THE BREADSTUFSS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 17

THE BREADSTUFSS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Frida* omening. The Liverpool Corn Trade News of March 11 had •'he following references to some European wheat crops:—“France: Unsettled weather has interfered with field work, al-

though a fair acreage has already been seeded to oats in the centre. The winter crops have withstood the frosts of the pastfew weeks very well, and have a good s.and. However, a spell cf sunshine would now be welcome. Germany: Milder weather is now prevailing in all parts of the country, and it is to be hoped that spring field work will be ab’e to proceed without further delay. The condition of winter crops is considered very moderate. Italy: The weather is favourable for spring seeding, which has made a satisfactory commencement. The winter crops continue to receive favourable mention. Spain: Cold, freezing weather, accompanied by heavy snowfalls, has recently prevailed. So far little damage lias been done to the growing crops, the position of which is considered satisfactory. Russia: Owing to lack of moisture, fears are entertained as to the condition of the crops in the Loner Volga region, where approximately a mi’lion acres under winter gram are affected. It is confirmed that the winter grain acreage in the Ukraine has been reduced this year, but in Soviet Russia as a whole there has been an increase of 8 to 9 per cent. Present indications also point to an increase of about 12 percent, in the spring acreage. Rumania: A few days of mild weather were followed by heavy snowstorms and freezing temperatures.” Last week (remarked the Liverpool Con: Trade News of March 18), wheat prices declined, and most certainly they declined because supplies are so large. No matter whether we look at arrivals in our ports, the floating supplies, or prospective shipments during the balance of the crop year, we are bound to say there is very much wheat ir sight. These large supplies have been forecasted by international statistics for some time, but the unexpectedly huge purchases of the Orient diverted a lot of wheat to that misty quarter of the globe and tended to keep down the shipments to Europe. The shipments to the Orient having now decreased (they are still liberal, however) a much larger share is available for buyers and on the Continent, the total for Europe this week being again heavy. But it must be noted that wheat still possesses the undercurrent of strength which has been noticeable from the beginning of the season—at week-end the demand revived for Canadian spring loadings, "’and there was an immediate rally in Winnipeg and Chicago, to which the market here has responded. LOCAL MARKETS. Millers are now buying wheat, for the reason that growers have now little to offer. Moreover, millers are carrying full stocks. The fowl wheat market is firm at 3s 3d per bushel, sacks extra, ex store. The business passing is purely local as the North Island is still securing its supplies from Australia. Dunedin millers’ prices are as follow: Flour, 2001 b, £ls 10s per ton; 100's, £l6 10s; 50’s £T7; 25’s, £l7 10s. Bran, £6 per ton. Pollard, £7. Oatmeal: 25's, £26; 200's, £25. Some North Island merchants have been advocating the removal of the duty on oats, but it is not known how the Government views this agitation. The market has not boen so strong during the past few days, as forward sellers have filled their requirements for May. There is very little business passing with the North Island owing to merchants there importing large quantities of Canadian oats. Some of these oats are coming to this port. It is expected that, these importations will have a weakening effect on the market for New Zealand grown oats. Samples of Canadian oats have been received showing -161 b to the bushel. The Canadian oats which are coming tv# Dunedin are of better quality than usual, as they have been recleaned before being shipped. In the meantime there are practically no oats offering from growers around this' district. The present nominal prices are 4s 9d, sacks extra, ex truck, for A’s and 4s 6d for B's. PRODUCE REPORT. Consignments of chaff have been on the light- side,, and the market is now firm at £7 15s per ton, sacks extra, for the best quality. The stocks held by feeders are becoming depleted. Merchants are drawing supplies from Canterbury, as there is very* little chaff being offered from the eouth. Farmers are firm holders for higher prices. There is a belter demand for potatoes. Lots free of blight are readily saleable at £6 15s per ton, sacks included. Consignments from the south have eased off, but Canterbury growers are now sending supplies to this market. The Canterbury grown are of good quality. The ryegrass market has firmed during the last week, as merchants are now stocking to meet the retail trade. Machine-dressed has advanced 3d per bushel. According to advices from the south, there does not seem to be very much ryegrass seed held by growers. Other seeds met a slow inquiry, with the exception of dogstail. There is no export demand for dogstail, but some merchants have been buying on account of priced being low. Dairy butter is more plentiful. Separator pats are hard to sell. Onions are in short supply. Current local wholesale prices are as follow : Chaff.—Good quality’, £7 15s per ton. Potatoes, £6 15s per ton. Dairy Butter.—Best milled, bulk. Is 5d per lb; separator pats, Is 4£d. Eggs.—Stamped, 2s 6d; unstamped, 2s 4d. Bacon. —Rolls, Is Id per lb; sides, Is.

