THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 13

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday ©vening

Mail advices undler date of December 7 in regard to the Frenoh wheat crop state that "sowings are completed in many parts of tho country, and, according to the official report, the condition of the young plant is generally quite satisfactory. Recently the growth had been rather rapid, so that tho change to a lower temperature would be beneficial. Now that farmers are less occupied on the fields, thrashings are expected to be resumed, andl supplies of native wheat should ircrease. Foreign wheats also promise to be in larger supply shortly." Tho question of transportation of Australia's surplus wheat overseas has been discussed repeatedly, but it has led to no improvement in regard to tonnage (says the Australasian). Notwithstanding that statements have been made to the effect that the bulk of the wheat sold to Great Britain will be shipped, by tho end of October, the authorities in control of wheat are unable to confirm the report. While such arrangement would not only be welcomed by the Wheat Board and the .community generally, it is difficult to see where the vessels to lift the quantity held on behalf of the Imperial Government are to come from. Assuming that 2,000,000 tons are unshipped,

the number of fteamers required to transport this amount of wheat would approximate 250, each carrying 8000 ton* Tho smallness of the offerings of wheat on spot in London is restricting business. There have been a few dealings in Australian at 83s 6d per quarter. A fair amount of wheat afloat ha« been soldi, including a parcel of Australian on passage to London. Several more sailing vessels have entered the River Plato with wheat from Australia (wrote the Times of Argentina on October 15), but none of this grain has been discharged here. Most of it has been taken on to Brazil, but it is possiblo that some of tho windjammers may transfer their car» goes into steamers which will carry the sanio to Europe. Of course, it would bo suicidal to order the vessels into tho dangerous European waters. Sailers have no chance of getting away from submarines vr.less they are especially strongly armed. One sailer reoently arrived here from Falmouth, but she had various guns on" board and was successful in frightening away ono submarine which ventured within gunshot. But it is a very risky business, for a vessel has to rely on its ability to ram the submarine, and a windjammer has very littl« chance of doing this. The quotas of the various States in con T nection with the balance of tho 1916-17 wheat crop, which the Imperial Government has decided to take over, are as follow:—* New South Wales, 15,000.000 bushels: Vic toria. 30,000,000; South Australia. 27,000,000 : Western Australia, 8.000.000; total, 8C,000,000. bushels. The comparatively small total for Now South Wales is accounted for by the fact that more shipping was made available to that State than to Vio* toria for the removal of the- first portion of the crop. There is very little doing in the local wheat market. As a result of the wet weather experienced in Canterbury, deliveries from that quarter have stopped, and some of the mills here have had to close down owing to lack of supplies. Thrashing has commenced at the TaierL and supplies from there should be to hand next week. A further shipment of Australian wheat is expected early next month. Flour is quoted at £ls a ton. Oatmeal £2l a ton for 25's : pearl barley, £l9 10s;pollard, £7 108 (fixed by Government); bran, £4 5a (fixed by Government). Government prices for wheat: 5a lOd per bushel all round for February, March, andi April delivery. The oats market has firmed considerably during the week, the reason given being that some merchants have oversold for delivery this month and are being forced on the market. The that the Canterbury crops are disappointing are also having an effect on the position. Some merchants maintain that the advance in price* will be more or lesa temporary,, but, of course, this remains tb be seen. Yesterday two or three lines of Taieri oats were purchased at 4s on trucks, and sales have also been made from Dunecfin for the North Island at 4s 3d. f.0.b., s.i., for A's, and 4s 2d for B's. March delivery. One buyer who motored to the Taieri in search of oats says he counted no fewer than right motor oars at the gate of one farm; their owners were presumably inside endeavouring to negotiate for the farmers' oats. Under the circumstances the ninth man thought it advisable to pass on and try another farm. It is most unusual thai a spurt should! take place in business aM this time of the year, when most merchant* are looking to quit their stocks in readiness for the new season. It would not be surprising if North Island merchants began to look to Australia to see if they could do business from that quarter. i PRODUCE REPORT. ■ There is not a great deal of prime chaff about, but, on the other hand, the demand is not too brisk. The chief demand for potatoes is coming, from the troopships. Supplies are fully_ equal to the demand;. Eggs have further advanced in price during the week. A good yarding of pigs was offered at Bvrnside on Wednesday, and among tho number were some choice baconers. ; A, good sale resulted, best baconers realising: from Bidi to Bid per lb, and best porkera B£d per lb. Current wholesale prices are as follow: —■ Fowl Wheat. —Australian, 7s 3d a bushel;' New Zealand grown, unprocurable in th» meantime. Chaff.—Prime oaten sheaf, about £6 10s f medium to good, £4 to £4 IjOs (sacks extra). Potatoes, £6 to £6 10s per ton (sack* in). Straw.—Oaten, £3 10s; wheaten, £3. Eggs, Is 8d to Is' 9d. Butter.—Milled bulk, Is Id to Is 2d per lb; second quality, Is; dairy separator, in lib packages, Is to Is 2d. ' .. ■ ... Honey.—New season's, Bdi per lb. Pigs.—Baconers., 8d to B£d per lb 5 porkers, to B£d. ; • Bacon.—Rolls, local, Is 3d; CTmstchurch, rolls, Is 3d; sides, Is 3d; hams, Is 3d; ham rolls, Is 3d. FRUIT REPORT. The feature of the week in the local fruit marts has been the big advance iri the prices of tomatoes. Owing to the wet weather in Canterbury at the end of lastt week, supplies were short on Monday ahdl Tuesday, and prices advanced as a consequence. Supplies are now more plentiful, but prices still rule high. A big lot of tomatoes were on offer to-day, but only fair quality stuff could not bo purchased at less than 3d per lb. The action of the Government inspector in condemning several lots of pears owing to their being infected with disease has made growers much , more careful when packing. What good stuff is available shows a smart advance in price, and choica realises to 4d per lb. Cooking apples are plentiful, and prices are easier. On tho other hand now that

