THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 21

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. London cables received during the week report the wheat market as dull in tone. Tire total quantity of wheat and flour afloat ior the United Kingdom and the Continent is 4,445,000 quarters, as against 4-,(40,000 quarters last week. The Atlantic shipments are still keeping up, totalling this week 457.000 quarters. The grand total shipped from all countries to Europe since the beginning of August, 1912, is 70,765,000 quarters, against 58,110,000 quarters for the corresponding period of 1911-12 season, and 73.855.000 quarters for the corresponding period in 1910-11. Wheat is quoted to-day in Sydney at 3s 7jd to 3s 8d (last week the same); Adelaide, 3« 8d to 3s Bid (unchanged); Melbourne, 3s 9d (3s Bcl to 3s 9di. The local wheat market is steady in tone, with prices unchanged. Millers are still disinclined to operate at prices asked by holders, and arc satisfied to work on a hand-to-mouth basis in the meantime. Sales of good Tuscan have taken place during the week at 3s Bd, while velvet ear commands up to 3s 9d, and good velvet from 4s Id to 4s l^d —all ex rail. Dunedin. The tariff of the Flourmillcrs’ Association for flour and on other lines is as follows : Flour—-Sacks, £9 5s pec ton: 1001 b bags, £9 15s; 501 b bags, £10; 251 b bags, £lO ss. Bran, £4 5s per ton. Pollard, £6. Oatmeal, £ls 10 s. Pearl barley, £l6 10s. Bran shows a reduction of 10s per ton. The ruling quote is now £4 ss. There is no change to report in the local oats market, which continues in a stagnant condition, only small coaslal orders being executed. Holders of oats are firm in their demand for high prices, while the few inquiries from the north for any fairsized parcels are at. a figure which will not allow merchants here to do business at a profit. Merchants, in fact, are just sitting waiting, like Mr Micawber, for something to turn up. Quotations locally vary somewhat, and it is rather difficult to name a standard price at which oats rule. Values, nominally, may be given here as 2s 6d to 2s 63d for A Gartons, f.0.b., s.i., and 2s 5d to 2s sid for B’s. An Auckland agent makes the following statement under date July 26: —“There is no improvement in the position of oats; in fact, cheaper quotations are now ruling for Danish and Duns from Canterbury. B Cartons have been sold at 2s 4d and A Cartons at 2s su, Lyttelton, for prompt shipment. Consignments arc meeting with a very poor market, and shippers cannot be satisfied at the returns. For forward delivery there is no inquiry whatever.” As showing the decreased area under grain \ in the Southland district and the small crops of the past seasons, the quantity of grain carried over the Southland railways to date this year totals but 333,314 sacks, as compared with a total for the corresponding period last year of 655,973 sacks. PRODUCE REPORT. ‘ Regular consignments of chaff have been coming to hand during the week, all prime lots meeting with a good demand. Medium and inferior sorts are in very slack request. Auckland advice under date July 28 reads as follows The Marjorie Craig has arrived with 609-700 tons Melbourne chaff, and the market is depressed, as it is not required here, and low prices will have to bo accepted in order to make sales. The quality is poor, and as most feeders insist on the best oaten chaff, it is considered that a big portion will bo stored. There is a fair inquiry for prime chaff, but as ■southern quotations are high buyers will not order. Blenheim still quotes £4 10s, and Christchurch £4 5s to £4 7s 6d, f.0.b., s.i.*’ Prices for potatoes have dropped about 10s per ton since our hist report. Information to hand from Lyttelton would show that local merchants are being quite under quoted for any orders coining from the north, the shipping price at the Canterbury port being given as 655, f.0.b., s.i. Onions are in plentiful supply, with a slack demand. Dairy and lulled buttoi has advanced id per lb. Eggs arc in good supply. Prices remain unchanged. Pigs continue in brisk demand, but the price of baconers has eased id per lb. Rolls (in quantities) have*dropped id per lb. and sides id. Current wholesale prices are as follow; Chaff. —Prime heavy oaten sheaf, £4 to £4 ss; medium to good, £3 to £3 15s; inferior, £2 and upwards (sacks extra). Straw.