Hams, Is 2d to Is 3d per lb; boneless, Is 3d. On ions.—C anterbury 1-ls. FRUIT "MARKET. Business lias been brisk in the fruit ma? ts during the week. The Island oranges, ex Manuka, did not open up too well, and as the fruit would not keep it had to be disposed cf under forced conditions. The northern shippers will be heavy losers ever the transaction. The fruit was not worth 75 per cent, of its value in Auckland before shipment, and then there were the charges to be defrayed. Rarotcngan bananas, ex Maunganui, will be on sale to-morrew (Saturday). Fairly heavy supplies of appies are arriving on the market. Delicious have most inquiry. Cooking sorts realise moderate prices. Prices for choice dessert pears, such as Winter Neiis, have improved, and a fair business has been done in this fruit. A considerable quantity of mushrooms have reached the market. Satisfactory prices were realised. Supplies of grapes are not too plentiful and prices rule high. A few lines of tom-aloes continue to come forward from the Centra! and Christchurch. Cabbages are in more plentiful supply. Consignments are coming from as far away as the Bluff. Good-heatred cabbages ane readily sold, but inferior are hard to quit. There is a moderate demand for spring onions, lettuce, and cauliflowers. The following are the latest wholesale prices: Pears.—Dessert, choice, to 3£d per lb; extra choice, to 4d; cooking, l£d to lfd. Apples.—Jonathans, 10s to lie for extra choice; others, 7s to 8s; Delicious, 12s for choice; others, 4s to 6s. Tomatoes. —Central-grown, to 7d ; local hothouse, to Is; Christchurch best, 4d to 5d per lb ; small, Id to 2d per lb. Quinces, Id to ltd per lb. Lemons.—Californian, 40s to 42s per- case. Bananas.—Ripe, 30s to 32s 6d. Cucumbers. —Local, 6a to 12s per dozen. Oranges.—Californian, 425; Tahiti repacks, 14s to 15s. Grapes.—Prime, 2s to 2s 6d per lb. Mushrooms.—Best, Is per lb; others, 6d to 9d. Cabbages.—Choice, to 123 6d per sack; loo.se, Gs to 8s per dozen; medium quality, 5s to 6s per sack, small and inferior., Is 6d to 3s per -sack. Vegetable Marrows. —Sacks, 12s. Beetroot, Is to Is 6d per dozen. Lettuce, 2s to 4s 6d per case. Pumpkins, -12 s per sack. Swedes. —Sacks, 8s to 8s 6d; cases, to 4s. Celery, 4d to 6d per bundle; extra choice, 9d. Silver beet, Is per dozen; extra choice, 2s. Spring onions, 8d to 4d per bundle of six bunches. Parsnips, 3s to 4s per sugar bag; sacks, 12s to 13s per cwt. Carrots, 9d to Is per dozen bunches ; 9s per cwt. MERCHANDISE MARKET. New season’s Akaroa walnuts have reached the market. Quotations are irregular. A small parcel of oval tins of wax vestas has come to hand. These have been bare on the market for the past eight months. Arrowroot has firmed in price. A new agency line of Schwepps’s cordials ha 3 made its appearance on the market. A line of cornflour recently landed is showing an increased cost. Kippered snacks are again on the market. The Sussex, from Calcutta and Singapore, has brought supplies of Indian lentils, sago, pineapples, and castor oil. The Port Wellington brought a line of Hudson’s extract of soa.p. Chinese peanuts are now on the market. The City of Birmingham is bringing supplies of Sapolin enamels and varnishes. Brazil nuts are due to arrive ex Dorset.