COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17771, 1 November 1919, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Friday Evening. Private cable messages from Liverpool, in reference to the world's ' wheat crops, etate that. those ill Argentina are favourable, and shipments of wheat ore largo. Conditions in America, and Europe are seasonable, while Romanian, and Russian prospects of export are improving. The general supply outlook is satisfactory. Statiotias supplied by the Australian "Wheat Board show that for tie paat four seasons to October 6 the quantity of wheat handled throughout the commonwealth was aa under: ' 1915-16. 1916-17. Bushels. Bushels. "Wheat shipped .. .. 95,219,000 48,812,000 {Sold locally 64,334,000 64,608,000 Shippers' stooks „ ... 8,821,000 1212,595,000 Stock ad'jviatmmt .. — 2,702,000 Millers' stocks .. —■ 68,000 Total „ „ „ 168,374,000 138,275,000 ' 1917-18. 1918-19. Bushels. Bushels. "Wheat shipped .. .. 31,202,000 3,148,000 Sold locally .. ... .. 42,620,000 15,087,000 Shippers' stocks .. ~ 28,466,000 41,203,000 Stock adjustment .. 584,000 — 'Millers' stocks .. .. 471,000 5,548,000 Total .. .. ~ 103,343,000 64,986,000 A summery of the four eeasraifl is as follows:— ' Commonwealth. Bushels. "Wlhoat shipped - .. 177,881,000 Flour shipped' •• •• ... 46,621,000 Local Bales .. .. .. .• 136,541,000 Flour stocks held .. •• 3,487,000 Stipporß' stocks .. .. 96,085,000 Stock adjustment .. .. 3,286,000 Millars' stooka 6,077,000 Total 469,978,000 The tmlk of wheat held for spring thrashing has *"gw been thrashed, and millers have taken up all lines of good milling at the Government price. - . Fowl wheat ia in shott supply, and is saleable at 6s 3d to Cs 6_d per bushel, sacks extra, ex store. ' New Milling Wheat.—According to Government prices: South Island, 6a B|d, f.c.b., sacks extra (plus lsd brokerage and Government commission); North Island, approxi- ■ mately equivalent to 7a (plus lid brokerage and Government commission). Prices of millers' lines are as follow: Flour, £14 5s and £J4 10s; braJi, £6 10s; pollard, £8 10s; pearl barley, £26 10s; oatmeal, £25. The demand for oats from Australia liaa Mien off, but on the other hand there have *be£h increased inquiries from Korth Island merchants, who are apparently covering their forward sales. Few lines have, been offering by growers, and as local merchants are holding light stocks the demand has hardened prices. B grade Gartons arfe to-day worth •4s lid, f.o.b.s.i. Prices paid to growers ore 4s to 4s 2d per bushel, sacks extra ,on trucks, aooording to sample. PRODUCE RKPORT. The chaff market is firm in sympathy with oat's, and consignments arriving are readily placed at £7 to £7 5s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck, for good quality. There have been inquiries) for shipping, but owing to lack of space little business has Resulted. Poor and medium quality is negleoted, aiid reduced rates have to be accepted in order to make a clearance. . The potato market is easier, and the only business passing is for local consumption, aa the North Island is now being supplied with new potatoes. Increased consignments are arriving from OtShtefbury. To-day's value of good lines, freshly picked, is £11 to £11 103 ' per ton, sacks included, ex store. Dairy butter shows a small drop in price. Supplies of pigs continue very short—not nearly equal to the demand. Bacon prices are more or less nominal, in tlie absence of supplies of any quantity. Current wholesale prices are- as follow: — Fowl wheat, 6s 4d to 6s 6d per bushel, sacks extra. Potatoes, £11 to £11 10b, «z store, Dunedin, for prime quality. Chaff:* Prime oaten sheai, £7 to £7 5&;. medium And poor quality, £5 to £6. Onions: Californian/ 35s per crate; Japanese (repacked), 255. Eggs: Stamped, Is 8d; ordinary, Is 7d. Butter: Milled, bulk, best, Is 5d to Is 54d; separator pats, to ,1a Sid. Margarine, Is 2d per lb. Pig 3 (nominal): Baooners, &id pear lb; porkers, 9sd. Bacon: Local rolls, Is 'BJd per lb; haunfl, Is 2Jd; local ham rolls, Is 4d to Is 4Jd. FBUIT REPORT. The market has been barely supplied with fruit during the week. A few ohoice Stunner apples arrived from Nelson, and realised high, values. Stocks of Californium oranges are getting smaller, and prices are very firm. Thq shipment of fruit, ex Kiveriria, from Sydney—oranges, mandarins, etc.—was not of the usual good quality. Freeh supplies of oranges are due to arrive in Wellington today by the Tofua. A line of American apples is due at Auckland on Sunday ex the Makura. A parcel of Suva bananas ia also expected at Auckland on the same day by the Talune. The bananas* should • reach the local maiket by the end of next week. _

