THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 16

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. Messrs Prevost, Selth, arid Co. have forwarded a report of a gathering in London on March 20 (called by the National Produce Traders' League, inaugurated by merchants of Liverpool and Manchester), at which various examples of the cost to the nation of some of the determinations of the Ministry of Pood were cited, and the following motion was carried-unanimously:—"That having regard to the existing economic crisis and tile urgent necessity or increasing the eupply and reducing the prices of vital necessities, this meeting calls upon the Government immediately to remove all the various controls of tirade set up under the Defence of the Kealm Acts during the war." Mr Walter Kunciman made a statement of special interest to wheat-growers, who may be misled by reports which have been published respecting wheat prices in London, With the freight based on the Government rate, "merchants," said Mr Rivnciman, "wore ready to import some cereals at £1 a quarter less than tho Government price in some oases, and 80s lesa in others. How long was the despairing taxpayer to provide £50,000,000 a year broadl subsidy to be barred off by tho Gdvernrwent from this comparative!/ oheap bread? Tho flour-mills, under Ministry direction, had to sell their fine wheat offals at £l4 per ton, and ooarse bran s,t JJI3. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and looll*nd were crying out for offals, hut the ox-

port was impeded by the Government. Millerc might send these offals from one miliar to another, and the railway charge for this shuttelecock business was borne by the Government, but it must not go abroad. Yet, if the Government would let coarse offals go to Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Rotterdam at £l2 10s, it would materially help our Continental exchanges." Many other handicajis were referred to, andl, as in indicated at the outset, the justification for the protests is now being recognised. Local millers have been busy during the week taking delivery of the cargo of Aus tralian wheat, ex the Katoa. The line, taking it all through, is of excellent quality, though In to me cases the wheat is rather thin. Most of the odd offerings locally are from southern districts, but the great proportion of the wheat is on the soft side. Millers are not doing much business at present with Canterbury-grown wheat. The Government price for wheat for June is advanced by regulation by id per bushel. New Milling Wheat. —According to Government price: South Island), 6a -7d (plus ljd brokerage and Government commission); North Island, approximately equivalent to 6s lid (plus ljd brokerage and Government commission). Prices of millers' lines are as follow: Flour, £l4 10s; bran, £6 10s; pollard, £8 10s; pearl barley, £25; oatmeal, £24. Business in oats is slack. North Island merchants are inqxiiring for lines for delivery . from June onwards, but little business is resulting so far. Farmers continue to stand out for 4s to 4s 8d per bushel at country sidings, and the chipping pxico, free on board, may be given as 4s 8d to 4s 9d for A Gar tons, and 4& 6d to 4s 7d for B's. PRODUCE REPORT. The chaff market is a little firmer. The supply of prime quality is about equal to the demand, and prices remain unchanged from last week. The demand for medium and poor quality is not very bi-isk. The potato market is firmer, the removal of the embargo on export and the fact that wet weather has delayed digging operations being responsible for the increased pries. Few lines are coming from the north. The quotation at Oaraa>ru and Tirnaru is £7 10s to £7 15s, f.o.b. A. quantity of the southern tubers are not turning out too well. Onions have firmed during the week. Although the price for fresh eggs named by the Otr.go Egg Circle is 2s 6d per dozen, higher prices are ruling to-day. The prices quoted are more or less nominal. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Fowl wheat, Gfl Id per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes, £8 10s to £% 15s, ex store, i>unedin, for best quality. Chaff. —Prime oaten sheaf, £6 5s to £3 10s; medium and poor quality, £5 to £5 15s. Onions, to 12s per cwt. Oaten straw, £3 10s; wheateai, £3 6s (do livered Dunedin). Eggs.—Stamped, 2s 6d; preserved, Is lid Butter.—Milled, bulk, best, Is 4d to Is sd; separaator pats, to Is 4Jd. Pigs.—Baconers, 9d per lb; porkers, 9d. Bacon.—Local rolls, Is b|d per lb; hams, Is 2d; local ham rolls, Is 4d to Is 4Jd. FRUIT REPORT. Some fairly large quantities of dessert apples and pie melons arrived by fche Corinna from Nelson. Tho melons did not arrive in too good order beinof possibly affected by tho froats while awaiting ehipment at Nelson. A parcel of melons also arrived by the Monowai ■••• on Monday, but these were delivered only to-day, and as a result the quality was affected. A small lin« of Delicious apples arrived

by the Storm from Blenheim, and was quickly bought up. New lines of apples and pears have come forward from .Canterbury, and supplies from Otago Central are aiao small.

