TRADE IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22878, 5 November 1937, Page 7

TRADE IN AUCKLAND

RETAIL and wholesale

VERY BUSY CONDITIONS

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS

Although there are still almost two months before Christmas, and the summer holiday period lias not yet commenced, the demand lor grocery lines for the festive season has already set in, and wholesale merchants in Auckland are experiencing a particularly busy period. Business from the country districts has been very active, and merchants are expecting a continual rush from now right up to Christmas. While it is too early to gaugo tho volutno of trade for this period, tho increase in orders during the past few weeks promises well for another record being established. Tho Labour Day holiday was responsible for increased purchases and tho rather quiet period which is usually experienced afterwards was offset largely by a continuation of the spell of fine weather, which has been particularly welcome to retailers and to drapers to give a stimulus to their summer lines. The usual brisk trade in fireworks has been done in preparation for Guy Fawkes Day. Indentors, however, are going through a quiet period, as practically all the buying for Christmas was completed some time ago. * w, CIGARETTES The retail price of one brand of cigarettes packed in a tin of 50 Tfas been increased by Id to 3s. DESICCATED COCONUT The market in the East, for desiccated coconut is reported to be weak, and latest cablegrams state that there has been a further decline in price. CONDENSED MILK An advance of '2s a case has been made, in ttic price of several brands of condensed milk, tinned coffee and milk and tinned cream over the past week. CALIFORNIAN PRUNES Californian prunes are now being quoted at the most favourable rates on, offer for some time, and considerable business has been placed for spread shipments up to June of next year. EASTERN MARKETS Latest cablegrams from the East state that saso and tapioca show a firming tendency. Both pepper and pineapples are inclined to be easier, while nutmegs also are slightly weaker. SPORTS GOODS With the commencement of the tennis and cricket seasons, the demand for all types of sports goods has been brisk during the past , few weeks and stocks are selling readily. SARDINES English packers of sardines state that the pack has been over-sold •in most grades. If there are any lines available after January these will show an advance of 5 per cent on ruling rates. FIGS Cablegrams from London quoting new season's figs notify an increase ranging from 2s (id to 3s per cwt. for t>ags, compared with bookings made for the September steamer. ■ Most of the local buying has been done earlier this year. DRIED APRICOTS AND PEACHES The first consignments of new season's dried apricots are expected to be received locally about the middle of January, with peaches and nectarines to follow shortly afterwards. So far packers have not named their prices. ASPARAGUS ■ New season's Australian asparagus is now being quoted at rates which show no altera- • tion on last season, with the exception of . one size. Delivery will be available in December and orders will be accepted subject I to pack. r DATES Definite advice has been received that the steamer carrying new season's from 1 Busrah is due to arrive at Sydney on Novemi ber 30. This should allow a portion of the cargo to be transhipped to New Zealand in II ! time for Christmas trading, r j ; : FIREWORKS " Particularly heavy sales of fireworks- have i been made this week. Guy Fawkes Day will !be celebrated to da.v and the usual lastI minute buying is taking placq. Retailers state s ' that fancy and more expensive lines are meet- ! ing with a better inquiry. .PINEAPPLE AND FRUIT SALAD Prices for pineapple and fruit salad, packed ' in Queensland, have both been advanced by the factories, and new quotations are expected to bo made for export. The demand for these two lines has been increased to such an extent in Australia that very little of the pack is available for export. SALMON Quotations for chum salmon have now been withdrawn by all British Columbian packers as supplies are sold out. Most packers have also withdrawn quarters *in s all grades. It is now apparent that there will be a considerable shortage of all grades before the new pack is available toward the end of 1935. BRAZIL KERNELS Apparently in their desire to clean up a stocks of Brazil kernels in Brazil before the ii advent of the new crop, lower offers are now being made by merchants for limited I- quantities of shelled nuts for November and p December shipments from Para. However, as most of the business for the season has t already been placed, -there is not much interest. being shown in these offers at present. 0 ■ s . CANNED FRUIT r Further supplies of Australian canned fruit 1 have arrived and have been distributed. They are meeting with a very ready demand s on account of the approach holiday season. The Australian Canned Fruits Conf trol''Board has announced that the price of t tinned fruit in 30oz. cans has been advanced . by 3d a dozen and- IGoz. cans by 3Vad s v dozen, f.o.b. This is for shipment in Novemo ber and December, and only small supplies n are available. A WALNUT MEATS Prices for new season's Manchurian wald nut meats are a little lower this week, but shippers in Tientsin advise that the market n tiiero is poorly supplied at present as only limited quantities are arriving from time to t time. Buyers are rather loth to book allyii thing but their prompt shipment require-. ments at present, being under tho impression that lower prices are likely to rule.. Certain shippers in Tientsin, however, advise that it is impossible to forecast the possible trend of the market. It is expected that rates may ease a shado when conditions become., more settled. CANNED PEAS

The temporary shortage -of both sizes ofan Australian pack of canned green peas has been relieved by a shipment by the Omana. Further consignments of contract bookings * are coming forward by the Wanganella and this should meet the local requirements until the new season's pack is ready. Mail advice states that the crops are well forward, having benefited considerably from the heavy rains around Melbourne. The packers anticipate thatpacking operations will commencu' about the middle of November, provide/! a spell of cold weather is not- experienced, in which case the growth of the crops may be retarded. DRIED FRUITS Supplies of tlireo-crown currants are now exhausted in Australia, according to advice from the Commonwealth Dried Fruits Control Board. Limited quantities of one and two-crown currants are available, and shipment can be made in November of fourcrown currants at present prices. Local de- - mands, coupled with exportation, have been responsible for the- shortage. Bulk lexias, as well as the IGoz. and 12oz. seeded, variety, are still availablo. Quotations for some grades of unbleached Californian raisins are again easier this weuk. Thompson's seedless raisins in bulk for both prompt- and forward shipments have been reduced by (id per cwt., with a corresponding reduction for cartons. Seeded raisms in packets remain at previous levels, but apparently stocks of golden bleached raisins are not heavy this year, as the market for these continues to advance steadily. TEA' The quantity offered at this week's Colombo tea auction amounted to 1.500.0001b. The quality of a few up-coun-try estates showed slight improvement. There was a strong demand,- especially for medium and fiood teas, which advanced in price. Common grades sold at late rates, and good sorts advanced by V*d per lb. Next weeks auction will comprise 1,8(N),OOOlb. - The market at tlie Calcutta auction was irregular and slightly easier. A trade report for September states that supplies, which amounted to 0,374,9051b., were normal. On account of the tea trade holiday, only three auctions were held. Common teas were in strong demand, • an advance in the middle of the month being full.v maintained. United Kingdom, blenders were good supporters of these grades, particularly for teas of "price," while black leaf well-" made kinds received attention from Pera'an On If onerators nnality showed a fall-, in? off ami »rii-es were proportionately lower Hood uualitv pekoes commanded full prices at all sal«-s on account of the active vmrriran competition. It would froin e*'a»e musters that there will he a period of brighter duality teas, but this is likely to lie short lived as rainstorms have recently., been prevalent. More liberal supplies will arriving on the ma'rket, but crops aro likely to he very heavy.