COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18032, 4 September 1920, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Friday Evening. The 'Chicago Trado Bulletin early in June considered that tho 1919 wheat crop of the United States, together with the carry-over, ror.do a grand total of 95>1,000,000 bushels of wheat. It is claimed in eome quarters that the wheat crop for 1920 should reach 800,000,000 bushels, and if the quantity carried over lx> 150,000,000 bushels thoro would bo an aggregate of 050,000,000 bushels, or only 44.000,000 bushels less than in 1019. This pronouncement is, of course, states the London Grain, Seed, and Oil Reporter, an expression of statistical opinion, but, so far as it may provo to be something like accurate, it traverses many of tho statements made of late as to the position of the world's wheat supply . As regards tho British markets, the opinion is openly expressed! that much matter liaa been published in tho lay press which, on the faco of it, was calculated to produco sentiments in favour of the prompt passage of tho Agricultural Bill. It is understood that the Australian Wheat Board has arranged charters for shipment to Port Said and Alexandria at £6 to £6 5s per ton, to Smyrna £6 15s per ton, and for liner cargocs to the United Kingdom .at £6 per ton. LOCAL MARKETS. Tho position as regards milling wheat is unchanged. Growers have sold out practioa'ly all their holdings, and there is very little, if any,' milling wheat that has not now passed out of first hands. Seed wheat is in good demand, and clean lines are difficult to obtain. Tho consignment, of fowl wheat which was obtained from Christchurch lias filled the requirements of poultry keepers. Midlers' prices are as follow:—Flour, £17 per ton; 100's, £18 10s; 50's, £19; 25'e, £20. Bran, £8 15s per ton. Pollard, £10 15s. Pearl barley, £35. Oatmeal, £31 per ton. It was reported last week that the oat market had readied bottom. This appears to havo been tho case. The weak holders in Canterbury havo now stopped operating, and tho market has considerably firmed. In fact heavy inquiries for oats have been received during the week, and the market has taken a sudden upward jump. Sales were reported r 5 y 9d, f.0.b.5.!., and it is now difficult to secure quotations at these prices. Most of tho local merchants are firm holders at well over ss, f.o.b.s.i. Stocks in local stores are on the light side, and most of theso ""ill bo required for seed purposes. The demand for seed oats is very good, and large quantities are being railed to growers. It is quite apparent that tnero will be a heavy sowing this season. PRODUCE REPORT. . Consignments of chaff continue on the light siclie, and feeders are' drawing tl\-iir requirements from store. Good quality is selling at £8 5s per ton, sacks extra-, and medium at about £7 15s. . The potato market has firmed in anticipa.ti°n of ihe embargo on tho import into Ausr tralia, being- removed. Nothing definite in this connection, however, can be recorded, beyond the fact that an expert is to come to iNow Zealand from Australia to examine the potatoes and see whether they bear evidence of disease. Canterbury growers aro holding off the market in the meantime with the result that tho local market is getting bare of supplies. Sales have been made during the week at up to £6 10s per ton, sacks included. Whether this firmness can con- ; tinuo remains to bo seen, as by the timo I arrangements to ship can be made (that is, a i 6 '- s removed) the season in ! Australia will be well advanced. The onion market is firm. A cablegram received from Molbourne, during the week stated that the market there for prime was £25 per ton, f.o.b. Supplies of eggs are about equal- to tho demand. Pigs are in keen demand, and prices are irregular Prime quality bring high prices. Current