THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3519, 23 August 1921, Page 13

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. Reports of the British wheat crops, issued in London in the first half of June, stated that the weather had continued too dry for cereals. "Winter wheat was promising well, but in many districts the plants were snort in straw. On light land the colour of the crops was weak, and spring crops had not done very well. The intimation by. the Minister of Agriculture that the Government intended to repeal the Agricultural Act, and that the guaranteed price of 68s a quarter (8s Gd a bushel) would apply only to the 1921 crop and not, to the seeding crops, created a sensation. Such a policy was resented; although it was contended that many British farmers v.'ould agree that the withdrawal of the burden of the Agricultural Wages Board was almost sufficient compensation for the loss of the guaranteed prices of wheat and oats. Since this report was issued dry weather conditions in the United Kingdom continued until a few" days ago, when the drought appeared to have broken. But the result of the warm, dry sjiell has had an unexpected development in so far a 3 the demand for hard wheats is concerned, such as Australian. Much of the British crop this season wis produce hard grain, owing to the absence of rains, which means that a larger quantity of the soft American wheats may be used than otherwise would be the case. This probably accounts for the quiet demand from the United Kingdom for Australian wheat. The Portland (Oregon) correspondent of Dun’s Review of June 25 said: "Wheat exporters have cargoes bought for practically all the tonnage engaged, and grain buying at country points is of small proportions. It is now estimated that about 5,000,000 bushels of the old crop will be carried into the new season. The final rush of the 1920-1921 grain season is on, and steamers are clearing with full cargoes for Europe at the rate of five or six a week. The outlook for the new cereal crop in Oregon is excellent, and a wheat yield materially larger than last year’s is predicted. The harvest season promises to bo earlier than usual.” LOCAL MARKETS. Offerings of wheat from the country are on the small side, and it would appear that ail the available milling wheat in the south has now been marketed. Millers are at present working on stocks purchased early in the season. As there seems every probability that there is going to bo a shortage of milling wheat the Government will either have to import or call on the supplies held in stores in Canterbury. A large quantity was purchased in Canterbury early in the season under the Government scheme, and it i 3 considered that there may be a larger quantity there than is required by Canterbury millers. Fowl wheat is in good demand, and is realising the full Government rates—namely, 7s 7id, f.0.b., sacks extra. The retail price is about 8s 6:1 per bushel. Milling Wheat.—According to Government prices: Tuscan, 7s 3d, f.0.b.; Hunters, Ss; Pearl, 8s 3d. Millers’ prices are as follow: —Flour, £2l 10s per ton; 100’s, .£23; 50’s, £23 10s; 23’s, £24. Bran, £7 per ton. Pollard, £lO. Peari barley, £lB. Oatmeal, 200’s, £2O; other quantities, £2l. The long period of quietness in the oat market has caused some of the merchants who arc holding small stocks to reduce prices, m the hope of making sales. These lots are being offered at 3s 6ct, f.0.b.5.i., for A Cartons, and 3s 5d for B’s. There- are few buyers even at these figures. Stocks held by merchants and millers are light for this time of the year, but nevertheless, unless there is a better demand locally, or an outside market is found, there is little hope of prospects improving. A firm tone rules in Melbourne for good milling oats, but few are oil offer. Inquiries for good feed are steady. Good milling are quoted at 2s 9d, good feed at 2s Bd,” and medium down to 2s Gd. PRODUCE REPORT. Consignments of chaff are still on the light side, but on the other hand the demand is quiet. Prices rule at £3 Vs Gd to £5 10s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck, for prime quality. Reports from the south show that stocks there are light. Consignments, however, have been arriving in Dunedin from Canterbury, and it is reported that fairly heavy supplies are held there. Medium paid poor chaff is slow of sale at £1 10s to £5 per ton, sacks extra, ex store. There has been a shipping inquiry for potatoes during the past week, and a fair quantity has been shipped ex stores. Sufficient stocks, however, are still held for the local demand, which continues very quiet. Good quality to-day is worth £3 per ton, sacks included, ex store. Inferior quality is unsaleable. Pressed straw, wheaten, is in better demand, and is saleable at £3 5s per ton, do-

