THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 12

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Frid«ur •vening. A cable message just received by Bindley, NYalker Co-operative Wheat Company, Ltd., is of special interest, as it states that not only in the United Kingdom ie the tendency towards the decontrol of wheat, but that Fiance and Italy are moving in the same direction (says the Australasian). The messages, besides confirming the fact that the price for Australian wheat to millers had been reduced to 87s Gd, adds that “supplies in prospect are ample for the coming eix months.” This means that the trade feels that the way is clear until the turn of the year in August, when the European harvest begins to be available. So far as Australian wheat expor-ts go, the arrangements made to date for handling the crop have worked most smoothly. Freights have been declining, and the farmer has benefited accordingly, owing to his being able to get the lower freights against the reduction in the price of -wheat. Still the practical cessation of exports from Europe may affect freights, because of the cost of bringing shipping empty here. A penalty has to bo v>aid for most restrictive operations in commerce, and the check to imports may mean that some special inducements may have to be offered for vessels to come to Australia if to do so under present conditions means that they can get no loading from the port of departure. Apparently the British farmer is not al'ogether satisfied with the returns he has obtained from the cultivation of wheat. For 1920 the official return? issued by the Board of Agriculture for England, Wales, and Scotland give the area sown to wheat in Great Britain at 1,928,993 acres, as against 2,300,704 acres for 1919, and 2.635,723 acres for 1918. The contraction is especially noticeable in tlio estimated yields. For the 1920 season an outturn of 55,496,000 bushels is forecasted, which compares with a yield of 66,872,000 bushels iu 1919, and 87,156,000 bushels in 1918.

LOCAL MARKETS. Wheat thrashing is now in full swing on the Taieri, and several parcels have changed hands at the Government prices (which are subject to adjustment). The local mills are now all working again, and millers are quite satisfied with the quality of the wheat. A very fair proportion of the wheat grown in the southern districts will be of milling quality. Millers’ prices are as fallow:—Flour, £l7 per ton ; 100’s, £lB 10s; 50’s, £l9; 25’s, £2O. Bran, £8 15s per ton. Pollard, £lO 15s. Pearl barley, nominally £2B to £3O. Oatmeal, £25 per ton. Several lines of A Gartons have changed hands at 2s 4d, sacks extra, on trucks, with B’s at Id per bushel less. Millers, however, are not operating. Thfe* lines named have been bought by merchants who have forward contracts to fill. The shipping market is quite lifeless, consequent on the trouble on the waterfront. PRODUCE REPORT. Few consignments of old; season’s chaff have been coming forward. According to latest advices several lines of the new season’s chaff will be available within the next fortnight. Present-day values run about £6 per ton, sacks extra, for best quality. Medium and poor is slow of sale at £4 to £5 per ton, sacks extra. The potato market has firmed during the past day or two, harvesting operations having caused a slacking off in deliveries from the country. The low prices ruling have also caused farmers to reduce their offerings. Sales have been made for forward delivery at £5 per ton, sacks included, on trucks, Taieri. The bacon market is weak, in sympathy with the drop in prices foT pigs. Eggs are in fair supply, with prices a little easier. Current wholesale prices are as follow : Chaff: Sound oaten sheaf, £6; medium, £4 to £5 (slow of sale). Eg gs: Stamped, la lid; plain, Is 9d P®* dozen. Dairy butter: Pats, Is 9d; milled, Is lOd. Margarine, Is l&d per lb. Pigs: Prices easier. Bacon: Rolls, up to Is 7d per ib; sides, Is 6d. Hams, Is 7d. FRUIT REPORT. The weakness in the prices of stone fruits has caused a drop in prices of other fruits. Oranges and bananas are the only fruit which is in short supply. Vegetables are meeting a fairly good sale, notwithstanding the fact that a large number of people are now using vegetables grown by themselves. The small lines of potatoes sold in the fruit and vegetable marte are meeting a ready sale at increased prices. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Cox’s Orange Pippins, to 8s; other sorts. 6a to 7a; cooking, l£d to 2d. Lemons: Californian, 455. Oranges: Very scaroe. Tomatoes : Christchurch, 3d to sd; local, 6Jd to 7id. Grapes, 13 to la 6d. Pines, 16s to 20s. Nectarines: Crates, 4d to 5d per lb; cases, 2d to 2jd per lb. Pears, lid to 2d per lb. Plums: Dessert, 2d to 4d for crates. Apricots: About finished. Peaches : Crates, dessert, 4d to 6d; cases, lid to 2d. Potatoes, 9s 6d per cwt. Green peas, 3Jd to 3|d. Cucumbers: Local hothouse, 6s to 7s per dozen; outside-grown, 5s to 7s per half case. Table carrots: New season’s, Is 6d per dozen bunches; 8s per cwt. Radishes, 6d per dozen bunches. Beet, Is 6d per dozen bunches. Turnips, 6d per dozen bunches. Parsnips, Is to Is 3d' per dozen bunches. Cabbages: Best, to 4d per dozen; medium, 2s per sack; prime, 3s to 5s per sack. Cauliflowers: Medium. 4s to 8s per dozen; sacks, 6s to 7s; small, Is to 2s. Rhubarb, lid to 2d. Lettuce, Is to 2a per dozen. Spring onions, 3d per bundle. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Daily Times Office, Saturday morning. Lever’s Sunlight and Lifebuoy soaps have eased slightly in price. 'On the other hand, Monkey brand shows a small advance. New Zealand manufactured corn brooms have been reduced 2e per dozen. Clothes lines show a slight reduction in price. M’Leod’s laundrine soap has been reduced £2 per ton, and Victory soap Is per box. The cheaper makes show a proportionate reduction. Royal vestas are completely out of the wholesale market. Stocks of 250’s are also in very short supply. A small quantity of plaids is, however, available. Kerosene to arrive ex the Morristown, due in a few weeks’ time, is quoted at 22s 6d par case, ex wharf. Benzine and motor •pints by the same vessel also show a reduction in price. Quotations have been reoeived for Californian oinned fruita. Tho prices up to the present have been prohibitive, but the latest quotations are in the vioinity of those for Australian packed. The Australian article is, however, still the cheaper.

Green bacon is being quoted at Is 5d per lb. Hums for the Easter trade are also quoted at Is sd. C.M.C. 2lb tins of meat are on the market at 20s per. dozen; ones, 14s. Meek’s ink is quoted at 5s per dozen for 3oz bottles. Havelock dark plug tobacco is on the Kaiapoi. While the shipping trouble lasts, however, it cannot be landed. Cream of tartar is still being offered at very low values—below the prices, in fact, at which it can be replaced by the manufacturers.