THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 16

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. London cablegrams state that wheat maAet is firm, with prices unchanged. On the basis of 110 s per ton for freight, recent sales of Australian grain will net slightly above 5s per bushel at the commonwealth ports (says the Australasian). This basis is much higher than that being obtained by other exporting countries, on tho showing of the Prime Minister (Mr Hughes), who has referred to Argentina as paying 170 s for freight, which means that that country is netting about 3a 6d only. The difference in the policy of Argentina and Australia may bo briefly set out on tho following lines. Argentine shippers have been determined, whatever the _ cost of freight, to obtain every ship available and get rid of tho crop. The authorities in charge of the Australian wheat pool take the opposite view. They have realised such high prices for Australian farmers by tho policr so far adopted that they will not pay the extreme freight rates asked, preferring to rely upon the vessels obtained for them by tho Imperial Government. Summarising tho statistical position of the world's markets, it would appear as though the new cereal season (which commences on August 1) will be entered into with largo

stocks carried over from the old season in the United States, Russia, Rumania, India, Argentina, and Australia, the of which will probably suffice for "the requirements of the. all-importing countries for fully half the new season. Offsetting this consideration, there will be much less wheat produced in 1916-17. That eubstantially '■ reduced areas have been sown in the United States, Russia, India, .France, and Great Britain is already known, and even *at this early date it 's obvious that in Australia the contraction will be even more severe. Up to the date of the_ latest advices Russian, Italian, and Rumanian conditions were satisfactory, while those of the United States and India were below the condition of last year. The local wheat market continues in a ! quiet condition. Millers are not prepared ; to buy, except in the case of offerings of 1 velvet, which, however, are not plentiful. Small quantities of red chaff are also in demand. Tuscan is not asked for. Velvet is quoted at 5s Id, red chaff 4s 7d, and ; Tuscan about 4s 2d to 4s 3d, ex stores, Dunedin. Fowl wheat is worth about 4s ; srl, f.0.b., s.i. Flour remains unchanged in price so far as most of the millers arc concerned. A ; fair amount of forward business has been | dono in flour, a number of bakers being j booked up for some months ahead at the ' prices named below. I Flour is quoted as follows:—Sacks, £l2; i 1001 b bags, £l2 10s; 501 b bags, £l2 15s; 251 b j Pollard, £7. Bran, £4. Oatmeal, £l6 a ton for 25's. Pearl barley, £2O. A Sydney broker reports that business in wheat) is practically confined to the local trade, ard that " We have sufficient ' wheat in eight to last us three years 1" The ' New South Wales Government prices are 5s 4Ad for wheat, and £ll 5s for flour. . There is no change to report in the

