THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 15

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. An unusual feature of the wheat trade for this time of the year is the almost entire absence of parcel shipments abroad (says the Australasian). That has been brought about principally by the attitude of growers, who, instead of disposing of their wheat freely, have decided to store most of their grain in expectation of their receiving higher prices later. Shippers who chartered steamers early in the season have found that they have no wheat to spare for parcel tonnage; in fact, with offerings so restvricted, the various organisations engaged in shipping wheat overseas are not finding it an easy matter to fulfil commitments of tonnage engaged. The freight charter rate for moderate-sized steamers for Melbourne-Adelaide being 46s 3d a ton, and for steamers 45s- The rate for the latter class of vessel for loading in Western Australia has just been determined by the oversea shipping companies at 43s 9d. The parcel rate from Melbourne is maintained at 403 a ton. Shipments of wheat from Argentina for the first 10 months of last year were more than twice as heavy as those for the corresponding term in 1921, and were the highest during the last six years, with the exception of 1920, when they were 5.029,528 tons. For the period January 1 to November 2, exports' of that cereal were 3,394,396 tons, as compared with 1,591,255 tons tor the preceding year. Oat shipments were on a much smaller scale, the respective totals being 273,659 tons and 362,574 tons. The quantity of maize sent abroad was 2,395,324 tons, which was approximately 378,000 tons below that for the first 10 months of 1921. Linseed shipments also were small, the total being 811,963 tons, against 1,129,403 tons. Argentina’s increasing trade in chilled beef is disclosed in the figures of export for that commodity duriDg the term. The total of quarters shipped was 2,669,681, against 1,264,469 for 1921, and 563,875 for 1920. The condition of the London market for frozen beef probably contributed largely. to the shrinkage of exports under that heading, for the total, at 1,702,277 quarters, was 918,363 quarters less than for the 1921 term. Frozen mutton shipped was 1,513,128 carcases, against 1,906,318 carcases, and frozen lamb 991,615 carcases, against 787,893 carcases. Cable messages from Liverpool state that the Argentine wheat crop is moving more slowly than was expected. The Comment is buying freely, and sellers, therefojv, are not pressing sales. United States and Canadian reserves of wheat are large, which, with Argentine competition, is affecting the general wheat markets. Indian wheat crop prospects are good LOCAL MARKETS. Advice has been received that new season’s wheat will be available from Otago Central within the next few days. It" is expected that on the Taieri the first cutting will take place within a fortnight, and that harvesting will be general in a month’s time. There is a movement amongst the various farmers’ associations to get the Government to again control the wheat market, but there appears little likelihood of the Government doing so. Growers, naturally, are concerned about the prices their new wheat will bring, more especially as there is a carry-over from last season, and it is also expected that there will be a carry-over from this season’s crop. It follows, therefore, that prices will be ruled by the export value, which at the present time is not a very remunerative one. Moreover, the surplus milling wheat which the Government had to take over under its guarantee scheme .has not been purchased by the millers, and the Government stands to lose a considerable amount on the deal, as its commandeer ceases at the end of February, and prices will then cease to be stabilised. Millers expect a poor demand for flour during February, owing to bakers holding off the market in anticipation of a fall in prioes in March, when the Government commandeer will cease. Fowl wheat meets a brisk inquiry, and a fair number of sales are being made - at 4s 6d, f.0.b., sacks extra. This price is equivalent to 3s lOd, sacks extra, on trucks, country sidings, a price at which farmers are not too keen to sell. They have, however, fairly large parcels still on hand, but it is anticipated that these will be placed on the market before the new season's wheat is offering. Dunedin millers' prices are as follow: Flour; 2001 b, £ls 10s per ton; 100’s, £l6 10s; 50’s, £l7; 25’s, £l7 10s. Bran, £5 10s per ton. Pollard, £B. Oatmeal: 25’s, £18; 200’s, £l7. There has been a good demand from Australia for oats and sales have been effected at 3s 3d, f.0.b., s.i., for B’s and 3s for f.a.q. Inquiries are still being received from Australia, and it is anticipated that the local market will remain firm until the new season’s oats are available When the new season’s oats come in prices will to a large extent depend on the outside demand. North Island merchants are buying in small lots only. Sales have been made at 3s sd. f.0.b., s.i., for A Gartons. This price is equivalent to 2s 7d, sacks extra, on trucks. B’s are warth 2s 5d on trucks. PRODUCE REPORT. Fair supplies of chaff are still coming forward.