HIGH ONION PRICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22839, 21 September 1937, Page 5

HIGH ONION PRICES

SHARP RISE OCCURS

ACUTE LOCAL SHORTAGE IMPORTED STOCKS INSUFFICIENT On account of a fairly acute shortage of supplies of imported onions on the local market, prices have advanced by about 5s per cwt. in the past few days, and with thp increased demand which has been noticeable lately, merchants do not expect any relief for some time. The last shipment of 100 tons which arrived from Australia by the W'anganella last week was practically all sold from the ship's side and merchants were forced to go as far afield as Wellington for supplies. The current price of Australian onions through store is 17s Gd per cwt., against about 12s .'3d a week ago. This time last year supplies from California were selling at about 15s. The market is particularly strong and there appears to be little possibility of an easing as only limited quantities are available. A small shipment from California is expected to arrive in the first week of next month, while a consignment is due from Canada in the middle of the month. Practically all these stocks are already sold to arrive and they are not expected to ease the position to any extent.

Permission was recently granted by the Government for merchants to import onions from Canada and the United States from September 15 to November 20, and heavy orders were placed. Realising that even these extra stocks would not bo sufficient to meet the demand, permission also was granted to import supplies from Victoria. The necessity for importation was brought about by an acute shortage locally, but it is usual to rely on overseas stocks at this time of the year until the new crops from Pukekohe and the South Island are availablo in January. The action of the Government in March in prohibiting the importation of onions was welcomed by growers, as in the pc>ak of the season last year the market was glutted. With 110 export inquiry, difficulty was experienced in disposing of the stocks. Later in the season, however, record values in Australia iocussed attention 011 that market and a certain amount of export took place. As it lias turned out, however, the position is reversed this season and New Zealand is now calling 011 Australia for supplies, which has necessitated the lifting of the restriction. As onions are only imported between about August and December of each year, it would appear that growers have experienced 110 material benefit from the import ban this season.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE POTATO PRICES LOWER SHORTAGE OF BRAN DEVELOPS A sharp rise in the price of Australian onions on the local market and a fairly substantial fall in values for South ' island potatoes have been features of the grain and produce market during the past week. There has been a marked weakening in the potato market and prices have been reduced by £2 a ton. Onions, on the other hand, are particularly firm, and values have advanced by about 5s per ewt. Supplies of bran arc becoming particular! v short and some orders are not being fully filled. A shipment of Australian fowl wheat which was due to arrive this week lias boon postponed.

POTATOES V much easier position has developed in the potato market and prices have dropped substantially during the past week. Both reds and whites have fallen b.s £"J a ton to from £ll to £ll fls through s ore. Fair spot stocks are held, hut arrivals in the near future will not he heavy. 1 here is still a good demand for the main varieties of seed potatoes at late rates and only fair stocks are held. The onion market is particularly firm and prices for imported Australian stocks have advanced by about Os per cwt. in the week. Latest through store rates arc 17s (id P" cwt There appears to he little possibility of an easing in the position, as stocks are limited anJ practically all the future shipments are already sold. FOWL WHEAT The shipment of Australian fowl wheat arranged by the Government, which was due to arrive 'this week, has been postponed and will not he landed at Auckland until October 'J.'i. Only fair stocks are available. The market in Australia is firm. Through store quotations locally are maintained a last week's level of from 7s 3d to 7s od a bushel. MAIZE There is a steady demand for maize, but onlv quiet business is beinir done in the imported South African slocks. Supplies are fairly plentiful. Through store prices are slightly dearer at about Gs od a bushel. BARLEY Quotations for new season's stocks of barley from Australia indicate lower prices than those which have been ruling for some time. In the meantime little buying is being done. There has been no alteration in the local through store value of about Us 3d a bushel. OATS AND CHAFF A limited amount of business is being conducted in oats, the market remaining fairly steady. Last week's through store price of about :.s Id a bushel has been maintained. There is a steady demand for chaff on a quiet market. There has been no alteration in (he through store price of £lO a ton. _ BRAN AND POLLARD

A marked shortage of bran has developed and merchants are experiencing difficulty in obtaining sufficient quantities to supply orders in full. However, with the coming spring growth it is expected that there will soon be an casing in the inquiry. Prices through store are unchanged at £<i .1 ."is a ton. A steady market continues to rule for Australian pollard. The demand is irregular. Through store prices are unaltered at from £IU to £lO ."is a ton. The value fixed by the Wheat Committee also shows no change at £7 a ton.

STOCK SALES PAPAKURA BULL SALE The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports a successful special bull sale at Papakura yesterday. A total of nearly 200 (trade and pedigree Jersey, Friesian, Shorthorn and Ayrshire bulls was yarded and met with a ready sale to a large attendance of buyers from surrounding districts and the Waikato. The top price of tlio sale was realised bv a two-yead-old pedigree Jersey. Clifton Oxford Rov, bred by Mr. A. F. Jagger and purchased by Mr. O. M. Stobie. Arilmore, for I.V/ a gns., and a three-year-old pedigree Jersey bred by Mr. Jas. Matheson. Papakura, and purchased by Mr. H. H. Wilson for 1. Jersey herd grade bulls made from Tgns to 1 IHgns; yearlings, •lens to loens; pedigree Friesians, (igns to li'jgns; yearlings, sgns to Sgns: pedigree Shorthorns, ugns to I tgns; well-grown yearling Shorthorns. Sgns to I Igns; smaller, sgns to 7 1 /:Sns; Ayrshircs, to Tgns. KAIHU DAIRY CATTLE [by telegraph—own correspondent] DARGAVILLE, Monday The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports having held a successful sale of dairy cattle at Kaihu, when a moderate yarding sold at late rates before a fair representation of buyers. Prices: —Jersey and Jersey-cross cows, close to profit, .CO 15s to ,C 7 IDs; others, £5 17s (id to £(1 10s; low-conditioned and backward, i.'l Ids to i'.j 7s (id; aged and inferior, ,C:t Ids to .CI ss; Shorthorn cows, ,C(i Ids to C 7 I ."is; others, £5 15s to .CO ss; Jersey heifers, close to profit, £(i to £(> 15s; smaller, i's 'Js (id to ,C 5 15s, small and backward, £'•» -Js (id to £ t 15s. Beef cattle: Light three-year-old steers, to CO 7s; light prime cows and heifers, .07 Ids to £8 15s; fat Jersey cows, £(i to £(> ISs; killable, ft 15s to £5 I'_'s (id.; any empty cows suitable for fattening purposes, £1 to £-1 15s; small and low-conditioncd cows, £3 3s to £3 17s.