THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3754, 23 February 1926, Page 21

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. NORTH CANTERBURY WHEAT. Speaking to a Lyttelton Times reporter recently a North Canterbury farmer stated that practically all the autumn-grown wheat north of the Ashley had been threshed. Spring-sown wheat was being cut, and it was obvious that the yield would not be as good as the Several mills had pulled in already and were now awaiting the spring-sown crop From what he could gather the return from autumnsown wheat in the Waipaya and Omihi districts would" average about 30 bushels per acre, and south of the Waipara about 25 bushels. The area under wheat was much smaller this year owing to the unfavourable weather conditions that had prevailed. Asked if there had been any sales, the farmer said that a quantity of wheat had been sent to stores in Christchurch. The sales he had heard of had been 'm the basis of 7s per bushel on trucks, country stations. The millers were not operating, and the bulk of the wheat sold had been for poultry purposes. Wheat off limestone country was recognised to be the best grown in the Dominion, but it was being used for fowl feed. The wheat grower did not know what might harden, and until the Government declared ts policy they would be unwilling to .‘ell. but if the Government would do something to stabilise the industry the farmers TOi.d grow wheat. LOCAL MARKETS. Wheat offerings from Canterbury are now increasing, and millers are getting ample stocks to mix with Australian wheat. So far there has been no wheat threshed around this district, but if the weather keeps up the first lots should be available in 10 days" time. Several parcels have been sold on the basis of 79 on trucks for Tuscans. No further announcement has yet been made by the Government regarding attitude towards the coming crops *t is doubtful if it will interfere The eneiai opinion among farmers and those interested is that the Government should leave *ii position alone now that both wool and lamb have had a set-back Present indica ions are that fairly extensive areas vill be sown in wheat for next season Farmers prefer a free market, and any interference at this time might adversely affect the area put under wheat for next season. Fowl wheat is being supplied from Canterbury. Good quality i 9 selling at 7s a bushel, sacks extra, on trucks, this being equivalent to about 7s 4d at Dunedin. One or two linee of new seasc ’s oats, grown in Central Otago, have come to hand. These have found buyers although there is practically no demand from any quarter for oats. The North Island is not buying, and millers show no interest in the market. Quotations for Canadians have caused a feeling of uneasiness, and it will be some time before the market settles down. Present nominal quotations for shipment are 4s lOd, f.0.b.. s.i. for A Gartons, and 4s 7d for B grade. These prices are equivalent to 4s, sacks extra, on trucks, for A Gartons, and 3s 9d for B’s. Consignments of chaff . ave again started coming in. The demand is only for good quality, which is selling ..t £6 10s a ton, sacks extra, ex truck. Feeders are carrying heavy stocks, and sales are difficult to effect. For medium and poor there is very little demand. Consignment of potatoes are coming in freely, and distributors find difficulty in making sales. Forward business is still fairly active, with buyers offering £6 on trucks, for delivery later i. the year. These are being purchased in anticipation of an Australian demand, which is now almost certain to eventuate, a long drought having affected the yic’ds. One or two lines of new season’s ryegrass have been threshed in this district, but the quality is mostly poor. 'ihe seed shows signs of having been cut too early. Later, however, some good lines should be available. Merchants’ idea of value is 4s 6d, sacks extra, on trucks, - for fairly clean, heavy seed. Current wholesale prices for produce lines are as follows: Chaff, £6 10s per ton. Potatoes, £9 to £lO per ton. Dairy Butter.—Milled bulk, Is 2d to Is 3d ; separator pats, Is Id. Eggs.—Stamped, 2s; case, le lid. Bacon.—Rolls, Is 3d per lb. Hams. Is 2d per lb. Eggs have advanced 2d per dozen during the neek report. Business has been brisk during the week. Fair supplies of stone fruit have come from Central Otago during the week and are mooting with a good market. Dessert apples have receded in price owing to a fairly large quantity coming from Nelson. Cooking apples nave met only a fair demand. Dessert pears are in good request. Supplies of hothouse tomatoes are darkening off, and prices remain firm. Supplies of outside grown are on the in-

crease, but good values are still obtain able. ihe first-of-the season Island oranges arrived to day. These will probably be soid to-morrow. Supplies of raspberries are falling off Blackberries are now coming forward, some verv nice samples from Central Otago realising up to lOd per lb. Lemons, pines, and passions are slow of sale. Vegetables have a fair inquiry. Current wholesale prices are as follows : Apples.—New season’s Worcester Permain. 7s to 9s per case: Gravesteins. 6s to 8s; cookers, 5s to 6s. Oranges.—Australian Valencias 30s per case. Bananas. —Fiji, 30s per case; Raratonga. 22s 6d per case; both as landed. Lemons.—ltalian. 18s to 20s per case. Pines. 20s to 22s 6d per case. Passions. 20s per case Peaches.—Dessert, 5s to 6s per case: cooking 4s to ss; crates. 3d to 6d per lb Plums —Dessert. 2sd to ?Jd; cooking. 2d. Pears. 2Ad to 3d per lb. Grapes. 2s 6d per lb. Cucumbers.—Hothouse, to 10s per dozen ; outside, large cases 10s, small 6s. Tomatoes.—Christchurch. lOd to Is per lb; local hothouse. Is to Is 2d. Raspberries.—Local 8s 6d to 10s per bucket. Nectarines. 4d per lb. Apricots.—Small, 5 s per half case; medium, 6s per half case; choice. 7s per half case; crates 3d to 5d per lb. Marrows, 6s per cental bag; large cases 6s. Peas. 2d to 3d per lb. Rhubarb. Id to 2d per lb. n dozen. Spinach. Is per dozen bundles. Cabbages. 4s to 6s per sack of two dozen. Cauliflowers. 8s per sack. Carrots.- New, Is dozen bundles, 8s per cwt. New Potatoes.—Local grown, Id to Is]. New season’s swedes. 7s per cwt. French beans, 5d to 6d per lb. Runner beans. 4d to 5d per Ib. MERCHANDISE MARKET. The Tainui. which is due here on Tuesday, will bring supplies of Morton’s herrings in j-’auce. loosely-packed dates, packet dates, and Kemball’s creara-of-tartar. Zig Zae cigarette papers are practically unprocurable from wholesale merchants. The Wainahi brought supplies of sugar, and the Y/ingatui. due on Saturday, will brine a further consignment. Supplies are equal fo the demand Further consignments of Liverpool fine and coarse salt are expected to arrive by the Huntingdon on March 9.