THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 20

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday Evening. So far as the Otago district is concerned there are no sales of milling wheat now going through. Several thousand sacks of Taieri-grown Tuscan have been sold on a basis of 6s on t.rucks, but with the weakening of the Canterbury market local millers have stopped operating in the meantime, and are only securing sufficient lines from the northern province to keep them going. Reports from Canterbury go to show that even with the reduced price practically no business is passing, as farmers are not prepared to sell at the prices offering. In North Canterbury the crops are exceptionally good, and the yields are heavy. From North Otago southwards, however, the yields will not be nearly as good as they were last season. Some of the crops on the Taieri have been flattened consequent on the heavy rains experienced a few weeks ago, and growers in some instances will have a difficulty in garnering their crops, as they are sure to be affected while lying on the ground. The reduction of £1 per ton in the price of flour will tend to make millers even more chary of buying until such time as they are satisfied that the wheat market, has reached bedrock. The present-day value of flour, £l6 15s per ton is below Australian parity. Australia is quoting £l7 per ton, landed in New Zealand. Allowing a dumping duty of 15s per ton on imported flour, £3 per ton ordinary duty, £1 10s per ton frieght, and, say, 10s per ton other charges, it will be seen that the full duty conies to about £5 15s per ton. '

It is considered that with the increased yields of wheat this year in North Canterbury and with the decreased demand for flour, consequent on importations from Australia there should be sufficient w'heat in the Dominion for the season’s requirements. In fact, some merchants go so far as to assert that even if there is no importation of flour from Australia there will be enough New Zealand wheat for all our flour requirements, and that the Australian article will be cut out, as it will not be profitable to import it. The fowl wheat imported from Australia has been practically worked off in Dunedin. The market is now being supplied with milling wheat from Canterbury, and the shipping value is 5s f.0.b., sacks extra. There is not much business nassing with the North Island, as merchants there have not cleared up their Australian wheat. Once this has been placed an increased trade should result.

Millers’ prices for flour are as-follows:— 2001 b, £l6 15s; 100’s, £l7 10s: 50’s £l7 15s; 25’s, £lB ss. Bran. £6 10s per ton. Pollard, £8 10s. Oatmeal —25 s, £2l; 200's, £2O. Flour has been reduced £1 per ton. Bran has been reduced £1 per ton. Pollard has been dropped in price by £2 per ton. Despite the fact -that oat values., are down to below the cost of production, there is voryf little demand from any quarter. North Island merchants report that they will not require many oats this season owing to the growing use of the motor causing a decreased demand. In this district no oats have yet been offered, and it will be about a month before thrashing is general. Canterbury prices for A Gartons are down to 2s 3d, sacks extra, ex truck, with growers showing no anxiety to 5e11..,-- Odd lines have been purchased by merchants, and these have been offered for shipment on a basis of 3s f.0.b., s.i., without attracting attention. The chaff market is over-supplied with consignments, and prices have a downward tendency. Although £5 per ton was obtainable for best quality towards the end of last week, there are no buyers now at over £4 10s, sacks extra, ex truck, Dunedin. Even at £4 10s sales are hard to effect, as feeders are not inclined to operate to any extent in the present state of the market. Shipping values are down to £5, f.0.b., s.i., which in this district is equivalent to £3 per ton, on trucks, sacks extra. The decreased demand goes to show that the quantity of chaff available hero cannot be absorbed., on the local market, and that growers will. be forced to come down to the shipping parity if they wish to sell to the North Island. Blight has made an early appearance among the potato crops. The disease has no doubt been caused by the excessive wet weather prevailing when the crops

