THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 15

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

FTidav evening. Private cable message® from Liverpool state that it is estimated in Argentina that the surplus of wheat remaining in that country is only 64,00,000 bushels. This 13 a reduction upon the previous estimate of 48,000,000 bushels. It Is thought that the reduced surplus will be sufficient to cover the season’s needs, but end-of-season's reserves will be affected. The wheat market has firmed on Continental buying and reports of United States crop damage. It is expected, that there will be an increased demand for wheat in the near future by the Continent, especially Germany. The smart rally in the price of wheat in Chicago follows the issue by “Broomhall” of a revised estimate of 67.900,000 quarters as being the probable quantity of wheat to be imported by Europe during this season. This is apart from a deficiency in Russia of 3,000,000 quarters and 12,000,000 quarters in other countries. North American shipments are set down at 52,000,000 quarters, and it is computed tliat Australia will be able to send m-o-re than the 5,000,000 quarters estimated, and Argentina over 10,000,000 quarters. ‘‘Broomhall” insists that the allimportant factor in the wheat market of ihe future will be strong Continental buyiug on the part of Central Europe. The wheat is needed, but with the exchanges so uncertain buyers in Germany and Austria especially are hesitating to purchase. The Canadian Bank of Commerce points out that during the season of 1921 shipments of wheat from Fort William and Port Arthur aggregated bushels, ancl that 20,804,451 bushels remain in store at Fort William. Considerable quantities are in the hand® of farmers and threshers. The continued demand for wheat by Europe, and the reduced quantities of wheat now available in America, have been responsible for rather sharp advances in Ihe price of wheat in Australia. -On April *2l the Victorian Wheat Corporation increased its price to millers a halfpenny a bushel to 5s 9d. That represented the fourth advance since the opening of the week, amounting in all to 3d a bushel. The 1 ist increases mean that wheat has gone up Id a bushel since the quotations -for flour, bran, and pollard were amended. The Victorian Millowne'rs’ Association discussed the position, and decided to increase the price of flour 5s a ton to £l3 5s per 20001 b net, delivered Melbourne or suburbs. LOCAL MARKETS. Samples of wheat are still arriving from tbe south, but all sprouted lines are unsaleable to millers. A fair quantity of this wheat has, however, been sold for fowl feed at prices ranging from 33 lOd to 4s on trucks, country sidings. Millers are refusing to buy any but the best class of wheat, as there are plentiful supplies of sound cereal in Canterbury to meet their requirements. These supplies of sound' mill, ing are expected to be sufficient to keep millers going the whole season. The demand for fowl wheat from the North Island is weak. It is reported that there are forward sellers for spread delivery throughout the season at 4s sd, f.0.b., sacks extra. Milling Wheat (new season’s). —According to Government prices: Tuscans, ss.6fd f.0.b., Hunter's 5s 9fd, Pearl 6s 3Jd. Dunedin millers’ prices are as follow: Flour, 2091 b, £lB pe-r ton; 100's, £l9; 50's, £l9 10s; 25’s, £2O. Bran, £5 per ton. Pollard, £9. Oatmeal, 200’s, £l9; other quantities, £2O. Pollard has been advanced! in price from £8 10s to £9. " The breaking of the drought in Australia has caused those Australian merchants who bought New Zealand oats early in the season to offer back their purchases. This has had a weakening effect on the local market, as A grade have been offered at 3s 2d f.0.b., s.i. and B’s at 3s. New Zealand merchants are unable to compete with these prices, and the position is made all the more difficult because growers are disinclined to accept the low prises which would enable merchants to quote against these offered-ba-ek oats. The lowest quotations by Dunedin merchants are about 3s 3d for A grade, f.0.b., s.i., and 3s Id for B’s. The prices being offered to farmers are 2s 5d on trucks for B grade and 2s 7d for A’s. Millers in some cases are paying more than the above figures, and their purchases practically complete the business passing in c-ats so far as Dunedin is concerned. PRODUCE REPORT. Consignments of chaff are still coming to hand, and as the demand fro-m feedtars is poor it is difficult to maintain present prices at £4 15s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck, for the best quality. Poor and medium chaff is at present unsaleable, and any lines of this quality are being put into store in the meantime. The rush of potato digging' is now over, and only small consignments are coming to hand. There are, however, sufficient stocks in store to meet the demand for the next two months. Most of the potatoes are showing signs of disease, and these are hard to quit. The best quality potatoes are worth today £4 15s per ton, sacks included, ex truck. The market for other lines of produce remain unchanged. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Chaff: Good quality, £4 15s; medium and light, slew of sale. Potatoes, £4 15s per ton. Eggs: Stamped, 2s 9d; plain, 2s 7d to 2s 8c!; preserved Is lOd to Is lid. - Dairy butter: Pats, Is Slid; milled. Is 4d. Onions: Canterbury, 8s per c-wt. Bacon: Rolls. Is Id per lb; sides, Is. Hams, 1-s lid. FRUIT REPO RT. Apples have met a god inquijjf during the week. A strong demand exists for Cox’s orange and Delicious. The market, could do with a greater supply of cooking apples. Reports from Canterbury state that good cookers, such as Lord Wolseleys, are bringing sound prices. The market has been overstocked with Island oranges. Between 1200 and 1400 cases reached the market- during ihe week, and a big reduction in prices Iras had to be accepted to quit stocks. A line of Australian-grown grapes reached the market ex Paioona. These, met a good demand. A small lot of Sydney pines came to hand, being transhipped at Wellington: A line of Rarotongan-grown bananas reached the market during the week, and although the fruit was not in good condition very high prices were realised for the fruit. A parcel of Fiji bananas also met a sound inquiry. Another line of 50 or 60 cases is clue to arrive to-morrow (Saturday). A small lot of passion fruit and tree tomatoes arrived to-day from Auckland by tbe Manuka. The fruit sold well. Vegetables have little inquiry. Cauliflowers. however, have a better inquiry, and have increased in price. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Apples.—Cox’s Orange, 12s—strong demand; Jonathans, 7s to 10s; Scarlet per-in-ains, 7s to 8s; Delicious, up to Its’ cookers, best, 6s to 7s; others, 4s to ss.