»pricote are finished, dessert apples are firming in price. Grapes are also keeping up in price. Values, in fact, .aro practically 50 per cent, higher than at this ,time last year. Reports from Roxburgh indicate that the main peach crop is more or less of a failure, owing to an outbreak of peach curl. Peaches coming from Alexandra are not, generally, prime, and the market at the present time is open for really choice Bamples The shortage of labour is evidently having an effect on the prices of peas and beans, as the keepers of hotels and restaurants are fiiidlin.tr that less labour is required to prepare marrows and cabbages, for instance, for the table than peas and beans, .and the prices of these two lastnamed vegetables have eased a little. Current wholesale prices axe as follow: Apples.—New season's dessert, 7s 9d to 10s per case; cookers, 4s to 5s for best; medium, 3s to 4s. Pears.—Best, to 3d; others, l£d to 2d; Christchurch Bon Chretiens, 9s to 12s. Lemons. —None available. Keen demand. Cucumbers: —Local hothouse, 3s to 5s for best; outside grown, Is 3d to Is 9d per box (plentiful). Plums.—Dessert, in crates, to 3id; others, 2id to 3d; jam, lid to 2d; greengages, 4d to 4£d. Apricots.—Getting finished; cases, 2£d to Z|d; crates, to 4id. Nectarine*, m orates, to 6£ per lb; in ou&es, 3d to 3id for best; small, 2id to 3d. loaches.—Cases, 3d to 3id; crates, 3id to 4iaj jam, 2id. _ Tomatoes.—Local hothouse, 8d; Christchirroh, outside, 3d to 4£d • Central, to sid. .Raspberrifei, 6d to 7d. Grapes. Is to Is 3d. Green P*as.~Plentiful, Hdt to 2d. No**? Potatoes.--Peninsula, to 9s 4d per <mt; Oamaru and Christchurch, 6s to -7s owt. Cabbages.—Choice, up to la 6d per dozen; Inferior, Is to 2s per sack. Cauliflowers, up to 6s per dozen; medium, 2s to 3s. Lettuce, 6d to Is ner case; choice, Is 6d per dewen. Parsnips, Is to Is 6d per dozen. Carrots, new, la per dozen. Spring onions, 2d to 3d per bundle. French beans. Id to lid; butter bea-ns, Id to lid. MERCHANDISE MARKET. A small shipment of sugar is duo to arrive in Dunedin from Auckland to-morrow. Practically all the sugar is going to Customers direct, merchants receiving little, If any, of the parcel. Another shipment is expected to come forward from Auckland towards the end of next week. There aro no stoclcs in Dunedin merchants' hands at present, and grocers, too, aro running on Small lota. There is, however, no cause for alarm at any probable shortage of sugar here, as it is understood there is plenty available in Auckland. Were shipping facilities available full supplies could be brought forward. As the prices ruling are on the basis of the arrangements come to between tho Government and the Colonial Sugar Company, there is, of course, no suggestion of any advance. Rico is now quoted at up to £23 10s a ton. Fair stocks aro held in Dunedin, and supplies aro equal to tho present demand. Quickshino polish is worth 6s 6d per dozen tins. Bi-oai-bonato of soda is in short supply, and is selling at 42s per cwt. Clothes pegs are worth 9s a box to-day. The manufacturers of corn brooms ,adviso an advance of 3s per dozen in the cost of this article.