were sown and - for some time after. Some ; of the crops are badly affected, and growers in their anxiety to realise something on their potatoes are now digging and sending them to the market. The result is that supplies are far in excess of the demand, and values have dropped to £4 10s per ton, sacks included, ex'truck. Some of the crops in the Taieri and Stirling districts are considered to be more seriously affected than for many years past. They have to be sold at any figure, as if they do not at once go into. consumption they just become a watery mass. The Veuliarity about the disease is that when th\ potatoes come on to the market they appear quite sound. - i Seed threshing has commenced in Otago and several lines of both- ryegrass and dogstail are on offer. Merchants are not keen to buy ryegrass, owing to the large carry-over available and also to the laeK of demand. Few sales have been reported, and to-day’s value is about 2s 7d per lb, sacks extra, on trucks. Parcels of dogstail have been on offer, and indications go to show that the crops will be heavy this season. So far no sales are reported, as growers prefer to have their seed machine dressed. Merchants’ ideas of value are Is per. lb machine dressed, but it is not expected that this price will be maintained. Produce lines are quoted wholesale as fellows: — Chaff to £4 10s per ton for best quality. Potatoes, ton lots, £4 10s for- best quality. Eggs; stamped, Is 9d ; case, -Is. Bd. Dairy butter, milled bulk. lOd to lid, according to quality; pats, 9d, Bacon, Is 2d per lb. Ham, Is 2d per lb; boneless. Is 3d. Canterbury onions, 7s to 8s per cwt according to quality. FRUIt AND VEGETABLES. Dessert apples are in good demand., Supplies are light, and all coming forward are readily placed.. Gfaventteins, ’ from Nelson, are the principal variety coming forward. ' The first of the Cox’s orange apples arrived yesterday from- Central Otago. There was only a small quantity. 1 Ripe pears are in strong demand. These are only procurable at present from, the North Island. The .supplies from .Canterbury and Central Otago ate very green.

Fair supplies of plums arrived during the week. Peaches and apricots have been in short supply and prices have ruled high. A few lots of raspberries are still coming forward. The market could do with more. Outside grown tomatoes from Nelson are in good supply and prices have re,'t’cedpd. Christchurch hothouse tomatoes show a falling off in quantity, and the market will now have to rely chiefly on local grown hot house. Supplies of out--7 side grown are very late this year. Fresh supplies of navel oranges arrived (3?- during the week. These met a ready sale. Advices from Wellington and Auckland show that prices are much higher V there.

f-j A small lot of Rarotongan bananas arrived by the Holmdalc on Wednesday. U These turned out a very good sample, ‘i; Fiji bananas arrived by the Kamo. A considerable quantity of the fruit was ripe and over ripe. Fair supplies of nectarines are reaching the market. Vegetables have a normal inquiry. French beans and peas have most inquiry. Current wholesale prices are as follows: Apples.—Gravenstein 12s to 13s per case; Worcester Permains 10s to 12s per case; cookers 6s to 8s per case. Oranges.—Californian navels 45s per double case. Lemons. —Californian 30s to 35s per double case. Bananas, ripe, 30s to 35s per case. Raspberries. 9s to 10s per bucket. - Plums, 2d to 3d per lb. Nectarines, 7s to 8s 6d per half case. Christchurch tomatoes, firsts, lOd ; seconds, 6d to 8d ; local hothouse, Is Id to Is 3d; Nelson, 6s to 8s per case of 20!b. Cucumbers, 7s to 10s per dozen. Pears. 5s io 6s half case. Apricots: Crates, 6d to 8d ; cases, 4d to 6d per lb. Grapes, Is 6d to Is Ed per lb. Peaches, 6s to 7s per half case; crates, 4d to 6d per lb. Cauliflowers, 5s to 6s per sack (choice onlv); others, 3s to 4s. Green peas, lid to 2UI. Swede turnips, 5s per cwt. White turnips, 6d to Is per dozen bunches. Potatoes. 7s per cwt. Cabbage.—Choice, 4s to 5s per sack of two dozen; others. Is to 3e. Spring onions, up to 4d per bundle. Lettuce. —Choice, to 3s per dozen. Parsnips and carrots, new season’s. Is per dozen bunches. Broad beans. Id to Ud per lb. French beans, 4d to 4Ad per lb. Vm-etable marrows, large case to ss; small cases to 3s. MERCHANDISE. MARKET.

Canned pears arc short in wholesale hands. The new season’s are expected to arrive next month. ‘Crest” brand cheese is now available. Bourbon coffee has been advanced in price. The Kurow brought a cargo of sugar. The next sugar boat is the Katoa, due about the 25th. A parcel of clothes pegs has just arrived on the market. Zig-zag cigarette papers arc expected ex the Hororata, due to arrive here next month. No half-gallon or gallon tins of “Stella” brand apricots are available this year.