clipped. OATS AND CHAFF Supplies of graded oats remain difficult to procure. Business is comparatively- quiet at the unchanged hi{:h level of 5s ,Vl a buslvM through store. The market is very firm. There has been no alteration in last week's quotation for chaff of about £lO a ton. through store. The market is firm and stocks are fairly light. BRAN AND POLLARD Although there have been further advances in the price of Australian pollard, this has not beon reflected in the through store value of about £lO a ton, which is the same as last week.. Stocks are becoming short. The local price, as fixed by the Wheat Committee, is unaltered at £7 a ton. Prices for brail are maintained at £6 15s a ton, through store, with ample stocks available. PUKEKOHE PRODUCE POTATOES AND ONIONS FIRMER [from OUR OWN" correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Monday The market for locally-grown potatoes and onions has firmed Is per cwt. during the past week, and to-dav's quotations are 8s 6d f.o.r. Pukekohe for ■ both table and seed potatoes and lis 6d ; ! for onions, with pickling onions at lis. ■ Supplies are now shortening and the. ( ! c nion market particularly is firm. Savoy cabbages have eased Is a large sack," to-day's price being 5s 6d, as ! against 6s 6d last Mondav. Supplies are ' fairly free. Drumhead cabbages still sell ! at 4s a large sack, cauliflowers at 9a 6d a large sack and 7s 6d a super sack; pumpkins at 7s 6d per cwt.; carrots at ! 5s a sugar bag; parsnips at ss; heet- ' root at 4s; and swedes at 3s 3d. Cab- ■ bage plants are worth 8s a 1000 and i cauliflower and lettuce plants 9s 6d.

SEARCH FOR PETROLEUM COMPANY IN PAPUA Papuan Apinaipi Petroleum Company, Limited, has been formed with a nominal capital of £250,000 in 1,000,000 shares of os each. Mr, W. H. Taylor, a director, said the company had obtained from the Papuan authorities a permit to proceed with boring operations and influential Leadon interests were connected with the syndicate. * The objects of the company were to acquire the exclusive right to prospect for petroleum, and to develop, by drilling and otherwise, an area of 48,000 ncres in the Gulf division of Papua I.British New Guinea). A vigorous campaign of exploration of the area was to bo begun. It is stated that the area contained in the permit has been surveyed, geologically mapped and reported upon by the Anglo-Persian Oi! Company,