Camphor is selling at 6s 6d per lb. A small shipment of Van Houten'si cocoa is clue to arrive in about a week. Prices have advanced to 4s 6d for lib tins, and equal to 4s 8d per pound for halves and quarters. A line of "Ship" brand Swedish matches has just come to hand. The quotation is 6s 6d per gross. Fine salt is almost unprocurable. Small lines are' arriving at intervals, ex Home steamers, and a parcel of American is also expected, but no definite advice has yet been received /when it w 7 ill be here. An effort is being made to obtain Australian salt, and a shipment from there may come to hand in about six weeks' time. Hudson's extract of soap, cwt lots, is now quoted at 745; less quantities 9s 6d a box. A shipment of whole pine apples has arrived from Singapore. These are worth 8s 6d to 8s 9d for lilb tins. A line of cornsacks has also arrived. These came to a bare market, and are quoted at varying prices. The local pack of salad oil is now quoted at 17s for ICoz and 9s 6d for soz. Imitation parchment paper is in short compass. The price to day is 14s 6d per ream. Hydroleine soap is now quoted at 43s per cwt. The manufacturers inform us that tho statement that Radium floor polish is not procurable in the meantime is inaccurate, and that all the usual lines are being supplied to the trade. COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. LONDON, February 19. Lead: Imports, 23,849 tons; exports, 300 tons. February 21. Bank of England returns: Gold coin and bullion in hand, £57,430,000; reserve, £30,714,000; proportion of reserve to liabilities, 18.62 per cent.; notes in circulation, £46,207,000; Government deposits, £38,562,000; other deposits, £131,879,000; Government securities, £56,251,000; other securities, £101,441,000. Discount on short loans, 3i per cent.; three months' bills, 3| per cent. Consols: £54 10a. War loans: 3i per cent. £B6 ss; 4 per cent. £93 7s 6d. Quotations for colonial stocks, as compared with those for the previous week:—

* 1921-6 currency. f 1920-50 currency. Wheat and flour: Business restricted; no colonial offering. Oals end peas: Neglected. Beans % Steady business. Sugar: Unchanged. Butter: At a standstill pending the commencement of tho rationing on Monday. ChcGSO is being distributed very slowly.