Looal hothouse grapes and tomatoes are now becoming finished. Enhanced! prices are being realised as a consequence. The market is barely supplied with vege tables. Cabbages, cauliflowers, and carrots are still in good demand, and the market could take any quantity. Parsnips are practically unobtainable. A greart demand exists for vegetable marrows and pumpikine, few of which are obtainable. Any available would bring high prices. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Apples.— Jonathans, 9s to 10s; King Davids, 9s 6d to 10s; Delicious, 12b to 14s; cookers, 2d to 2Jd per lb for prime. Grapes, to 8s 4d per lb. Hothouse Tomatoes. —Local, Is 6ct to Is 73 per lb; Otago Central, 7d to B£d for best; second-class, 3d to 4d per lb. Pears. —Central Otago, 2Jd to 3d per ; Canterbury, 6s to 8s per case; extra choice, to 10s.

Oranges.—lsland, 25s to 27s 6d. Demons.—Oalifornian double cases, 425. Passions.—Auckland-grown, 8s to 10s peT box for best. Bananas. —Ripe, 28s to 80s.

Cabbages: Extra choice, to 13s per dozen; others, 4s to 7&. Cauliflowers: Medium, 4s to 7s per dozen; prime, 8s to 12s per dozen; extra choice, to 14s per dozen; sacks, 10s to 15s. Lettuce: .Choice, to 8s per case; good, to la 6d. , Carrots, Is to Is 4d per dozen bunches; "small bags, 3s 4d to 4s per bag; sacks, 13s. Turnips, Is per dlozen bunches. Swedes, 2s 6d to 4s per bag; sacks, 5s Gd to 6s. Green peas, 5Jd to 6Jd per lb for prime. Vegetable marrows, 2&d per lb. Potatoes: Local, 9s 6d per cwt. Spinach, lOd to Is 8d per dozen. Rhubarb, 63 per dozen 2lb bundle. Celery, lOd to la Id per bundle. Pie melons, 10s to 12s per owt. Artichokes, 4s to 5s per case. MERCHANDISE MARKET. - New prices have now been named for Edmonds's baking powder and egg powder as from June 1. The current quotations are 22a, 19s, and lis, according to size. Duryea's maizena, which has been in short supply, is again available at 7d per lb. A new kind of cigarettes—Rob Roy—has made its appearance on the market. A shipment of two and two an adialf tins of Hawaiian pines has just arrived, and is quoted at 1-ls and 17s respectively. Singapore pineapples are practically sold out. The packers are understood to have great difficulty in obtaining the necessary tin. A shipment of Lux has just been landed. Owing to the shortage of rice local manufacturers of starch are not inclined to cator for future deliveries. Sydney manufacturers of rice are now quoting, but eo far the prices asked appear to be too high to tempt local buyers, who previously were securing their supplies from Rangoon. Local importers continue to complain that transhipments for Dunedin, landed at "Wellington, are taking an unduly long time in being broiight on. A consignment of North Island tinned r>ears arrived on the market during the week, and met a ready sale. Bell's 250 tin matches are practically unprocurable, and Royals are also in short supply. Plaids, however, are plentiful All sizes of locally-manufactured paper bags, which have been difficult to secure for some months past, are now coming more freely to hand. Ropp's cherry pipes are again on the

market, and are quoted at 18s per dozen for the particular size. Medium and loaf cheese is in very short supply. Mild medium is firm at ll£d per lb, and mild large at lid. Thistle oatmeal ie quoted at £25 per ton.