The )imit of high prices for vegetables has evidently not yet boon reached. On Thursday swede turnips realised practically 6d each at the auctSST marts. Fresh-dug carrots brought abcrnt 6d per lbj and choice cauliflowers 'up to 8a each. Current wholesale pricea are as follow:— Deasert apples: Principally only Stunners coming forward, and prices range from 22s 6d to 25s 6d per case. Oranges: Sevilles for ioarmaJade, 16s to 18s par case; American Yalencias, 60s per double case; Sydney Valencias, 20s to 275. " Mandarins, 18s to 235, small. ' Bananas: Ripe, 32s 6d to 365. Lemons: Californian, 60a per double case; halves, 30s to 32s 6d.

Passions, 20s to 25s pei case. Cabbages: Market better supplied; medium size, 3s 3d to 4s 6d per dozen; choice, to 7s per dozen. Cauliflowers: Medium, 14a to 17s per sack; prime, 18s to 23s per sack; choice, to 35s per 'dozen. Carrots, 12a per email bag; cases, to 13s. Parsnips, 7s to 9s per bag. Potatoes: Local, 12s to 13s per cwt. Rhubarb, lid for best; meidiumi quality, lid to lid per lb. Cucumbers, 14s to 176 per dozen, according to size.

Asparagus, 7s to 8s 3d. Cocoanuts, 29a 6d.

CUSTOMS KETUENS.

Tfco Customs Teturna for the month just expired are:—Net Customs, £42,991 sd; beer duty, £9001 2s 3d; gold exported, 44170z, vnlne £17,974. For October last year tlie figures wore: —Niet Customs, £57,633 13s lOd; beer duty, £71-18 16a Id. No gold was oxgprted.

MHLBOUBN-E MARKETS.

Pre** Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, October 31. Barley: English malting, 5s 9d, 6s; p a P e > 5a Id, 5s 2d. Oats: Algerian, fia lid, £»• Potatoes, £21, £22. Onions, £12 10b, £18. Hides in good condition are unaltered m price, but sloppy lints aro Jd to 4d easier.

OHRISTDHURCH MARKETS.

(Pan United Press association.) CHRISTCHUROJI, October 31. Tie removal of the embargo on the export -,of potatoes has created a little stir in U» local market. The immediate result is. tnat prices have finned,'but it Iras'not stimulated operations to any appreciable extent. -Lne tendency of tho Sydney market at present to decline will no doubt limit exports to modelately sized lines. The limit of mcrohants offerings at country stations is £8 10s T»er ton, -with little disposition on the part of growers to Ball. • , , Evidenco as to the general scarcity o£ wheat is causing some concern to millers. Oats continue firm, but with no alteration in prices. The quotations for Gortons are 4a 2d to 4s 4d at country stations, but dealings are practically confined to those between merchants. ' . . , _ There has been'a sharp inquiry for ohaff during the past few days, both for load and northern requirements. A line of 400 eaoks I was sold to-djay for Auckland at £6 17s P<*r ton, andl for a line of heavy bright oaten sheaf for local requirements £7 vras paid, the prices being at country stations^ Scott Bros., produce merchants and commission agents, report:—Eggs: Firm, Is 8d per dozen. Butter: Pats, Is sd; separator, Is 5Jd per lb. Honey: Prime clover, bulk, 7Jd to 8d per lb; 101b tins, 8s ,6d cach; sections, 6d. Beeswax, 2s per lb. Poultry: Wanted; oookerels 7s, hems 6s, per pair; ducks Bs, geeee 9s per pair; gobblers, Is 3d per lb; hens, Is Id per lb. Pigs; Prime baoomers, IOJd to lid per lb; porkers, lOJd; overweights, 4d to 7d pox lb. Hatos, Is 3d per lb. Bacon, Is 3d per lb. Potatoes: U|>-to-dates, £11 to £12. Onions: To hand, 30s to 37s 6dl per owt. CSfiafi: Prime oaten sheaf, £7 5s per ton; medium quality, £6 to £6 10s per ton, sacks extra. Fowl wheat, 6s 3d to 6d 9d per bushel, ex store, sacks extra. Straw: Pressed wheaten, £3 10s.; oaten, £3 15s per ton. Oats: Firm; Gartons, 4s 6d per bushel; best feed, 4s 4d per bushel, ex store, sacks extra. October 31, 1919. A Press Association cable message from London says it is announced that the Liverpool and London' and Globe Insurance Company have combined with tie Royal Insur-