wholesale prices are as followFowl wheat: Off the market. Chaff: Sound: oaten shoaf, £8 ss; medium, £7 15s. abou^&f 3 ' " Primc ' to f6 103 '> P°° r quality, Onions: Me-lbournes, tin to 23s per cwt according to quality. ~ ' Eggs: Stumped, lis lOd; fresh, Is 9d. Butter. Milled, bulk, best, la 6d: tor, pats, to Is Gd. Margarine, to Is 2Jd per lb. Pigs: Prices irregular. Bacon: Rolls, Is 7d; sidns, Is Gd Hams, Is 9d. FRUIT REPORT. Business has ban fairly brisk in the fruit nriarts. Consignments coming forward have consisted mostly of applos, a large number of oases arriving from. Canterbury. A small shipment of Sydney fruit—oranges mandarins, pines, and passions—reached the market early in the week. Prices ruled v A . f ,l lrthOT shipment (ex Moana at Lyttelton) will probably arrive in timo 10T tne market on Monday morning* A few small parcels of pears, out of Canterbury cool stores, liaye met a ready sale. ...f. prices for cauliflowers have eafed a little, in the face of heavier supplies. Really prime cabbages are almost unobtainable, and eny of this sort realised high prices. Current wholesale prices are as follow: — Dessert apples: Jonathans, 10s to 133-. Cleopatras, 10s to 12s; Stunners, 10s to lis • Scarlets, 9s; cookers, lid to 2»d: Lord Wolseieys, 7s Gd to 8s Gd; medium, 5s to 6s. Pears: Choice dessert, 10b to lis Gd per case; medium, 7s to 8s; cooking, 2d to 2UI per lb. Bananas : Ripe, 35s to 403. Pines: 25s to 30s per case. Lemons: Californian, 48s; Adelaide <>2s to 255; Sydney, 14s to 16s. ' Mandarins, 22s Gd to 27s Gd for choioo Oranges: Poorman, 303 to 12s per ca.seSydney, 14s to 17s; Californian, 463 to 48sNavels, 26s to 23s 6d ' Tablo carrots: Bags, 2s 6d to 3s Gd; cases Zs 6d. ' Cabbages: Choico, Gs per dozen; prime, 3 cj 1° i 3 'J™ 113 ' 43 Gd t0 93 ! medium, 2s oa to 3s 6d per sack. Cauliflowers: Medium, 3s 6d to 5s per dozen; prime, 65 to 10s per dozen; sacks, choice, to 10s fid. ' Potatoes: Taiori, Gs to 7s per cwt. Tahle swedes, 33 6d to 5s per sack. Brussels sprouts, 10s per box. KhubaTb, 7s to 8s per dozen bunches. LONDON METAL MARKET. (x> . LONDON, September 2. (Received Sopt. 4, at 1.15 a.m.) Copper : Spot, £95 ss; forward, £96 10s. Electrolytic: Spot. £111; forward £117 Lead: Spot, £36 10s. Spelter: Spot, £38 10s; forward, £40. Tan: Spot, £-260 ss; forward, £276 5s bilver, ia IOJd per oz.—A. and N.Z. Cable. VICTORIAN MARKETS. (Per United l'ttp.s.-< association.) •p.., _ MELBOURNE, September 3. Hides: Good-conditioned lots firm at unal°TV sli " h °y easier, to & Gd' g '73 73 M : Cape, Gs 3d Oats: Algerian, 3s 9d to 4s. Potatoes, £12 to £13. Onions, £21 10s to £23. CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKETS. (P£n "Uxited Phess association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 3. Apart from oats, the produco market tho week has been practically lifeless. TherS is a mild sensation over oats, and to-dav prices rose from 4s Id, f.0.b., sacks in, to 4s 9d and ss, f.o.b.s.i. respectively fcr B and A grade Gartons Even at the latest puce there are fow sel era. Most of the stocks aro held by merchants, and latest quoted fioures aro not sufficient to cover the price and costs of buying from the farmers. During the past week thero has been an exceptional demand by genuine users of oats, and stocks being short m tho north, prices consequently mado tho big jump to-day. It is anticipated that before next season's yield; comes on to tho markot thero will bo a much better demtind I°OOT°OOO It n f(XKI . that might absorb 1,000,000 bushels, as fowl wheat is unprocurcircumstances merchants In- -i™S- aro not now inclined to t» ?ni pnee advances furtlwr. kotatocs aro at bedrock. On Thursday tho f.o.b. price was £4, with eaclcs in. To-day it ? 10 f\ and u-ill bo no life tho potato market until tho report of the commonwealth commissioner is known.