CANTERBURY GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 20

CANTERBURY GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 30. The Kawatiri’s cargo of potatoes arrived in Sydney in good condition, considering the early stage of the season. A proportion was spotted, but It was smaller than was feared. It Is reported that potatoes are selling at from £ll to £l2 per ton. The market at the moment Is weaker, but the present rain will delay digging for a time, and prices may firm. Rain, however, will benefit the potatoes. Otherwise quotations are from £5 2s 6d to £5 ss, on trucks. Inquiries are free from the north, but all business Is for Immediate needs. The Kauri sails for Auckland next mid-week, and a fair quantity will go by her If rain does not Interfere with deliveries. A good few of the tubers going by this boat were bought on a basis of £7 to £7 ss. Owing to the high prices ruling for onions consumption has substantially decreased.

Quotations are from £l2 to £l3, on tracks. The oat market Is lifeless, and 3s 7d on trucks for A Gartons and 3s 4d for B’s cover the values. The offerings of white oats are light and the quantity of stacks to bo seen in the country points to most farmers waiting to see what the winter will do. Large quantities of white clover are offering, mostly of good sample. From 9d to lOd, on trucks, is all that merchants will offer. A little of the briskness has worn off. Most of the peas are in soft conditions, and need time to mature them for export. Sales on trucks have been made during the “ squeeze ” at up to 6s 9d a bushel and 8s is reported In one or two cases, f.0.b., s.l. Shippers are losing money on their prices. This afternoon it was authoritatively reported that .merchants were buying wheat at 7s a bushel, two of the cases mentioned being on trucks. As far as can be ascertained purchases so far for milling and fowl feed, and the reservation for seed wheat (500.000 bushels), represent about 3,000,000 bushels, which would leave close on 2,000,000 bushels still In farmers’ and merchants’ hands.