Mason's herbal, hop, and -wine extract* are again on the market at 10s per dozen. On account of buying for the Australian market the price of linseed has advanced. Whole is now being quoted at 25a per cwt. Lemon peel is scarce. Granoee biscuits are again available at lis per dozen packets. A further shipment of granbits has been landed from Australia. Supplies of crystallised ginger are not very plentiful. A line of honey, in Jib pats, has arrived on the market. COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. LONDON, May 28. Tallow—lo 66 casks were offered, of -which 800 were sold. Fine mutton realised 102 s: medium, 96s 6d; beef, 101 s 6d down to 91s 6d. Purchases were mostly for the Continent, and it is believed the ultimate designation is Germany. It is expected that control prices will be reimposed. LONDON, May 17. Hemp.—Market quiet, prices unchanged. Jute. —Firm and dearer. May-June sold at 47. Rubber.—Para, 29d; plantation, 22fd May 20.^ P. and 0., £329; Bank of New South "Wales, £37; Bank of Victoria, £88; Union Bank, £63 2s 6d; National Bank of N?\v Zealand, £6 2s 6d; Bank of New Zealand (4 per cent, guaranteed stock), £B6; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, £7l 15s (ord.), and £ll3. May 21 (delayed). At the tallow sales 489 casks were offered and 406 sold. Fine mutton fetched 95s 6d, and medium 90s; fine beef, 955, and medium 85s. There is a good! inquiry for shipment of good mixed, worth 82s, c.i.f. DUNEDIN MARKETS. Mr B. J. M'Arthur, George street, reports paying for produce during the week ending the 2nd inst., as follows: Stamped fresh Eggs I Honey Qlb pat), 5/6 .2/9 doa Honey (bulk), 7d lb Suit BoSUr, IX4 lb | Honey (section), 7/C do» Sep. Butter, 1/3 lb I Honey (Carto»s), lib, 6/Prime *Sep. Butter | 21b. 15/- dos wanted, I/i| lb j Beeswax, 2/6 Bacon Pigs, 9d lb | Compressed yeast, 9d packet. Beetle's Rennet, le 3d. J /> OAMARU MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, May 81. Business has not been very active in the grain market during the week. Millers are well stocked with wheat, and it has been impossible to pla.ee all that has been on offer from the country, the result being that some growers are sending thSir -wheat into store to await purchasers. Some sales are reporte'd, but these have generally been in email lots, though the transactions reported include a line of 1000 sacks of Bordier and another of 600 sacks of velvet. Transactions in oats have neither been numerous nor individually of any magnitude, the lines changing hands being of modest dimensions. The price® realised were as follows: —A grade Gartons, 4s and 4s Id; B Gartons, 3s lOd; Algerians, Ss 6d and 3s 7d, the top money being given for a good, clean sample. All the sales wero made as at country stations, and the prices quoted net to growers. A little busines has been done in oaten sheaf chaff at £5 5s and £5 7s 6d net, on trucks.

There has not been much doing in potatoes, some buyers being .chary of operating because of the uncertainty of shipping being available for the transport of the potatoes to consuming markets and the absence of in<quiries from the north. Sales of table Up-to-Dates have been made as low as £6 2s 6d net; on trucks, but the general run of business at £7 net, delivered in Oamaru, and £6 15s and £7 net, on trucks. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (Pbom Oub Own Courespoxdent.) JNVBROARGLLL, May 31. In the earlier part of the week merchants were paying 4s and 4s Id on trucks for A grade Gartons, and even 4s 2d at handy sidings for extra heavy lines suitable for seed, but finding it absolutely impossible to do business on these prices without making a loss, rates have receded to from 3s 10d to 3s lid, depending on the distance from port. On trucks, in the vicinity of Gore, even higher rates have been paid. In that centre however, business is by no means restricted as it is at Invercargill to shipping, considerable business being done with millers by whom a saving in railage is effected, so that the extra rates going recently in Gore are on a parity with Invercargill prices. Busi ness is not possible with the North Island except in small lines at 4s 7d for A grade, and that figure is somewhat difficult to obtain. Considerable quantities of chaff have been coming in during the last fortnight, but unfortunately a good deal of it is of low quality. Fox good bright chaff £5 10s on trucks is obtainable, but the presence of a good deal of inferior quality, which must be sold at lower rates, may have some effect on the better class for the time being. At all events there is some inquiry from tha north for shipping, but merchants are not anxious to entertain this at present. Only occasional lines of ryegrass are now being offered by farmers. Merchants refrain from buying anything but heavy seed, and, as there are very few really heavy eum,plc3 offering, the business passing is decidedly small. Twenty-five pound well milled seed is worth 4s 3d on trucks, and lower descriptions down to 3s 3d, with lightweights unsaleable. The hemp market is absolutely lifeless, no business whatever passing. Merchants' ideas of values are £26 to. £27 on trucks for low fair, and £29 for high fair. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report: Oats: A good inquiry still exists, from shippers and millers, but farmers are not disposed to take the prices offering. Quotations remain unchanged. Prime milling, 4s 3d to 49 4d; good to best feed, 4s to 4s 3d; inferior to medium, 3s 3d to 3s 9d per bushel, sacks extra. "Wheat: Arrivals during the week have not been large. The millers are well stocked, and are taking lots only in nrime milling condition. Several lines have been coming to hand; and, being soft, are sold for fowl wheat, which meets with a fair demand. Potatoes: The market remains unchanged. Fair quantities have been- arriving. Good tables are in request, and meet with ready sale. Choice tables, £8 6s to £8 10s; good tables, £7 16s to £8; others, £7 to £7 10s per ton, bags included. Chaff:.

