THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 15

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

FTidav evening. Evidences of a revival in British trade are afforded in the official returns for the first half of the current calendar year, ' In imports there was a gain of £64,792,581 on the snni for the corresponding portion of 1918, the aggregate for the later term being £717,034,479. On the total for the January-June half of 1917 the' movement was upwards in the amount of £216,578,560. Exports for the first half of 1919 reached the sum of £334,755,257, that being an increase of £87,922,608 on the 1918 total to June 30. The excess of imports over exports for the last completed half-year was £382,279,222, as compared with £305,409,300 disclosed a year back. The United Kingdom was therefore apparently worse off as regards the commercial balance than it was 12 months before, or at the end of May, when the excess of inwards over outwards trade was £324,221,000. This position, eight months after the cessation of hostilities, is anything but comforting, even when allowance is made for the factor of more or less considerable importation on account of Continental countries in anticipation of ratification of peace. In transhipment business a substantial gain was registered, the increase for June being £9,849,300, and for the half-year £38,657,009. In these variations Australian wool figured «.» an important item.

Exports of wheat and flour from Victoria during August showed a reduction as compared with those for the preceding month. The quantity of wheat shipped was 1,432,832 centals, against 1,879,557 centals, and of flour 141,00? cental a, against 160,890 centals The United Kingdom took a little less than 50 per cent- of the wheat, and Asia tho bulk of the flour. For the eight months ended August 31, wheat exports aggregated! 8,422,917 centals, or 14,033,195 bushels, of which 2,242,071 centals went to Great Britain, 3,269,053 centals to Egypt, 1,267,881 centals to Europe and Mediterranean ports, and the balance in other directions. Flour shipped abroad for the eight months amounted to 2,166,247 ' centals, or the equivalent of 5,198,993 bushels of wheat. Tho United Kingdom has taken 244,501 centals, Egypt 949,548 centals. South Africa 140,094 centals, Java, etc.. 128,071 centals, the Continent 310,018 centals, Asia 163,926 centals, and other ports 230,029 centals. The total of wheat and flour i& equal to 19,237,188 bushels of wheat. Private cable messages from Liverpool" referring to the world's wheat crops advise that the United Slates thiashing ia very disappointing, and Canadian estimates are low. In Argentina ana India the agricultural outlook is excellent. European importers consider that, the crops will harvesi up to expectations. Southern Russia is good. The crops are increasing, -and there is a likelihood of experts from that direction. Newy of the Canadian wheat crop outlook received in London in the first week of ouly was not on the whole satisfactory. The weather had been too hot and dry, though official cablo messages had rather ignored the fact. Forest and bush fires are some indication of the heat and drought which had prevailed The Ottawa Bulletin gives the total area eown to wheat in Canada as 16,959,000 acres, against 17,353.902 acred planted last season.

No lines of milling wheat, except velvet, are being lifted by the Railway Department, as millers still hold stocks and are unable to certify that wheat held by growers is wanted for immediate gristing. Very little business will probably be dene until thex railway restrictions are removed. Sales are therefore practically confined to fowl wheat, which is in good demand at 6s 2d to 6s 3d per bushel, sacks exlra, ex store, and sufficient stock 3 are held to meet local requirements New Milling Wheat.—According to Government prices: South Island, Gs S£d, f.0.b., sacks extra, (plus ljd brokerage and Government commission); North Island approximately equivalent to 7s (plus l£d brokerage and Government commission).

Prices of millers' lines are as follow: —■ Flour, £l4 10s; bran, £6 10s; pollard, £8 103; pearl barley, £25; oatmeal, £25. Reports from all districts show a firming tendency in the oats market, one of the chief causes being a demand from Australia. A fair quantity has been shipped there by steamers recently loading, and merchants have made a clearance of stocks that accumulated in stores while the market was weak. The value of B grade- Gartons for shipment is 4s Bd, f.0.b.5.i., which i 3 equivalent to 4s on trucks at country sidings. Several lines have changed hands at this price, but there are now few lines offering, and the railway restrictions also impose further difficulties. Now that the weather has become more favourable for sowing several orders are being received for seed oats, and from present indications an increased area is to be put down in oats. There is a considerable demand from the North Island for grass seeds, and a fair amount of business has been transacted during the week at firm prices. PRODUCE REPORT. Supplies of chaff have decreased, but buyers are holding off the market, as they have sufficient stocks on. hand. Prices, which are unaltered, are in the vicinity of £6 15s, but it would be impossible to obtain any quantity at present rates. Medium and good quality is m over supply, and sales are being effected at from £4 10s to £6 per ton, sacks extra, ex store The potato market was firm early in the month, but lately buyers have been scarce, and as fair consignments have been coming 1o hand prices- show a slight decline. Present prices are about £lO per ton, sacks included, ex store, for good quality, while other eort3 are unsaleable until they have been picked over. Straw has shown a slight increase during the week, and prices are now £4 for oaten and £3 15s for wheaten.

Califcrnian onions are now slightly more plentiful, and prices show a small reduction. JJutier is still practically unprocurable at slightly higher prices, but an improvement in the supply may be anticipated next week. The shortage of butter is not confined to *i«w Zealand. Sydney reports of a recent date show that the factory output of butter there is very limited, and it looks aa if the great bulk of pool reserves will be needed before spring sets in. Useful rains are recorded on the south coast, but north of Sydney goodl falls are anxiously awaited. Pigs are still in short supply, and baconers sbow a slight increase in price. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Fowl wheat, 6s 2d to 6s 3d per bushel, sacks extra-,

Potatoes, £lO, ex store, Dunedin, for prime quality.

