LATE COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19958, 27 November 1926, Page 12

LATE COMMERCIAL.

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

(Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 26. The season just ending has been such a disappointing one for the Produce trade that most of its members prefer to talk about 1927 prospects Various small seeds are still on hand, and will scarcely be cleared before the new season’s stuff commences to come in. There is a general agreement that a lurtlier increased potato area is going in this vear. Seed has not been so cheap for years, and good prices earlier in the season have instilled confidence m the minds of growers. The unfavourable seaso in the Commonwealth for early toes and the strong demand there at present is another factor in the larger area and thb probabilities of export in 19-7 are considered bright. Early crops aie looking well, and potatoes are still being put in. A small amount ot forward business was done some montns ago at £4 & ton on trucks, but £3 10s is about the basis at present. , There are a few white oats about., but nobodv wants them. Values are nominal, but 4s 2d is being offered. Oats of a couple of months ago are worth about Gd loss now. Tug new season possesses anything but a rosy outlook for the growers. The increasing vogue this year of the tractor on the farm will cause a further release of oats for the market, and the Government figures of the area show a very heavy acreage. Prices are, so far, very much in the air. but little forward selling bas taken place. For Algerians, at the equivalent of 2s 6d to 2s 7d per bushel on trucks is offered. Gartons range about 3s. The rapid decline in price of Australian flour has upset local millers’ prices. They had been buying fairly freely at 6s per bushel on trucks,' but to-day imported flour is quoted at £l2 per ton, f.o.b. Melbourne, and the buying element speedily retired. The wheat crops are looking particularly well, but a lengthy spell of dry weather and freedom from rain is required to retard straw growth, which otherwise ; may detrimentally affect Idle yield. Crops so far, however, are looking at their best. The statistician’s estimate of the yield, 222,000 acres, surprised most members of the trade. The general belief was that another 20,000 acres would have been sown. That belief still exists in some quarters.