local oats market. It is still very difficult to ship oats, owing to the lack of shipping facilities Consequently merchants are not inclined to operate, except for orders in hand and subject to shipping space being available. Gartons for the drought-stricken districts over line railage are worth up to 2s on trucks, country sidings, and for shipping 2s to 2s Id. The f.0.b., s.i. prices run out at 2s 6id to 2e 7d for A Gartons. and 2s fid for B's. PRODUCE REPORT. Reports state that there is plenty of chaff in, the country districts, but that farmers are reluctant to accept current quotations. During the week supplies have been somewhat on the short side. This shortage, however, is only of a temporary character. Pull supplies of potatoes are available, but a quantity of the tuber's are in poor condition, and consequently cannot pass the grader for shipment. Prime quality have fiirned a little, and for extra choice lines higher prices than those stated below can be obtained. A grain broker reports from Sydney, under date May 3, as follows: —"Potatoes: Plight is reported to be very bad in Tasmania. This will probably affect the position, but until the exact position is known next week nothing can bo said. Reports of our own crops are ve~y encouraging. New Zealand is wanting about £7, f.o.b. This means £9 10s, without profit to importers. Meantime there is no chance of business. Buyers would operate at about £5 10s, f.0.b.5.i., New Zealand main ports." Consignments of hay are on the short side. There is no scarcity of supplies in the country districts, but a largo quantity of the hay has yet to be pressed. Some farmers are holding off for higher prices. Straw is very plentiful. Eggs are very scarce, and prices show a further advance. Prices, however, vary somewhat. Consignments are quickly snapped up. Supplies of dairy butter are short, and merchants are working on their stocks in the freezers. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Chaff.—Prime oaten sheaf, £3 15s to £4; medium to good, to £3 5s (sacks extra). Hay, nominally £6. Straw.—Oaten,'to £2; wheaten, to £1 15s. Potatoes.—Prime, £5 to £5 ss; medium lots, £4 to £4 10s. Onions, to £5. Eggs.—Fresh, 2s 3d ; stamped, 2s 6d ; preserved, Is 6d. Butter.—Milled, Is 2d per lb; dairy, in lib packets, Is 2d to Is 3d ; separator (bulk), Is 3d. Pigs.—Baconers, 6|d per lb: porkers, 6£d. Bacon.—Rolls (in quantities), Is Id; sides, Is- hams, Is Id per lb; boneless hams, Is 2d. FRUIT REPORT. Business has been on the dull side during the week. Better supplies of apples are coming forward, and any lines of really •first-class quality are quickly placed at satisfactory prices. Pears are also in good demand, and up to 2£d per lb has been obtained for choice Winter Coles. During the week a small shipment of Mildura and South Australian-grown lemons came to hand. These realised up to 17s 6d a case. Auckland's sold at 10s 6d a case Eating oranges are in short supply. A consignment is due to arrive next week from Rarotonga. A few cases of Poorman Oranges of indifferent quality came forward from Whangarei, and realised 7s a case. Choice ripe bananas are wanted. Advices state that no further shipment will bo available until about the 20th of next month. The following are the current wholesale prices: ipples are in better supply. Dessert Central and Christchurch, l?d to 3d; cookers, 2s 6d to 5s 6d per bushel; Nelson Jonathans. 8s; Alexandra. 8s 6d to 10s per bushel; Nelson, 5s 6d to Bs. Lemons. —American, 40s; Auckland, 10s 6d; Mildura, 17s 6d. Bananas.—Green, 10s to 12s 6d. Oranges.—Rarotongan, 10s to 12s 6d; none offering Peaches. —Finished. Pears.—Cooking. Id to lid; desserts, lid to 2id. Tomatoes. —Supplies are falling off. Local hothouse, Bid; small, bi,c\ ; outside, finished Quinces, Id to Ifd. Grapes. —Local, 9d to Is 3d. Cucumbers. —Hothouse, 2s to 3s 6d ner dozen, small. "\ egctablcs.—Poor supply. Cabbage: Good" Is to 3s per dozen; sacks, 2s to 4s. Table carrots, 5d to 9d per dozen; 3s 6d per bag. Swedes, 2s to 2s 6d per cental. Cauliflowers: Scarce, 2s to 2s 6d per for small; large, 4s to 7s per dozen. French beans, 3i,d. Celery, 2d to 4d per bundle. Spinach, 6d per dozen. Beetroot, Is per bag. Artichokes, 2s 6d per case. MERCHANDISE MARKET. An advance in split peas has been recorded, the price now being _26s per cwt. Blue peas have also advanced in price. Cable advice has been received that bicarbonate of soda has advanced in price, and the local market shows a further increase. Herrings of all descriptions are in very short supply. A parcel of walnuts came forward during the week to a bare market. Sugar of milk is now quoted at 15s net per dozen pounds. Pineapple is in very short supply. Two's are unprocurable, and ljlb chunks are quoted at 6s per dozen. Pearl barley has advanced local!} - in price by £1 per ton. The New Zealand representatives of Messrs Colgate and Co. advise an advance in their wholesale prices. The distributing price of Burnett's Old Tom gin now stands at 60s. Supplies of Melhuish's sauce are hard to obtain, owing to the manufacturers being short of bottles. _ The difficulty of procuring bottles is affecting other lines of bottled New Zealand manufactures, notably coffee. Owing to the increase in the price of bottles, methylated spirit is now being offered at 10s 6d. pints of ammonia 4s, benzine pints ss. Golden Eagle tobacco, which has been in very short supply, is expected on the Toromco on Monday. Sugar, which has been in short supply throughout the week, will be supplemented by a small consignment landed ex Westrolia on Monday. ARBITRATION COURT. SHEARERS' AWARD. WELLINGTON, May 9. Application was made by the Arbitration Court to-day to extend the Marlborough

shearers and woolshed employees' award to the whole dominion. The president of the court said that, assuming the court had such power, it was unprepared to exercise it in this case; but it would extend the award to those sheepowners' unions which consented. The Shearers' Union could cite the other employers in the ordinary way. It was stated that the Sheep-ownere' Federation had circulated the conditions amongst their unions, and had asked that they be observed.