—Oaten, to £2 ss; wheaton, £2. Potatoes.—Prime tabV sorts, £3 10s to £3 15s; medium. £2 5s to £3 per ton (hags in). Hay, £3; inferior. £2 .uid upwards. Onions.—Prime Canterbury, £7 10s to £3; Victorians, £9. Eggs.—Fresh, Is 6d ; stamnod, Is 5d to Is 6d. Butter.—Dairy, lid per lb; milled, 11 jd per lb; separator, in 11b pats, Is. Pigs.—Baconers. 6d per lb; porkers, 6id. Bacon.- Rolls (in quantities!, lOd ; sides, 9id; hams (under 20!b), Is per lb. FRUIT REPORT. Owing to the fact that no boat is coming hero this week with citrus fruit from Sydney prices have been ruling high for the shipment which arrived at the beginning of the week. Mandarins have brought as high as 18s Id per gin ease, and Sydney oranges up to 11s. The usual price for Sovllles at this time of the year is a hi hi t 5s to 6s per case. The Melbourne bo.it which arrived on Tuesday brought only a limited supply of lemons. These fetched up to 19s 6d per case, an increase of about 7s 6d per case on the previous week’s prices A few Tahiti oranges came to hand on Thursday and realised from 14s to 18s, as landed, under the hammer —a very big advance on the rates for the shipment which arrived a fortnight ego. Indications point to a continuance of the high prices for citrus fruits. The apple market remains firm, with slightly higher prices ruling. Only small shipments are arrivin'* from Nelson, and these, consisting chiefly of cooking sorts, are bringing about 8s 6d per case. A fair quantity of Canterbury grown-—both cooking and eating—has also come to hand, the latter fetching 10s 6d per case of 401 b for choice sorts. Only a email consignmentarrived from Hobart on Tuesday, late rates being maintained for tlic.so. A very nice sample <f tree tomatoes arrived from Auckland dnrirur the week, and realised up to 6s 5d per box of al>out 181 b. A small parcel of Tasmanian-grown pears was landed here last Tuesday. They, however, were only of medium quality. It is not expected that any more shipments will come to Dunedin, as the consignors can

secure as good prices in the Sydney market, and, further, do not have to pay the per ib duty or such a heavy freight. A cargo of bananas is due to arrive on Monday, and as this fruit is bare on the market at present the shipment should meet a ready sale under the hammer The following are the current wholesale prices: Oranges. —Rarotongan 14$ to 18s for repacks ; Poorman oranges, 10s 6d to 11s 6d; prices firm. Bananas. —Ripe, 3jd; green, 12s to 14s; very short supply. Apples.—Canterbury cookers, 7s 6d to 8s 6d per 401 b case; Taieri. 2|d per lb; dessert, 8s to 9s; choice, to 10s 6d per bushel case; Hobart Scarlet Pcar^nains, 12s 6d per case of 401 b; stunners, 11s. Tomatoes. —Hothouse, Is per lb; tree tomatoes, 6s 6d {>er case. Pears.—Very few offering. Tasmanian, 6s to 7s 6d per box, for medium quality. Mandarins.—Gins, 15« to 18s; bushels, 11s 6d to 15s. Lemons. —Mildura and Adelaide, very few offering, 19s to 20s per ease. Passion fruit. 8s to 9s 6d per box. Pineapples, 11s 6d to 13s 6d. Honey.—Now season’s. ;n 10lb tins, 4s 6d tin; bulk, 3id to 4d : ilb packets, 3s to 3s 3d per dozen; bottles. 8s per dozen. Vegetables.—Plentiful. Cabbage, up to 5s 6d per dozen for large drumheads and Savoys; other sorts, 6d to Is 6cl per dozen; sacks, 6d to 3e. Lettuce, 8d to Is per case for medium; choice, to Is 6d per dozen. Cauliflowers. Is to 2s 3d per dozen for small; choice, 3s to 6s: extra large, 7s 6d; sacks. 2s 6d to 5s lOd. Table carrots, 6d per dozen bunches: from 2s 6d to 3s 6d per cental bag. Turnips, 4d to 6d per dozen bunches; swedes, 2s 3d to 2s 6d per sack, Is 3d to Is 6d cental bag. Parsnips, 6d per dozen bunches. 2s 6d to Ss 6d per bag. Celery. 4d to 9>l per bundle; choice. Is. Brussels sprouts. Is 6d to 2,s per box of 61b. Radishes. 