NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 22

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

THE LONDON MARKET. COLONIAL WOOL SAI.ES. (Feom Ouk Own Cobhesi’ondenxs.) Lurs uua, Apm j.O. The tim'd senes of comma! wool auct.uns conducted on ivlarcii 6i. Jnessrs \V. Weuum and OOiiipuiiy report time tne xono umg quantities were catalogued: —nusuadu, Pales; Now Zealand, ob,uau; boutu Auican, 1040; boutn American, lioj; manmg a total ot 13u,088 bales, it is estnnadu tnac about bales actually ciiang ,d nands, mcluamg about IV,OUU bales ta.vdi lor export, some Oddi) bales of whicn arc reported as having been taken by tlie United States. Uunng the latter part of the sales (write Messrs Weddel) the market for merino wools did not -improve. Crossbreds made record prices, at any rate, so far as the memory xu tne present generation goes. On lormer occasions it has usually happened that when the tine sorts are in request the coarser ones have been more or less out of favour, and vice versa, but at the sales just finished ail grades went off at top prices. Compared with February, fine sorts rose about 0 per cent., and medium and coarse 7gd to 10 per cent., but during the closing days the pace slackened a trifle. For a really good lot of medium quality greasy -wool from the North Island of New Zealand, the high price of Is 8d was obtained, and for coarse quality Is 6id per lb. Scoured crossbreds showed an all-round advance of about 5 per cent. Greasy crossbred lambs were particularly good, selling with the greatest ease; Is being a fairly common price. Slipes, mostly from the North Island, continued in request at an advance of about 5 per cent. Taking into consideration that American buyers displayed loss activitiy than during the February auctions, the result of the sales must bo considered good, and bears striking testimony to the great requirements of the - trade. The list of arrivals for the fourth series of sales, which have been postponed to 27th April, was closed on 25th March, the following being the total available: —Australian, 137,100 bales; New Zealand, 73,600; South African, 9300; South American, not declared; —total, 1220,000 bales. Arrivals to date for the fifth series of sales for the year, which have not yet been fixed, total some 50.400 bales, of which 12.300 are from Australia and 36.700 from New Zealand. FROZEN MEAT. Concerning Now Zealand mutton, Messrs Weddel report that the arrivals are heavy, totalling no loss than 269,852 carcases. The demand has not been quite so active, with the result that prices have become slightly easier. Prime North Island sheep arc now selling at s|d to an occasional 6d per lb, and secondary carcases at s§d to sgd per lb. Ewes are weaker, and cannot now be quoted at over sgd per lb. The arrivals of lamb during the past fortnight have been heavy, amounting to 37,318 carcases from Australia, 350,658 carcases from Now Zealand, and 28,601 carcases from the River Plate. The high prices ruling at date of last report have been fullv mantained, although, towards the close, in view of larger supplies now being discharged, the demand at current rates has slackened somewhat. Prime North Canterbury lambs have realised to 7|d per lb, while prime Australians are worth 7jld to 7RI per lb. and seconds 6£d to 7d per lb. River Plato carcases realise 6gd to 7d per lb.

The arrivals of frozen meat amounted to 49,809 quarters from Australia, 46.800 quarters from New Zealand, 134.914 quarters from River Plate, 3429 quartern from Uruguay, 621 quarters from the United Plates, and 1376 quarters from Canada. Trade throughout for frozen beef has been quiet, and, with larger suppies now available, ex store, prices have cased slightly, particularly for hindquarters. Frozen crops are selling at 5d to 64d, and forequarters at 6d per lb. Hindquarters realise 6.!d to an occasional 6§d per lb. The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Homnanv reports; “New Zealand Mutton.—The arrivals during tho past four weeks have amounted to 346.315 carcases, but under present conditions at the docks the amount of arrivals does not necessarily represent the amount of meat available. The total imnorts from New Zealand are now remarkably close to last year’s figures at the same date. The stocks are confined to North Island mutton, which has found a very ready sale. Small carcases are in most request, and 6-Id per pound is easily made for these, while extreme rates have been obtained occasionally for some oho'oe small weights. Tim heaviest grade of mutton is scarce, and s£d to s|d

per lb can be secured for this, while medium weights sell at sjd to 6d per lb. Small owes also soil readily at s id to 5Jd per lb, bub the larger grade are plentiful and somewhat slow of sale. “ Frozen Lambs. —The receipts comprise 455,743 carcases from Now Zealand, 85,908 carcases from Australia, and 31.914 carcases from South America. The total imports of lamb fall short of last year by 367,293 carcases. The demand for lamb is perhaps the most phenomenal feature of the situation, considering iho prices demanded, and as discharge of cargoes is slow, some difficulty is experienced in satisfying the inquiry. Canterbury lambs are now available, but unfortunately these show signs of the severity of the season in Now Zealand, and the quality of those seen is indifferent. In spite of this, buyers are prepared to pay 8d to Bid per lb for the brand, although many of die North Islands, selling at less money, are superior in quality. North Islands are quoted at 7|d to Bcl per lb.” MARKET QUOTATIONS. to

DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs W. Weddcl and Co. report a steady market and a good demand for all descriptions of choicest butter. New Zealand.—The Whakatane and Rcmuera aie now discharging, and some butters out of these steamers may be exported towards the end of the week. The Athenic, Delphic, and Waimana, and Waimate, carrying between them about 57,000 boxes, have all docked, but no butters out of those vessels will be available before next week. There is a fair inquiry for best salted at prices ranging from 154 s up to 136 s per cwt, whilst unsalted, which is scarce, realises from 13Ss up to 1425. The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company quote New Zealand choicest salted at 134 s to 1365. and unsalted at l 7 Bs to 140 s, and state that the heavy shipments have depressed values, the demand during the short market week before Easter having been wrv noor, but since the holidays, prices having been further reduced, a better trade has been experienced. Indications point to the maintenance for a time of the present level of prices. Wth regard to cheese, Messrs W. Weddcl and Co. report that the market is firm at 91s to 98s for Canadian white and coloured, according to quelitv and at 92s to 94s for New Zealands. The principal demand r+ill from the Government, and the general consumptive demand is disappointing.

Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile A.gency Company quote” for New Zealand cheese. wh’te and coloured. 92s to 92s per f ovoentional'v 01s for white; and state th« firm rates ml me have kent the trade demand v'rv quiet, hut arrivals have been satisfactorily ahsorb°d, chiefly by the purchase on account c f fhe Government, and rnl'ins have been fstrlv maintained. Further sb’nments, totalbng 11 hOfl crates, per Delphic and Athcnic. ha-re come to hand. OATS. Messrs W. Weddel and Co. reporf:— " The demand. particularly for the med'um and lower evades of New Zealand oats is still conspicuous by its absence, although the small ouantity available of finer grades commands fair attention. Quoons sta.n- 1 "t; A Cartons. 34® 6d to 355; B grade, 33s 6d to 34® ner 3201 b.” WHEAT. “ The purchase of wheat in America by th' British Government,” writes the London Agency of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, “ is having a very depressing effect on the market. Millers, merchants and other buyers, not knowing what the Government may do with the wheat, and fearing the consequences of its being brought over and placed on the market. ar» abstaining as far as possible from making purchases beyond those for present needs. “As regards supplies of foreign wheat, the only sources from which these are available at present are North America and the Argentine. It will. he some three months v"t b"fere any quantity can reach here from Russia or India, and if we are then o"> 1 v to have from the former country what will come via Archangel, the quantity will be comparatively unimportant. and the market would be influenced in the event of the growing crops being affected ser'ouslv hv unfavourable conditions. “a 7„ Ht+le ("r?o i-nsinoss has been done during the month, and this has been mostly cm Continental account, at prices showing little change.” FLATTED BELTS. The London Agency of the Now Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association reports that there is little or no change in -this market Pelts have now been placed on the list of prohibited exports, and though there seems little doubt that “ permits ” will be granted for export to. America: some delay will bo occasioned in obtaining these. Largo quantities of North Island pelts have arrived since last report, but owing to the congestion at the docks few have been landed, and these have been solo at prices which were current here last autumn i.e., on a basis of about 4s per dozen reduction from pre-war prices in the case of sheep pelts. No business lias, up to th© present been transacted in the new’ season fl lambs. ’ The outlook is uncertain, and difficult to forecast.

LO C , ’r~ CD C CD G >—l aT a - w; > —; go 3 0 O a Per lb. Per lb. English mutton (wethers) Scotch (wethers) ... ... 9 to 9J, 7 to 7i to s| U to 8 Dutch (wethers) N.Z. mutton (CanterNone. li to 7| bury) ;.. N.Z. mutton (North None. Nonc. Island) 63 to 64 3g to 4| Australian mutton 5i to Sj33 to 4 S. American mutton ... 5jp to 5| 3g to 4 N.Z. lamb (Canterbury) 8g to 8i 6 to 6| N.Z. lamb (N.I.) 7| to 8 53 to bk Australian lamb 7 _ to 7g 64 to 5i S. American lamb ... None. None. English beef (sides) ... U to Sk 5 to 6gr Scotch beef (sides) S. American chilled Si to og 64 to 6| beef (hinds) S. American chilled 63 to 7 to 5 beef (fores) 6 to 643g to 3| ■N.Z. frozen beef (hinds) None. 4£ N.Z. frozen beef (fores) None. 3g to 4 Australian frozen beef (hinds' Australian frozen beef 6g to 6| 4 4 to 4| (fores) South American frozen 6 to 6g 3J to 33 beef (hinds) South ..American frozen None. ‘ 43 beef (fores) None. 3i