GRAIN AND PRODUCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23230, 27 December 1938, Page 5

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

PAST YEAR REVIEWED . GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE SHIPMENTS FROM AUSTRALIA Although the past year was marked by reasonably good trading in grain and produce in Auckland, there was a definite lack of interest in the markets. The year was remarkable for its absence of variations, although a number of factors, such as interference by the Government, disturbed tho activities of merchants.

Since potatoes were first brought from the South Island there was scarcely a variation of more than £1 or 30s a ton in the local price throughout the year. The crop was very large and when tho surplus became apparent the Government was instrumental in taking a largo quantity off the market. This was to South America, but it is feared that a heavy ' loss was suffered by the Government. The season lasted unusually long, for it is many years sinco southern potatoes havo been selling in Auckland; »< during the early part of December, as was the case this year. There was nothing to complain about in the quality of tho potatoes, most of which were in good marketable condition. Imports of Bran and Pollard

Prices for pollard, which was imported from Australia to meet the requirements of tho local market, varied a little. Values rose toward the middle of the year, but fell again toward the close, due to conditions in Australia and to international developments. A shortage of bran developed during the year, and it was found necessary to import fairly large quantities from Australia at higher pricest than those quoted by the local mills.

All the wheat used by poultry- ~~ keepers in tho Auckland Province in"" - '? the past season also was imported from*'! Australia, and merchants have corn-TV pleted another year during which both ' - importations and local prices were under Government control. _ J -

While the price of wheat has varied 1 ! very considerably overseas, levels in. . Auckland have been steady at a high ; ; value when compared with markets abroad. Shipments arrived regularly, hj, and generally the Wheat Committee, which controls importations, worked in well with merchants' requirements. * « Barley Under Government Control -r Little movement took place in the' #" < price of maize, and ample quantities / 1 were available. Barley was recently brought under Government control, and * , any supplies arriving from Australia; * lin the coming year will be imported by the Internal Marketing Department, which will dispose of the ship- „jf mcnts to merchants. Markets for both oats and chaff call. for little comment. Values were steady >'-■ and both lines were uninteresting, except for a mild flutter a few months ago, when it was thought that there . might be a shortage of chaff; i'._ Onions are another semi-controlled line, as supplies grown in Zealand were marketed under regulated conditions. Imports were controlled and-'-.-' in some cases brought in by the Gov- ; ernment itself. Australian onions were " imported by the Government, and supplies from Canada were admitted under licence. With t reasonable supplies' * throughout the year, the market did not vary to the usual extent. ..

MINING NEWS ,' YIELDS OF -COMPANIES Alexander Mines (Reefton). —Return -V" for December —Battery department;' "■ 243 tons of ore crushed for 1370z. 6dwt. of melted gold. Cyanide department: 184 tons of sands Seated for 270z. 14dwt. of bullion. Total estimated value at 140s a fine oz., £ll2O. In addfc: tion 5$ tons of concentrates were saved, valued at £175. Operations were suspended on Dfr*> > cember 21 and will be resumed oil—' January 4. New River (West Coast), —660z. from 7500 yards in 128 hours. Nokomai (Central Otago).—Partial r< wash-np, 5630z. Wellington Allnvials (New. South Wales). —Four weeks ended December ~ 10, a total of 8470z. from 273,000 yds -.- in SGO hours. '

VISITOR'S TRIBUTE

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS I SYDNEY, Dec. 24 The organiser of the Junior Farmers' Clubs in New South Wales, Mr. E. J. Breakwell, has returned from a world tour. He said he thought New Zealand led the world in the quality of dairy stock and in pasture management. COTTON, RUBBER, COPRA, ETC. LONDON, Dec. 24 (Quotations on December 17 in parentheses.) Cotton. —Spot f 0.24 d (5.16 d) a lb.; January delivery, 4.88 d (4.75 d). Rubber. —Para, 7d (7Jd) a lb.; plantation and smoked, SJd (8d). Jute.—December-Januarv shipments, £l9 7s 6tl (£l9 6s 3d) a ton. Copra. January-February shipments, South Sea. sun-dried, £9 10s a ton, London and Rotterdam (£9 7s Gel) a ton; South Sea, smoked. £9 10s to Marseilles and Genoa (£9 7s 6d); plantation. Rnbaul. hot-air dried, £'lo 5s to London and Rotterdam (£lO 2s Gd). Linseed 0i1.—£25 10s (£25 ss) a ton. Turpentine.—33s od (32s 3d) a cwt. EGG PRICES UNCHANGED The Auckland Egg Marketing Committee announces that egg prices are unchanged as follows: —Hen: First grade. Is 6Jd a dozen; B grade, Is 4id; C grade, 9Jd. Duck: First grade. Is 5Jd a dozen; B grade. Is 4-Jd: C grade, Is osd. Country storekeepers' minimum buying prices for first grade eggs are:— Hen, Is 2d a dozen: duck. Is la.