WOOL CHEQUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23606, 15 March 1940, Page 5

WOOL CHEQUE

AUCKLAND APPRAISALS FURTHER SUM OF £222,943 SEASON'S TOTAL NOW £1,300,949 The wool cheque for the fourth appraisement under the wartime purchase held at Auckland on February 26 and 27 was £222,94.'}, according to the official return issued by the Auckland Wool Brokers' Association. With this amount the total proceeds, from Auckland appraisals this season is increased to £1,300,949, or £229,206 more than the realisation from the whole of last season's clip. The number of bales appraised last month was 13,718 of a net weight of 4,760,6331b. The average price realised was £l6 os a bale, or 11.24 d per lb. The results of the four appraisals so far made this season are: Average, Average a bale per lb. Value £• s d rl £ November .. IT I .10 '11.07 373. '203 December .. 17 0 0 11 .(id 328,745 January .. 17 1 3 11.63 376,058 February .. 1(» 5 o 1 1 .•_> 1 222,913 The higher average prices for the earlier appraisals are accounted for by the fact that a greater proportion of fleece wool was offered. The last appraisal for the season has been arranged for April 1. It is expected that the proceeds of this offering will increase the season's cheque to at least £1,500,000 and it is possible that the record cheque of £1,528,545 for the 1936-37 season may be exceeded. TRADE IN AUCKLAND LARGE EASTER ORDERS PRICE RISES CONTINUE PINEAPPLE PROHIBITION

Tin.' brisk tone in grocery trading lias boon maintained remarkably well. There has been a rush of orders for goods for Easter, which is expected to continue throughout next week, as goods on the new month's account will not be delivered until after Master. Tobacco deliveries to be made to-day arc expected to be exceptionally heavy. In spite, of steady trading, however, the shortage of many imported lines is still a severe handicap to both retail and wholesale firms in endeavouring to increase turnover. There, is no lack of demand from the buying public, but many orders have to be refused completely or severely rationed. The consuming public is becoming more aware of the marked rise in prices. The natural lag in the time between when higher prices are announced and the actual passing on to the consumer has become shorter, owing to smaller stocks. Practically all varieties of groceries are affected, and no signs of an early downward trend are evident in overseas markets.

Since the prohibition of the. import of both fresh and canned pineapples strong protests have been made to the Government to have the ban lifted, and it is anticipated in some quarters that relief may shortly be given to importers. Bulk Cornflour.—A small shipment of hulk cornflour lias arrived, but as stocks previously were very low, the consignment has not gone very far.

Bird Seed.—Reports from the south state that all grades of bird seed in packets and bags have besn increased in price to cover the additional costs of imported seeds.

Petroleum Jelly—Landed costs of petroleum icllv are now considerably higher, particularly for the large sizes, and corresponding increases have been made in quoted prices. Candles. —The manufacturers of one line of Xew Zealand-made candles have announced that prices have been advanced by 2%d per lb. Higher costs for sperm wax and other charges are given as the reasons. Glass Top Jars.—Local manufacturers have, announced that no further supplies of glass top jars will be available this season, as tiie.v are unable to obtain any more wire from which the fittings are made. Molasses.—lt is reported that there will be very little, if any, molasses available from Dominion sources for stock food this winter. Dealers arc considering placing orders for supplies in Java, but landed costs would be much higher. Peas. —Advice from Marlborough states that there are no stocks of green split peas available. Small supplies of new season's blue Prussian peas have arrived in Auckland, the market beinsr bare. Prices are about the «ame as the closing rates for last season. Walnut Meats. —Shipments of new season's Manchurian walnut meats continue to arrive, but in comparison with former years the quantities landed are much smaller. Import licences for the third period were cut by .">0 per cent, and with much higher prices ruling in Tientsin the actual quantities which can be imported are correspondingly reduced. A heavy demand from America, together with currency difficulties and short stocks coming on to the market in Tientsin, accounts for the steady advance in quotations, and shippers expect higher prices to rule before the season closes at the end of April. Australian Dried Fruits.—Heavy bookings have been made for Australian dried fruits following the announcement last week of newseason's prices. Advice has now been received that, owing to slow drying, practically no one or two-crown sultanas will be available until the end of April, and buyers arc advised to operate in three-crown if they require early shipment. A change has been made in the packing of Mildura sultanas, which will be in a (SOU) case, instead of the previous r>iilb size, owing to a shortage of timber and the necessity of reducing packing costs. Purchase terms are draft on demand with documents attached' for payment on sight on presentation in New Zealand. THE MARKET BASKET MOST PRICES UNCHANGED EGGS 2D A DOZEN DEARER There have been very few changes in produce prices during the week, (iravenstein and Albany Beauty apples are finished, and other varieties are a little cheaper. All grades of eggs have gone up 2d a dozen. A grade lien eggs now selling at 2s Sd a dozen. Prices are:— Fruit.—Apples, cookers, 2d and 3d per lb; Cox's Orange Pippin, ad; Kidd's Orange Red, :td; second grade, 2d; oranges, Jamaican, Is ii ( [ to :ls 'Jcl a dozen; lemons, i>. S and 1 2 for is: grapefruit, Jamaican, Id and "id each; tomatoes, best quality, Jd to (id per lb; cooking tomatoes, 3d; bananas, ."id; blackberries, Is; plums, best dessert, (id to Sd; cooking. Id; peaches, cooking, Is (id to 2s a dozen; dessert, Us to Is; nectarines. .Is •_'d to Is Id per lb; watermelons, lid; Louis Bon pears, (id; hothouse grapes, Gros Coleman, '_»s lo :.!s; Hamburg. Is Id to 2s: outdoor, Te Kauwhatn, is to is lid. Vegetables.;—Kumaras, fresh, local, (id per lb; green onions, 2d; rhubarb, ad to (id n bundle; spring onions. 2d a bunch; radish, 2d; cabbages, Gd to Is each; cauliflowers, sd to Is: lettuce. 2d and ad; nilver beet, 2d a bnnchffi spinach, 2d and fid; marrows, -id tn Sd each; potatoes. Id to JVad per lb; carrots, 3d; parsnips. Id; cucumbers, 3d to 3d each; apple cucumbers, lV~d to 2d; green peas, 4d and fid per lb; beans, 5d and fid; beetroot, '2d a bunch; pumpkin, red, 2d per lb; sweet corn, ,'ld and Id a cob; celery, (id to lOd a stick; turnips, white, 2d a bunch; swedes, 2d per lb. Butter and Cheese.—Butter, factory, first grade, is 6V a d per lb; second, Is (id; farm hutter, Is Id; cheese, mild, Is 2d; tasty. Is f)d. Eggs.—Hen, A grade. 2s Sd a dozen: B Kradc, 2s Gd; duck, A grade, 2s 3d; B j;radc. 2s. FRUIT POOLING PLAN NEW SOUTH WALES OBJECTION (Received March 11. 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 14 Because of its objection to the Commonwealth Government's pooling plan for marketing apples and pears, the New South Wales Government has withdrawn all officers of the Department of Agriculture who were assisting to carry out the plan. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. l'cid. stated that a strong protest, had been made by the State Government to the Federal Government. The present action had been taken because the State could not get satisfaction from the Federal authorities.