Chaff: Prim© oaten sheaf, £6 153; medium and poor quality, £4 10s to £6. Onions: Canterburys, 203 per cwt; Californians, 32a Cd to 35a per crate. Oaten straw, £4; wheaten, £3 15s. Egga: Stamped, la 6d; ordinary, la 5d Butter: Milled, bulk, best, Is 6d to Is 7d; separator pats, to la 7d. Margarine, Is 2d per lb. Pigs: Baconer 3, 9Jd per lb; porkers, 9jd. Bacon: Local rolls, Is 3£d per lb; hams, Is 2Ad; local ham rolls, Is 4d to la 4Sd FRUIT MARKET. Business has been fairly brisk in the fruit market during the- week. The Navua brought a quantity of Poornran oranges, Auckland lemons, and transhipments of bananas ex the Talune. The citrous fruit did not arrive in very good order owing to the time'occupied by the Navua coming down the coast 111© bananas were railed from Auckland, and caught the Navua at Wellington. They came to a bare market, and met a ready sale. Ono fairly large line of apples from Nelson was condemned during the weok on account of black spot, and this had the effect of hardening tho market. Only small quantities of apples have been arriving from Central Otago, one small lot from Clyde realising ISs per case.

A fair quantity of American oranges also arrived by the Navua, tb.es© being transhipments ex a recent arrival at Auckland.

A consignment of mandarins and Sevillo oranges is on the way down from Lyttelton by rail, ex the Manuke from Sydney, and these will probably be on the market on Monday morning. A further shipment left Sydney by the Riverina, and these may reach Dunedin towards the" end' of next week.

Fairly largo quantities of cauliflowers are still coming forward, but owing to the scarcity of other vegetables prices are still well maintained.

Rhubarb has been coming in more plentifully, but prices are still fairly high. However, a drop may be looked for next week. Advices to hand from the North Island 'state that a few cases of cucumbers will be coming down by tho Mokoia. Current wholesale prices are as'follow:—Dessert apples: Practically nothing but a few Sturraer3 coming forward. Prices range from 15s to 17s for best; others, 9s to 10s; cookers, 2£d to 3d per lb for prime; others, lid <*> 2d per lb. Granges: Poorrr.ians for marmalade, 23s to 25s per case; American Valencias, 45a to 50s per double case. Bananas: Rarotongaio, 18s 6d to 22s Od; green Fijis, 18s 6di to 20s 6d for best; others at relative rates-

Lemons: Auckland-grown, 30s; Adelaides, to 34s 6d; Californian, 78s to 80s per double case.

Cabbages: Very few prime offering. Caidiflowers: Medium, 8s to 10s per sack; prime, lis to 12a 6d per sack. Carrots, Is to Is Gd per dozen bunches; small bags, to 6s per bag; sacks, £7 to £7 10s per ton. Swedes, 2s 6d to 4s per bag; sacks, 5s to 5s 6d. Pctatos: Local, lis 6d to 12s per cwt. Rhubarb, Gs per dozen bunches; looae, 4d per lb. Celery, Is to Is 6d per bundle for best; medium, Sdl to lOd. Brussels sprouts, 7s to 7s 6d per box. Parsnips, 3s 6d to 5s per bag; 14s to 15s per sack—wanted. Cucumbers, 14a to 16s per dozen, according to quality. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Dunedin merchants are at present awaiting tho arrival of gooda from Australia. Documents have been received for a few lines from Sydney, but transhipments are slow in arriving, and it is now expected that some of these will be brought forward by tho Mokoia towards the end of next week. The direct beat from Sydney will not be due until the end! of the month, but in the meantime the Waitemata, which is en route from Calcutta, has called at Sydney, and will bring Dunedin cargo from that port Included in this are small parcels of. rice, beans, and various transhipments which have been lying in Sydney for eam& time. Ae an indication of the delays which are at present being experienced by merchants, consignments of tea, which have been lying at Sydney sines June, arrived here only last week ex the Corinna and the Moeraki.

The Port Hacking, now discharging at the Dunedin wharf, has on board a number of lines of English goods which are badly needed by merchants. Seedless raisins? are practically unprocurable, the stocks being depleted owing to the Mildura fruits not coming to hand so faith is season.

Clever Mary, which has been in short supply for some time, is again available A small line of Peck's salmon and shrimp paste oame forward during the week, and is being rapidly taken up at 16s per dozen. Lemon peel is still unprocurable in Dunedin, and preserved ginger is in practically the same po3ition.

Coleman's mustard is in very short supply, ones only being on the market. Mild Derby tobacco is again available in 2oz packets. Mellor's sauce and L. and P. sauce are practically off the market in the meantime. The ]a!est market report to hand from, Messrs Hoare, Miller, and Co., of Calcutta, states that the position in regard to Australian cornaacks has become very involved. In spite of the recent agitation in Australia against high prices, says the report, information regarding which was freely cabled to this market, Australian importers have apparently decided to take profits on their own holdings in the Calcutta market. There is a- certain amount of demand here from mills which wish to buy their own sacks back and resell other goods to other countries giving a much better return. In the meantime shippers and speculators in Calcutta are less interested in the goods owing to the desire on the part of Australia to resell.