THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 21

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. Although unsettled conditions have obtained ill the international wheat markets for a period extending over several weeks, there is no sign of the position assuming e tabihty (says the Australasian). Prices continue to fluctuate, sharply, and in the circumstances there ig not a sufficient defined basis of values for buyers to resume their former activity. Sellers, on the other hand, have shown no disposition to accept current indicated rates, and business therefore has been relatively at a standstill. Export trade in flour has undergone little change. Trade has been particularly quiet, but a more hopeful sign has been a little better inquiry from abroad within the last few days. Millrunning ia still on a reduced scale, and consequently production of offal has been light. Hence bran and pollard have maintained a firm tone, with a small premium available for both commodities. Recent rainfalls had acted as a chock upon the inquiry for feed tfats for reserve purposes, but the tone of the market has been fairly steady in view of the need for rain in the northern areas. The following is a comparison of wholesale prices for the leading classes of produce with those in vogue a year ago: Wheat (60lb): 1924, 4s 0&d to 4s 7ftd; 1925, 5s 6d to 5s Rd.t •Flour (20001 b), £11; £l4 12s 6d. •Bran (20001 b), £6; £6 15b. •Pollard (20001 b), £7 £B. Oatmeal (ton), £26 10s; £2B. Oats (44)1 b), 2s 9d to 3s 3d; 2s 6d to 2s lod. Maize (661 b), 4s 9d; 4s. Chaff (ton), £5 5s to £5 15s; £4 12s 6d to £4 17s fid. Potatoes (ton), £5 10s to £6; £7 to £B. Onions (ton), £7 10s; £l2 10s to £l4. * Association prices, t Nominal.

LOCAL MARKETS. Very little interest has been shown in the wheat market during the past week. Millers still adhere to the prices recently arranged: —Tuscan 6s 8d per bushel, f.0.b., Hunters. 6s lOd, and Velvet 7s. Millers have fairsized stocks, but they are quite prepared to take over all the milling wheat available at these figures. Farmers, on the other hand, are not showing any anxiety to sell. It is anticipated that once the northern hemisphere harvests are available prices for the world's wheat will ease. There is not much doing in fowl wheat, a-3 Canterbury is securing most of the business. Supplies are being brought from Canterbury to the local market. The present value of good whole fowl wheat is 6s 6d per bushel, sacks extra, ex truck, at Dunedin. Millers’ prices for flour under the new arrangement remain unchanged as follow; 2001 b, £lB 10s; 100’s, £l9 10s; 50’s, £2O 2s 6d ; 25’s, £2O 10s. Bran, £8 10s per ton. Pollard, £9 10s. Oatmeal: 25’s, £2B; 200’s, £27. Although the market is firm very little interest is being shown in oats. There are few buyers ana, on the other hand, merchants holding slocks decline to reduce quotations. The present value of A grade Gartons for shipping is 4s 3d per bushel, f.0.b., s.i., and for 14 grade 4s. These prices are equivalent to 8s 6d per bushel, sacks' extra on trucks, at country stations, for A grade Gartons. Farmers, however, are not showing any anxiety to sell at this price. The forward position has been affected during the past few days by quotations coming on the market, spread delivery, July to December, at 4s 7d per bushel, f.0.b., s.i. No buyers appear to be taking up these oats. PRODUCE REPORT. Consignments of chaff are still ooming forward freely, but the only lots saleable are prime quality at £5 10s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck. Medium and poor chaff is unsaleable, and is being stored in the meantime. The chaff trade this season is showing more signs of being affected by the motor traffic, and it now takes very little to fill up buyers' orders around Dunedin. The only demand for potatoes at present is for prime quality, prices reaching up to £5 uer ton, sacks included, ex trucks. The market is auiet at this price with other sorts very difficult to sell. Supplies are now coming in from Canterbury, and also from the local districts. The shipping market is ulso quiet at £4 15s per ton, f.0.b., s.i. The egg market has eased slightly during the week, and supplies are equal to the demand. Current local wholesale prices for produce lines are as follow: Chaff, £5 to £5 10s per ton, ex store. Potatoes, £4 10s to £5. Dairy Butter.—Best milled bulk, Is Id to Is 3d per lb, according to quality; separator pats, la Id to la 2d. Egga.—Stamped, 8b; case, 2s 9d; preserved, Is 9d. Bacon.—Rolls, to la Id per lb; sides, Is. Haras, Is 2d per lb; boneless, Is Bd. Canterbury onions, to 12s per cwt. FRUIT REPORT. Business has been fairly brisk during the week. Supplies of apples aasad considerably, and choice dessert have a better demand.

A fairly large quantity of pears came forward from Otago Central and met with a good demand. Supplies of tomatoes from Canterbury have been on the short side, aid the first lot of any magnitude came forward to-day. First grade tomatoes brought 9d per lb. A few Otago Central tomatoes were also on the market, but they were wanting in colour, and accordingly, the prices were much lower. borne very nice samples of grapes came forward from the Oamaru and Waiknuaiti districts. Prices ranged from Is Gd to 3s per lb. The market is bare of melons. The next shipment from Melbourne will arrive by the Manuka on May 21. Transhipments of Island oranges and bananas arrived from Wellington to-day (Friday). The oranges were in good order and were readily taken up, but the bananas, on the other hand, were in indifferent condition. Low prices had to be accepted in order to clear them. The market is bare of passion fruit. There is a very fair inquiry for quinces, prices ranging about l£d per lb. Supplies of cauliflowers have not increased, and prices are practically the same as last week. Heavy supplies of cabbages came forward during the week, with somewhat lower prices. Swedes, parsnips, and carrots have a fair inquiry. Other vegetables are also in fair demand. a.u. min . ..oiesale prices are as follow: Applies.—Jonathans, choice, 7s to 8s; Delicious. 10a to 12s; cooking, 4s to ss; extra choice, Gs. Tomates.—Local hothouse, to Is 3d per lb: Christcliurch-grown, best, to 9d; others, 3d to 6d. Lemons.—Market bare. Bananas. —Green, 16s; indifferent order. Oranges.—Tahiti, 18s to 225. Passions. Australian, 20s; Auckland, 10s to 12s. Pears.—Best. 2d to 2£d; others. Id to 2d. Grapes.—Local, Is 6d to 3s per lb; Victorian, expected next week. Quinces, ljd. Pie Melons.—Australian-grown, to 14s per cwt; New Zealand-grown, 93 to Us. Vegetable marrows.—Cases, 3s to 3s Gd; sacks. 7s to 8s 6d. Celery, 3d to 4d per bunch. Potatoes. 5s to 6s per cwt. Cabbages.—Choice, to 73 per dozen; others, 2s to Is; sacks, 4s to 6s Gd. Cauliflowers.—Best, loose, 8s to 10s pei dozen; prime, 6s to 8a; others, 3s to ss. Beetroot, Is per dozen. Carrot 3,6 s per cwt; oases, le 6d to 2s 6d. Lettuce.—Choice, 2s per case; poor quality, unsaleable. Swedes, 3s to 3s 6d per cwt. Farsnips, Is per dozen; 7s 6d per cwt. Spinach, 2s per case. Artichokes, IRI to l£d per lb. Peas, 6d per lb. Winter rhubarb, 2s 6d to 3s per dozen bundles. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Owing to the broken week in business circles there has been very little doing in commercial lines. Bakers' jam was first of all reduced this week from 7£d to Gsd and then to 6d. Some new macaroni has come from Canada at 7s 9d and 8s; and some vermicelli at 8s 6d and 8s 7d. A consignment of Canadian peas is due here shortly.