TRADE IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23338, 5 May 1939, Page 5

TRADE IN AUCKLAND

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL RUSH FOR GOODS CONTINUES MERCHANTS RATION SUPPLIES The rush on imported grocery lines which have either been, prohibited or severely restricted has resulted in another unusually busy week being experienced by wholesale merchants in Auckland. Staff shortages . through influenza have aggravated the position and in numerous cases overtime has been necessary to cope with the orders and complete deliveries before the week-end. The demand for some commodities' has been so heavy thai: the majority of merchants are now rationing their supplies. One of the lines most affected is canned fish, which has been entirely prohibited. Good orders also are being received for locally-manufactured lines. The retail storekeeper ij.lso has experienced an exceptional inquiry for a wide range of goods, as housewives evidently are intent on securing their requirements for the next few months while present stocks last. _ Indentors are now receiving permits for importations during the second half of the year. Business remains unsottled and the majority appear to be concentrating on hand-to-mouth buying until the remainder of the permits are received. PEELS All packings of candied and drained peels are reported to have been advanced by 1(1 P " ib ' COFFEE Quotations for the variouis types of Mocha coffee are steadily advancing, owing to a shortage of supplies, ss veil as an unusually strong demand from European buyers. CHERRIES Drained and crystallised cherries are now quoted at an advance of iy«d per lb In ail sized packings, owing to higher overseas markets and the increased cost Of sugar. WALNUTS & Supplies of walnuts grown in Canterbury are expected to he light this, season. Samples now coming on the market in the south snow that quality generally is good. EASTERN MAEKE\S Recent advice slates that there has been a slight easing in quotations for pineapples. Values for sajro are reported to have advanced by 5s a ton. DATES Additional shipments of bulk dates, both" in the ordinary and stoneless varieties, arrived recently. In spite of the fact that co.->ts show an increase on previous landings, it is anticipated that supplies will meet with a very ready inquiry. FRUIT PULP With the prohibiton of imports-of fruit pulp stocks in various sizes are now becoming very short. A general' lihortage of most pulp lines seems inevitable this season, as. . owing to the poor crop in the dominion, no bulk pulp has been packed for resale. GINGER* An overseas report states that the market for green and preserved ginger in Hong Kong is very firm. Difficulties in shipping this and other commodities has resulted in higher freight charges, and higher landed costs appear to be inevitable. ASPARAGUS Prices for new season's asparagus have oeen announced from America. While no alterations are shonn in the price Overseas compared with last year's opening rates, the landed cost will be higher, owing to the higher conversion rate which has been ruling recently. DRIED - FRUITS Latest quotations for Ca.lifomian raisins show that the market is slightly easier. Prunes remain steady at the reduced prises quoted some weeks ago. Huavy landings of Mildurn sultanas and currants have had the effect of reducing sales of C'aiifomian raisins in the meantime. CANADIAN GOODS A small shipment of saiimon arrived by the Niagara this week, being end of season stocks. As the local marke'i was very bare of supplies, merchants hav* welcomed the added Quantities, and the shipment is meeting with a brisk demand. A further shipment of canned peas and beans also arrived by the vessel, and these also will assist in relieving the shortage. MUTTON BIRDS Prices for new season's supplies of Tasj manian mutton birds have now been an- ! nounced, and in comparison with the openi ing rates -for last year show a cpnsiderable i increase. Most buyers placed their requireI mcnts for the season toward! the end of last i year, and there is little nSw business now being placed. The first, shipments wiil not arrive in Auckland for about a fortnight and in the meantime local stocks are very short. TEA At the Colombo tea auction this week there was an offering of i,575.0001b. There was a strong demand for all grades, with the market generally dearer, The quality of up-country estates-snowed a considerable decline. The quantity catalogued for next week is 2.250,0001b. A review of the market for March states that there were normal supplies, offerings being about the same as in February. Quality showed steady improvement, reaching a peak at the final auction, whofi fine flavoury teas were available. Prices Showed a correspondingly steady increase, i Good values were paid by United " Kingdom blenders, although there tvjis not Sufficient competition to raise prices to a very high level. American buyers competed keenly for good and flavoury pekoes. Medium teas also sold well, because of improved -quality and Australian support, while low-grown teas have been 'a very strong feature, buyers anticipating the cut in the export quota of 2% per cent. Conditions of drought which have prevailed for some time are now assuming seripus proportions. While these conditions are likely to keep the crop on a comparatively low level it is unlikely that the peak of quality will be maintained. Total exports from Ceylon from January 1 to February S were 21.309,0651b, against 19,599,9041b for the same period last year. HERD-TESTING WORK POVERTY BAY FIGURES [ST TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] GISBOENE; Thursday As a result of the poor seasonal conditions the number of ce>ws under test by the Poverty Bay Group Herd-Test-ing Association during the past month was clown to approximately half the number tested during April last year, while the average, production per cow was lower by "almost 25 per cent. Only 2072 cows were tested last month, the average production beinc 16.81b. of butter-fat, compared with 21.31b. in April last year and 23.31b. in April .1037. The highest group .average, 20.11b., was secured by Tolaga Bay, and the highest herd, one of 106 cows and one of the largest in the association. was also in the Tolaga Bay group, the average per cow being 291b. of fat. The highest cow, which -was also in the Tologa Bay group, p'roduced 521b.

MINING NEWS YIELDS OF COMPANIES Grey River (West Coast). —Week ended May 2. a total of 141oz. from 89.496 yards in 129J hours. - < Blackball Creek (.West Coast). —740z. for 103 hours. SYDNEY PRODUCE VALUES (Received M&y 4, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 4 The wheat market has gained strength in the past week. Silo grain is quoted at 2s 63d, and bagged at 2s.S}d. Values for other commodities are:—Flour# £l2 7s 6d: bran and pollard. £4 15s; potatoes, Tasmanian, first grade. £11; second. £6; others, £9 10s;"-onions, New Zealand and Yictorain brown, £3O; maize, yellow white, 4s 2d. PROPERTY AUCTIONS Samuel Vaile and Sons, Limited, will offer at auction at its rooms, S.'i Queen Street, to-day at Q p.m., a five-roomed , house on a quarter-acre section situated on Dominion Road Extension, Mount Roskil!; also five vacant sections on the opposite side of the same road. The firm of T. Mandeno Js.ckson w'll offer at public auction at its rooms. :? Swan son Street, at tl a.m. to-day, dwelling of Jo~ jr ■ rooms it T Glen Road, Hemuera; ajso d«vellinfr of four rooms at 25 Cockburu Street. Grey Lynn.