THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 17

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. Dun’s Review, of April 7, reported as follows on the American wheat crops;--There has been little growing weather so far, and crop conditions are too indefinite to permit of any trustworthy estimate of damage. On® private forecast placed their winter wheat crop at 634,000,0011 bushels, against 586,000,080 bushels harvested last year. Another mad® an estimate of 595,000,000 bushels based on an abandoned acreage of 10 per cent, which is a little more than normal. The Liverpool Corn Trade News of April 4, referring to world wheat crops, said‘'Crop prospects present the usual variations, but taken all in all the outlook for the next harvest cannot be considered unfavourable. In Europe and North Africa the present promise indicates a much large? outturn than in 1922. The U.S. winter crop has been estimated at 560,000,000, 651,000,000, and 595,000,000 bushels, and the mean of these represents a very fair crop, somewhat larger than that last gathered. Spring wheat prospects in the States and Canada do not seem to be so goed a 3 could b® wished, it being asserted in some report® that unfavourable weather is delaying cultivation and sowing, but the season is still early, and it must be remembered that holders across the Atlantic have strong financial reasons for wishing that the new spring crop may not be large, therefore some reports may not be entirely impartial. We have seen it stated that U.S. North-Western farmers are being advis-ed to reduce the spring wheat acreage and devote more of their land to linseed cultivation. Harvest indications in India continue favourable for & good outturn, and Argentina is preparing the land for the new crop in good weather. Australia is suffering from drought, but happily this grower has a long period in which to plough and sow.” An agricultural market report issued by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in April contained an article on agricultural conditions in Russia. It mentions the divergent estimates of the crops in recent years. It sums up the position by saying that although it is impossible to reach a definite conclusion as to the estimates, there seems to be no doubt that the 1922 crop was exceptionally heavy. Exports of grain so far are given as 11,000 tons. It goes on to say that, in 1922 there were unmistakable signs of improvement, and it would appear that a slow economic! revival has begun throughout Russia generally, in spite of the immense difficulties under which the country labours. It is thought that the now agrarian policy of the Soviet Government will greatly assist in the re-establishment of Russian agriculture, and a further improvement i 3 expected owing to

the abolition of grain requisitions. Th® article concludes by saying that there seemfl no reason to doubt that every effort will be made to increase the export of grain a®

part of the Government’s efforts to improv® the financial position of the country.

LOCAL MARKETS

Very little milling wheat is now on offer, and although a number of farmers were in town for the Show, very few brought in samples of wheat. Any lines of good quality are readily sold to millers at full rates, but wheat that is soft in condition is hard to jjlace.

There is a firmer demand for fowl wheat, Hollowing on shipping inquiries. The local price is 4s 2d per bushel, sacks extra, ex truck, Dunedin. The following are quotations for produce to be paid to farmers at country stations, sacks extra, unless otherwise stated: Wheat, Tuscan 5s lid; Hunters, os 3Jd; Pearl, 5s •5Jd. Dunedin millers’ prices are as follow: Flour, 2091 b, £ls 10s per ton; 100's, £l6 10s; 50’s, £l7; 25's, £l7 10s. Bran, £5 10s per ton. Pollard, £7 10s. Oatmeal: 25’s-. £2O; 210’s, £l9. Bran has been advanced 10s per ton. The oat market is weaker, the result chiefly of Australian merchants ceasing to operate. The latest reports from Australia spate that the drought is completely broken, aud that there should not now be any danger of a lack of winter feed. This means that few oats will now bs wanted for Australia. Inquiries from the North Island are chiefly eor. fined to under-grade lines. The shipping price is 3s 5d to 3s s|d, f.0.b.,5.i., for "ound quality A'e, aud 3s 3d to 3s 3id for B’s, and local merchants are disinclined to accept any lower offer. PRODUCE REPORT. The demand for good quality chaff remains steady, at £5 10s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck. Few lots are on offer, but quite ißiffjcient to meet the demand. Mfcdium and poor quality i 3 stili slow of sale at £3 10s to £4 per ton, sacks extra, ex store. It is noticeable that most of the chaff coining to baud has been damaged through the heavy rr.in3 and a good quantity has been rejected as a result. The shipping inquiry Irom the North Island has fallen right off, as Auckland merchants are now securing their requirements from Australia. There appeals to be an anomaly in the New Zealand Customs tariff, as the Australian chaff is being landed in Auckland free of duty, whereas oats from New Zealand to Australia have to bear a duty. Australian chaff is being landed in Auckland at £7 15s per ton. Another anomaly is that the shipping companies are carrying chaff at a cheaper rate from Melbourne to Auckland than from southern ports to Auckland. Victorian-grown potatoes ale sow on offer to the North Island at about £lO per ton, f.0.b., s.i., Melbourne, and even with a duty these can be landed in the north at the price which southern merchants are asking. Auckland merchants appear to be more inclined to lake the Victorian tubers than the southern-grown potatoes, as they are of bettor quality. Good quality potatoes can be sold in the local inaiiiet to-day at £ll per ton, sack 3 included, ex track. Eggs have dropped 6d per dozen in price since last week. Rolls and sides of bacon have been reduced by Id per ib. Current local wholesale prices are as low:Chaff. —Good quality, £5 10s; medium and light, £3 10s to £4 103. Potatoes, £lO 10s to £ll. Dairy Butler.—Bulk. Is 1 jd; pats, Is 4Jd; milled, Is sd. Melbourne onions, £lO per ton. Eggs.—Stamped, 2s 3d; unstamped, 2s; preserved, is Gd to Is Bd. Bacon.—Rolls, Is per lb; sides, lid. Hams, Is 2d; boneless, Is 3d. FRUIT REPORT. Heavy supplies of dessert pears have reached the market from Otago Central and Oame.ru. In almost every case the fruit lias arrived in a ripe and over ripe condition, and it has had to bo cleared quickly at low prices.