Tomatoes: Christchurch outside, small and rough, 2s 6d per case „of 30lb; best, to 4ld; prime, 2id to 3ld per lb; local, 7d to 9jd per lb; Otago Central, 3d to Cd peT Ife Passions, 10s to 14s 6d. Tree tomatoes, 13k. Fiji Bananas, 35s to 38s. Raratongan bananas, 27s to 32s 6d. Grapes: Choice, to Is 6d; prime. Is Id to Is 3d:. Pears, 2d to 3d per lb for bo’ce: others, lid to -2d. Oranges: Island, 10s to 12s as landed per case; American, 48s to 50s. Potatoes: Local, in cases, Id! per lb; Oama.ru and Taieri, 5s to 6s per cwt. Table carrots, 6s to 7s per cwt; 8d per dozen bunches. Cabbages, 2s 6d to 3s 6d per sack for beat; others, hard to quit. Cauliflowers, to 8s per sack foT best; ?S 6d per dozen. Swedes, 3s 6d per sack (sacks included). Cucumbers: Hothouse grown, 7s to 10s 6d per dozen. Celery, 9<3 per bundle of six heads. Pie melons, 5s to Gs per cwt. MERCHANDISE MARKET. The agents of Laurel kerosene have advice of an of Is per case, and of a further reduction of Is per case ing the cargoes of the steamers to arrive. The next steamers will be the Canadian Miller, due on May 27, and the West C-herow, due on June 19. Zig-Zag cigarette papers are unprocurable. Advices received! from London state that tie manufacturers are hopelessly behind with their and that indents cannot be executed under six or eight months. Further supplies of Miidura sultanas arrived during the week. Pearl baaley prices show a firming tendency. Supplies of Zebro are getting into small oompass. All kinds of lemon peel are off the market. Birk’s junket powder has been reduced to 9a per dozen. Three Poodle matches, which were short on the market, are again available. Brown’s Paisley maize cornflour has been landed ex the Cornwall. Large Three Castle .cigarette tobacco i« again in short supply, as arc also medium Capstan tobacco and Havelock light plug. Caustic soda, ones, is practically out of wholesale hands. Further shipments are not due for three or four weeks.