livered in Dunedin. Oaten is scarce, and has a, gco-d inquiry at £4 per ton. The egg market is easier. Melbourne onions are firmer in price. Supplies of baron are plentiful. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Chaff: Prime, about £5 7s 6d to £5 10s; medium and light, £4 10s to £5. Potatoes: Prime quality, £3 to £3 ss. Eggs: Stamped, Is 7d. Dairy butter: Pats, Is lOd; milled, Is lOd. Onions. Melbourne, £lO per ton. Margarine, 10£d per lb. Bacon: Polls. Is per lb; sides, Is 2pi. Ham 3, Is 4d. FRUIT HE PORT. Business has been very brisk in the fruit marts during the week. The Poloona, from Melbourne, brought 1100 cases of citrus fruit • —oranges, navels, and lemons. Some 400 cases of this consignment, however, were for Invercargill. Stocks being low, the consignment for the local market met a ready sale. Several small lines of mandarins have also reached the market from Sydney, via Wellington. A good demand continues ior this fruit, as the next shipment is not due until the arrival of the Wanaka, and she does not leave Sydney until next week. Pair-sized shipments of Seville and Poorman oranges are arriving from the north, and also from Adelaide. The market for these has not been so good, owing to the sugar shortage. With greater supplies of sugar, the market should improve. The first of the season’s Rarotongan tomatoes should bo on the market on Monday, and also a few cases of Rarotongan bananas. Good-coloured dessert apples are in request. Prime cooking apples have only a fair inquiry. Anything under prime quality i 3 very hard to quit. The market is bare of dessert pears, and a good demand exists for this fruit. A feature of the week has been the large supply of cauliflowers, prices for which have receded. High prices rule for prime cabbages. Carrots are in fair request, and parsnips are somewhat easier in price Current wholesale prices are as follow: Apples: Dessert Jonathans, 9s to 10s; extra choice, to 12s; Scarlet Pearmains, 10s Gd to 12s Gd; Stunner, 10s 6cl to 14s; Delicious, choice, 18s to 20s; Cleopatra, 9s 6d to 103 Gd; cookers, 7s to 8s Gd for choice; medium, 5s to Gs; small, 3s to 4s. Demons: California, 455; Adelaide, 20s to 255. Pears, 2d to 3-d per lb. Bananas: Green Rarotongan, 203. Oranges: Adelaide, 20a; navels, 21s to 245; Island, 30s, repacked; mandarins, 22s Gd to 27s Gd. Potatoes: Sacks, 5s per cwt. Table carrots, Is per dozen bunches; 5s to 6s per cwt. Parsnips, Is per dozen bunches; sacks, 33 to ss. Cabbages: Best, to 9s; medium, 3s to 4s per sack; inferior, Gd to Is per sack Artichokes, to 4s per box. Brussels sprouts, 4s to Gs per box. Rhubarb: Winter, Gd per lb; new season’s, 8d per lb. Cauliflowers: Choice, Gs per dozen; medium, 3s to 4s per dozen; small, Is 6d to 2s 6d; sacks, choice, 7s to 9s; prime, Gs; medium, 3s to 4s. -Beet, Is per dozen bunches. Lettuce, to 4s Gd per dozen. Spring onions, 4d per bundle. Celery, 3d to 6a per bundle; choice, Bd. Leeks, 3|d to 4£d per bundle for best; others, l|d to 2d. Piemelons, 16s io 17s per cwt. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Lewis and Wbitty’s borax soap is again available after a long absence from the market. A parcel of 60-70 prunes, and also some dried apricots, are due from Vancouver, ex the Katoa, on Monday, these fruits having been transhipped at Auckland. The quotation is given as 8d to B£i according to quantity. A further parcel of 60-70 and 70-80 prunes are on board the Wairuma from San Francisco without transhipment. Sicily almonds are very firm in price. Sunlight soap lias been reduced by 3s a. case. A shipment of Symington’s coffee essence is due to arrive in about 10 days. The new season’s crystallised cherries are again available, the price being about 3s 3d per lb. Sunbeam cleanser has been reduced in price. Large quantities of Smyrna sultanas and figs have been booked to arrive here in time for the Christmas trade. Redwing coffeo essence is again on the market, and it quoted at 19s a dozen. There are practically no stocks of Camp coffee in merchants’ hands. The Highlander Milk Company advises that there will be no reduction in the price of its milk until December 31 at the earliest. Pink's salmon has hardened in price, and halves are now quoted at 8s per dozen, and ones at 13s. Great disappointment was felt on Monday when the Palcona arrived without any supplies of Havelock plug tobacco for this market. Havelock raid High Admiral cut tobaccos are now in plentiful supply. The Vacuum Gil Company notifies a reduction of Is in the price of benzine and kerosene to take effect from Monday. Owing to the delay in tire arrival of the Katoa the market has been very bare of sugar. A small parcel of sago was landed ex the Paloona and went into immediate consumption. The Phoenix Company is at present short of sevens of thin peel, and merchants arc unable to fulfil orders. Owing to the increased demand for caustic lye -merchants have been able to quit their stocks, and there are £) me tic ally no supplies available.