There has been a better demand for good oaten sheaf chaff during the past week. Thia class has not been arriving very freely, and medium and inferior have consequently had more inquiry, though no change in prios may be reported. Best oaten sheaf, £6 5* to £6 10s; medium to good, £6 15s- to £6} inferior, £4 10s to £5 per ton, bags extra. .Messrs Dalgety and Company report: Oats: A good inquiry continues for ail grades, but business is eomewat restricted owing to the fact that growers are holding: in many cases for higher values than those ruling at present. Prime milling, 4s 3d to 4s 4d; good to best feed, 4s to 4s 2d; in# ferior to medium, 8s 3d to 3a 9d per bushel, sacks extra. Wheat: Millers, having good stocks on hand, are prepared to take only, lines in good condition. A good many of th* samples offering of late have been in sort condition. These are difficult to place except at fowl wheat rates. Potatoes: Supplier have been coming forward more freely, but there is practically no change in values fotf choice lines, which are in most demand. Medium quality and faulty line* are not eo readily disposed of on arrival. Choice line*, to £8 10s; good tables, £8 to £8 6b; other*, from £7 to £8 per ton, sacks in. Chaff: There has been more inquiry of late fox bright heavy oaten sheaf, which lias not been offering quite so freely. There has also been more, demand! for medium quality line* on the part of local feeders Best oaten sheal, £6 5s to £6 10s; medium to good, £5 10s to £6 2s 6d; light and inferior, from £4 10s per ton, sacks extra RABBITSKIN SALES. The Dunedin "Woolbrokers' Association (Messrs Dalgety and Co., New Zealand Loan, end Mercantile Agency Company , Otago Farmers' Cooperative Association, Donald Reid and Co., Stronach, Morris, and Co., and Wright, Stephenson and Co.) reports as iol- s lows:—The fortnightly sales were held on Monday, medium-sized catalogues being submitted by the various brokers. There was * large attendance of buyers, and bidding waa very spirited for all grades, the better classes showing an advance of 3dto 4d per lb on last sale's prices, while other sorts ruled very firm at quotations. Super winter does, 67a to 74d; super winter bucks, 56d to 58d; winter does, 62d to 65d; winter bucks, 50$ to 65d; early winters, 52d to 67d; incomiing winters, 50d to 53d; best autumns, 46Jd t£ 50d; early autumns, 38d to 44d; heavy rack*, 24d tS 26d; light racks, 19Jd to 22Jd; spring* 18d to 22d; best winter blacks, to 84id| autumn blacks, to 48d. PROPERTY SALES. There was a large attendance at Mr D. M. Spedddng's auction rooms at 2.80- p.m. o« tbo 27th, when portion of section 2, blocM XXXI, George street, on which there is * six-roomed residence, was told by auction. Keen competition was shown, and the property was scld to Mrs Dunlop for £950. Messrs John Reid and Sons on Saturday, at their rooms, submitted to auction on a» count of the Dunedin City Corporation tbm right to a lease for 21 years of ■ allotment 19, subdivision part section 9, block "vTII, Town District, fronting Cameron street. The new lease was secured by the present tenant (Mrs Anna Siedeberg) at tie upset grotunarental of £6 10s per annum. Messrs Park, Beynolds (Limited) report having held an auction sale of freehold properties at their rooms on Monday, a laxg* number of interested buyers present, and good competition was obtained for thf lots sold. For a six-roomed hous* and freehold section at MacandTew's Bay bidding started at £250, and quickly rose to £3lO, M which prioe Mr W. T. Rowlands became th* purchaser. For a freehold property in Maea»drew road, containing 1 rood, with a sevenroomed modern residence and outbuilding*, the bidding started at £450, and reached £7OO, at which figure Mr W. L.' Buddicont became the purchaser.