Fair-sized quantities of apples are reading the market, and stocks held there are now very heavy. Cookers meet a fair inquiry, also choice Delicious, Cox’s orange pippins, and Cleopatras. Other varieties are in over supply, and are slow of sale. Supplies of grapes are about finished for the season. Oranges have met a fair demand, and stocks are almost cleared. A fresh shipment is due to arrive next week. Banana-s have a medium demand only, as the colour has not been too good. The fruit apparently, was chilled on its way from the north. Prime cauliflowers and cabbages are in good demand, but medium and inferior have a poor sale. Carrots, swedes, and parsnips have a sound demand. The market could do with more parsnips. The following are the latest prices: Apples.—Dessert Jonathans, 5s to 7s per case; Delicious and Cleopatras, 8s to 10s per case for prime; cookers, 4s to 5s 6d for best; medium, 3s; inferior, 2s to 2s 6d. Pines, to 225. Tomatoes.—Local botbouse,- to Is 6d. Grapes.—Local, Is to 2s 6d per lb; Victorian, 30s per box. Lenfons.—American, 45s to 50s ; Adelaide, to 23.3. Oranges.—lsland repacks, 255; 20s as landed. Pears.—Dessert, lid to 2d for best; small, 2s per cass; cooking, Id to lid per lb. Cauliflowers, 8s to 10s per sack; loese, 2s to 7s per dozen. Cabbages, 3s 6d to 6s 6d per sack; medium. 2s to 2s 6d; inferior, unsaleable; choice, 3s per dozen. Lettuce, la to Is Gd per dozen. Beetroot, Is to Is 4d per dozen. Parsnips, Is 6d per dozen bunches; Os per cwt. Carrots, Is per dozen bunches; 7s per cwt. Pumpkins, 12s- per sack. Marrows, 7s 6d per sack. Pie melons, 14s to 16s per cwt. MERCHANDISE MARKET. A parcel of sugar arrived by the Wingatui, and practically the whole shipment was delivered to customers from the wharf. Supplies are about equal tc a normal demand, but many people are endeavouring to stock up, in view of a likelihood of an increase in prices. Some retailers are already reducing their sales to their customers to 121 b parcels. There is no advice as to future shipments. No doubt the contention by the Board of Trade that the normal consumption in New Zealand has been exceeded by 5090 tons is substantially correct, following on the fact that large numbers of people are laying in extra supplies. The Waitemata, which is now in Auckland, is due here in about a week or 10 days’ time. She carries full supplies of sago, tapioca, and pineapples. A parcel of evaporated apples has arrived from Nelson. These are quoted at 28s per box at Is 3d per lb. Medium Capstan tobacco is now in full supply. Edmonds's baking powder will be reduced in price as from June 20. Carbonate of soda, borax, boracic acid, and caustic soda were landed ex Middlesex. All these lines show a reduction in price. An agency line, big A floor polish, is now quoted at 9s per dozen. A small shipment of Bryant and May’e royal vestas has just arrived to a bare market. Peck’s paste in all eizes is now in very short supply. A now line of olive oil, quarts, is quoted at 30s per dozen. Military pickles are again on the market. Cable advice from Colombo states that

full supplies of tea are available there at moderate prices, but that the quality- is not quite satisfactory.