- The market remains firm at '£s per ton. sacks extra, ex store, for prime quality Medium and light is selling at £3 10s to £4 per ton, sacks extra. Although supplies are short it is noticeable that the sale of chaff is not very brisk. The consumption of chaff must be considerably reduced through the gTadual replacement of horses by motor vehicles. No large lots of potatoes are yet reaching the market. The continued wet weather has affected some of the. crops, which are now suffering from blight, forcing the growers to dig early. *> Canterbury and Auckland grown onions are commencing to teach the market. Dairy butter shows a sharp actvance in price during the week. Eggs are m plentiful supply. Current local wholesale prices for produce are as follow: Chuff.—Good quality, £5; medium and light, £3 15s to £4 Dairy Butter.—Bulk, Is 4d to Is sd; pats. Is 4d to Is sd; milled, Is sd. Eggs.—Stamped, Is Id; ordinary, lid. Melbourne onions; 17s 6d pef" cwt. Bacon.—Rolls, UJd per lb; sides, lO^d. Hams, Is 3d; boneless, Is 3d. FRUIT REPORT. A considerable amount of fruit has changed! hands in the fruit marts during the week. Heavy supplies of apricots are coming to hand, and sales are hard to effect. Supplies of early peaches have eased off a little. Good prices are realised for the lots available. Plums, pears, and tomatoes meet a good demand. A line of pineapples and passions will reach the market to-morrow (Saturday). Tho

fruit is being railed from Lyttelton, e* Waikouaiti from Sydney. The next shipment of bananas Is due in Wellington on February 1. The local con* aignment should arrive three days later. Vegetables meet a sound demand. The following are the latest prices:—* Apples.—Market bare of choice desserts; cookers are more plentiful, Gs to 8s per case. Tomatoes.— Christchurch hothouse, lOd to Is ltd; local, Is 4d to Is 61. Bananas.—Ripe, repacked, 30s to 35s j choice green, to 27s per case. Rhubarb.—Slow sale. Nectarines—Half-cases, 4s; crates, 3Jd to 4td per lb. Grapes, Is Gd to Is lid per lb. Oranges—Adelaide, 2‘2s to 27s Gd. Lemons.—ltalians, 37s Gd. Plums.—Dessert, 3d to 3VI; cooking, ljd to 2d per lb. Peaches, 4s to Gs per half-case; choice dessert, in crates, from 4-id to 6d. Apricots, 2s to 3s Gd per half-case; crates. 2d to 3d per lb. Pears, 4s to as per lialf-case. Caiiliflowers, Gs to 10s per sack; loose, 3S to 5s per dozen. Cabbages, 5s to 6s Gd jier sack; medium, 3a to 3s Gd ; choice, to 4s G 1 per dozen. French beans, 2d to 2|d per lb. Marrows, 4s to 5s per dump case; sacks, to 9s. Green peas, 2d to 3d per lb for beet; medium, lid. Cucumbers, Gs to 8s per dozen. Lettuce.—Poor demand. Spring onions, 3d to id per bundle. White turnips, B<l to Is per dozen bunches. New carrots, Is per dozen bunches. Beetroot, new season's, Is per dozen. Parsnips, Is per dozen bunches. MERCHANDISE MARKET. The Ruapehu, which arrived during the week, brought supplies of Peck’s pastes, Morton's herrings in tomato sauce, Epsom salts, olives, and several lines of oilmen’s stores. Cable advice received from Colombo announces a sharp rise in the price of desiocated cocoanut. Cable advice from Colombo also states that the tea market is very firm, and that prices continue to advance. The usual strong demand for sugar for jam making has not so far eventuated this season. It is expected that there will be a marked improvement in sales next month. Further supplies of Capstan tobacco, which had again run out in the wholesale establishments, are expected next week. Merchants are still unable to supply full orders of royal vestas. Other sizes, however, are in fair supply. The Otarama, now unloading at the wharf, has brought general goods from the West of England. The Hain steamer Tredenham, from Montreal, has brought numerous American and Canadian lines, such as galvanised iron, piping, nails, other hardware lines. Sh* also brought a number of motor-cars. The Culna brought case oil and sulphur from the Gulf of Mexico. Phoenix packet peel is now available at Is 2d per lb. A further shipment of haricot beans has arrived, and is being quoted at 25s per cwt. Exoello starch is now off the market. Owing to the severe storms i the North Sea this season, the herring catch has not been so large as usual. C. and D. Morton have advanced the iirice of their iresh and kippered herrings and herrings in tomato sauce. Australian eggs, which have recently reached England are reported in a cablegram sent from London last Thursday to be in good condition, having carried well, (says Melbourne Age of January 13). They are fetching about 21s per 129, in a market that is dull except for Dorsets. New Zealand eggs are unsatisfactory. Many are broken owing to insufficient packing of the cases and some are spotted. The total wastage is estimated at 40 per cent. In a report dated November 28, the South Australian Trade Commissioner in London (Mr R. W. K. Lewis) says:—“Several shipments of Australian shell eggs have come to hand, principally from New South Wales. So far I have been unsuccessful in actually seeing same unpacked, although I have externally examined several cases shipped by the Central Farmers’ Association of New South Wales. The cases bore an exoellent appearance, and were attractively got up. I understand that, with the exception of slight wastage through cracks, they are in excellent condition, and that the shipments disclose good-size eggs, clean, and in every way suitable to the London trade. Prices for same ranged about 25s a long hundred. I understand tliat a firm here is shortly expecting some South Australian supplies. Regarding the egg case fillers and pads, this matter has not been overlooked, but I have not been able to get an empty case so far. This week in Tooley street I noticed good supplies of Argentine eggs well packed and attractively got up in 3b-dozen cases.”