February 23. Hemp is in good demand at the Government prices. Rubber: Para, 2s 8d; plantation, 2s 3Jd; smoked, 2s- 3id. Hides: 11,902 New Zealand salted hides were offered at auction, and all were sold at from to Is 3d per lb. Australian nominally unchanged. „ Leather is unchanged. A fair quantity has arrived, but has not yet been marketed. ' Basils are unchanged. Tin: Spot, £314 10s; three months, £314 10s. Silver, 3s 6£d. BRITISH CHEESE DISTRIBUTION. LONDON, Febrkuary 18. The Food Controller is distributing onehalf of the trade's applications for cheese. RABBITSKIN SALES. LONDON, February 21. Annings report that 807 bales of rabbitskins were offered. There was excited competition, and.all were sold, low qualities at 50 and best at 75 per cent, above July rates. Australian furriers' skins reached the record price of 150 d per pound. CANTERBURY MARKETS. GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORTS. (Lyttelton Times, February 23.) There is a brisk .tone in the market for cereals and good samples of grass seed, the demand resulting from what is believed to be a temporary shortage of supplies. Wheat continues to come in freely. Much of it is of prime milling quality; but there are numerous complaints of badly-condi-tioned wheat, owing to its being thrashed too soon. It is reported that most farmers are now rushing any dry stooked wheat into stack rather than risk the vagaries of the weather. Not many oats are offering, and prices arc firming. Algerians are bringing 3s 3d to 3s 6d, with 3s 7d for good good fines; Gallons, 3s 5d to 3s 7d; Duns, 3s 4d to 3s 7d; no Danish offering. Good bright samples of 241 b ryegrass are worth 4s to 4s 3d, lighter samples from 3s 3d upwards; Italian, 3s 6d to 3s 9d; Westernwolths, 3s 9d to 4s. The cocksfoot market is upset by bad weather, and prices remain as previously quoted; Is to Is per lb for 121 b seed and Is Id for 141 b seed. Business in potatoes is small at £3 5s a ton. Onions are quoted at £3 15s to £4 a ton. Chaff is in good demand, and bright, heavy samples are worth £4 to £4 ss. TIMARU MARKETS. Practically no business has been done in milling wheat this week (writes the Timaru correspondent of the Christchurch Press), owing to thrashing operations having been delayed by the rain. The extent of the damage thus caused will not be known until the first of the next lot of wheat comes on to 'the market, but it is believed that most of the Tuscan which was in stook will be more or less sprouted. There is a good demand for fowl wheat; but none is offering. Oats have firmed considerably, but there is practically nono offering, and by all nnpearanees the quantity available will be little more 'than, if as much as, last season. At all events, it is significant that farmers who had thought they would have oats to sell are now inquiring for feed lines to buy. Algerians aro quoted nominally at

5s od, Duns at 3s 5d to 3s Bd, and Gallons 3s 6d to 3s 9d on trucks, country stations, sacks extra. Oatshcaf chaff is in strong demand, but very little of suitable quality is offering-. It is worth from £4 10s on trucks, country stations, for good, bright samples, sackd found by buyers. Potatoes are not yet inquired for for shipment, and it will bo some weeks beforo they will be wanted in any quantity. It remains to be seen what havoc blight has wrought amongst tho crops. It is assumed that the disease will have checked the late-sown crops, with the result that tho tubers will be very small, while the better earlier-sown crops will have suffered through unfavourable weather. There is a little more ryegrass offering. Tho market maintains late values. A lino of Italians is reported to have been sold at 4s 6d on trucks at a country station, but the general quotations for Italian are from 3s to 4s. Some heavy-weight seed is changing hands at 4s to 4e 6d on trucks, country . stations, whilst lighter and discoloured lines are hard to sell at 2s 9d to 3s 6d. _lt is early yet for red clover. The indications are that a fair acreage will be locked up for seed; but whether it will all mature in such unsettled weather as ie being experienced is doubtful White clover in the rough is worth 9d to le 3d per lb.

Feb. 14. Feb. 21. Victorian a's ... m 96} Victorian 3}'s ... ... 85} 85J Victorian 3}'s * ... 70S 70 Victorian 3's ... 63* • 62} New Souhh, Wales 4's ... 82A 82? 99} New South Wales 3.Vs ... 99} Ken- South Wales Si's f ... ... 69J 71} New South Wales 3's ... 70J 00£Queensland 4's ... 91 9] Queensland 3}'s 8SJ 89 Queensland 3's ... G3} .62} N*ew Zealand 4's .... ... 86g 865 New Zealand 8}'s ... 72} 73} New Zealand 3's ... 62| 63} South Australian 3}'s 72i 72* South Australian 3's .'!.' 562 57 Xasmanian Si's ... 71J "f X'asmanian 3's 65 65 West Australian 3J's ... 74J 76J West Australian 3's ... 69 1-5 69 1-5