6d to 9d per dozen. B“ct, Is per dozen bunches: 8s to 9s ncr sack. IMPORT MARKET. Daily Times Office, Saturday morning. Indent houses have advised d.stributers during the week that they cannot execute orders for cream of tartar unless at much higher values than those recently ruling. A parcel of Price’s candles came to hand ex Orari. All sizes show an increased cost. C. and B. lucoa oil has further increased in price. It is now quoted at 36s per dozen bottles. C. and B. bloater paste has also advanced in price. The present quote is 14a 6d per dozen. Sicily almonds arc in short compass, and cannot now bo obtained at the old prices. The current value is Is 5d per lb. Morton’s olive oil is quoted at 10s 6d per dozen. The first of tlie new season’s quotations for B.C. flat salmon which have come through to Melbourne indicate that lower prices arc likely to rule this season. Owing to the increased cost of iron, local merchants have advanced the price of shoeing iron by 10s per ton. Bluestone is in short supply. The local price is 34s per cwt. Roofing iron lias firmed slightly. Prices rule here at £l9 10s to £2O 10s, according to quality. Dried Fruits, etc. —The shortage in the Mildura muscatel pack is likely to cause rather more attention to bo pa d to Malagas this year than for some yeais past {says the Melbourne Argus). Although the canyover from 1912 has kept in remarkably good condition, and article is, in itself a luxury, and as such the demand is for the very best fruit. Unfortunately Malagas are rather dear this season. Most of the largo forward business in dates has now been done, though business in packets is proceeding. Private cable advices from London. quoting Jordan almonds, show some irregularity in prices, though an- advance is general. Quotations range from 17s to 30s per cwt. more than last season high grades in some instances being as much as 40-s dearer. * CONCILIATION COUNCIL. SLAUGHTERMEN’S DISPUTE. Mr J. R. Triggs’s duties on July 28, so far as the sitting of the Conciliation Council was concerned, were light, as the dispute to come before it wasinot investigated. The parties to the disputeNvere the Otago Slaughtermen’s Union of Workers, who moved in the matter, and the Christchurch Moat Company and the South Otago Freezing Company. The union was represented by Messrs H. L. Davies (Oamaru), B. A. Mutimcr (Dunedin), and Jesse I luyincs, and the employers by Messrs J. Barber (Christchurch Meat Company) and J. Stewart (South Otago Freezing Company). The demand was, in effect, that the general conditions of the old award be revised, excepting as to the rate of wages, the pay asked for being an advance on that of the old award of 2s 6d per 100 in each class—namely, from 25s to 27s 6d. and from 27s 6d to 30s. The case came before the Conciliation Commissioner under the following circumstances: —The slaughtermen's unions cancelled registration in January last, and affiliated with the Slaughtermen’s Federation under the Arbitration Act. Following this there was a strike, and the companies employed free labourers, who formed a fresh union, whereupon the old union was reregistered. The employers now refused to discuss terms with the old union before the Council of Conciliation. Messrs Barber and Stewart yesterday morning handed to the Conciliation Commissioner a letter signed by each, which was couched in the following terms: “Wo have to state, on behalf of our respective companies, that we cannot discuss the terms of. and object to. any agreement with the Otago Slaughtermen’s Industrial L T nion of Workers, for the reason that the present state of the industry docs not warrant an agreement being made with that union, as the majority of slaughtermen employed in the Otago district are not members of the said union.” Mr Haymcs said ho wished to know whether there was any evidence to he submitted in support of the assertion as to a majority of the men in Otago not being members of the union, and the replv received was that the employers did not offer any evidence. They simply refused to discuss the matter. Mr Haynue contended that the present appearance was sufficient proof of the existence of the old union. The attitude of (ho employers would result in the dispute going to the Arbitration Court, which ho felt sure would not refuse to make an award as it had done in other places. There evidently being nothing further to bo said, the Commissioner thanked the parties for their attendance, and the sitting ended