SYDNEY WOOL SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 22

SYDNEY WOOL SALES.

SYDNEY, August 27. At the wool sales the market for all well-grown wools and bulky skirtings was equal to the closing rates for last week, but for any lines lacking length and t doubtful yield the competition was restricted, and the market irregular, with a lower tendency. Greasy merino sold to 26d. SYDNEY, August 28. At the wool sales there was good general competition for all average to good fleece wools and skirtings, and the market was equal to last week’s rates. For short, inferior fleece wools, however, the market is still irregular. Greasy merino sold to 27d. SYDNEY, August 30. lhe market is without material change. A good demand existed for all good fleece wools and skirtings. The irregularity of inquiry for wools lacking in length and of doubtful yield was still in evidence. Greasy merino sold to 265 d. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. SYDNEY, August 30. Wheat: Farmers’ stored bagged lots at country stations, 4s lid; ex truck, Sidney, 4s 9d. Flour: Export trade lifeless; local, £l2 10s. Bran, £6. Pollard, £7. Oats: Tasmanian Algerian, 4s 9d to 4s lOd; white. 4s 6d to 4s lOd. Maize: Yellow, 3s 3d; white, 4s. Potatoes: Tasmanian, 4s to 5s lOd. Onions: Victorian, £lO to £l3; Japanese, £l4 to £l6. ADELAIDE, August 30. Wheat: Growers’ lots, 4s 7d to 4s Bd. Flour: Bakers’ lots, £l2 2s 6d. Bran, £5 17s 6d. Pollard, £7 2s 6d. Oats, 3s 3d. MELBOURNE HIDES MARKET. . MELBOURNE, August 30. Hides—Stouts and kips are unaltered, and heavies, mediums, and lights have declined id. MELBOURNE MARKETS. MELBOURNE, August 31. Wheat: Quiet, 4s 104 d. Flour, £l2 12s 6d. Pollard. £7. Oats. Steady tn 3s 7d. Barley: English. 5s 4d; Cape. 4s. Chaff: Dull to £6. Potatoes: Slow, £3. Butter: Steady, Is 84d. Cheese, 104 d. AMUSEMENTS PARK, LTD. AUCKLAND, August 29. The second annua] report of Auckalud Amusements Park, Ltd., to July 31, stated that 'he shares revenue was £20,794, or an average of £B3l per week for 24 weeks in which the park was open, compared with £24,580, an average of £1536 for 16 weeks of last season. The profit and loss account shows a net profit of £766, alowing £4734 for depreciation. The amount relating to the first year’s operations charged against the second year absorbed £766 profit, and £938 is brought forward from last year, and will leave a debit of £775 in the profit and loss account. The directors recommended a dividend of 10 per cent, on the preference shares, and expressed regret that unforseen charges will prevent a dividend on the ordinary shares. The assets are valued at £37,865, compared with £38,213 last year.

UNION COLD STORAGE. The stability of the profits of this large concern in the Vestey group, which covers every process in the meat trade from Argentine ranch to British consumer, stands out in strong contrast to the experience of many of the smaller concerns, including its own subsidiary, the British and Argentine Meat Company. The sole effect of the “ meat war,” which ended some- nine months ago, on the accounts of the Union Cold Storage, appears to have been slightly to check the steady increase in net earnings. The gross earnings for 1927 amounted to £984,714 as compared with £994,193 in 1926, and £883,564 in 1925. The net earnings amounted to £822,311, as against £831,554 in 1926. The preference dividends absorb £720,000. The ordinary shares -which are privately held receive the usual 10 per cent, dividend. Nothing is placed to general reserve, which remains at £200,000, but there is a depreciation reserve which, with the current year’s appropriation and other transfers now stands at £2,985,180. The value of fixed assets is shown at £17,302,308. DAIRY PRODUCE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company has received the following cablegram from London, dated August 29:— Butter: New Zealand choicest salted, 182 s to 184 s. Cheese, UOs to 112 s. The markets are slow. CUSTOMS REVENUE. THE DUNEDIN RETURNS. The revenue received from Customs at the Port of Dunedin during the past month amounted to £67,531 10s 2d, the beer duty amounting to £13,319 4s 7d. For the month of August last year the figures were:—General Customs, £77,248 3s 3d; "beer duty, £19,183 5s Id. The amount derived from the tyre tax last month was £1964 2s, and from'the petrol tax £4377 3s Bd. THE WELLINGTON RETURNS. WELLINGTON, August 31. A substantial increase in the Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington in Aucust is shown compared with

the corresponding month of last year. The figures are as follow, those for last being given in parentheses:— 3^ 4< ? ( £2 08,883 18s 2d); beer, £3047 19s 3d (£3958 6s 6d). The petrol tax yielded £26,948 0s lid and the tyre tax £4300 17s 3d. CHRISTCHURCH RETURNS. CHRISTCHURCH, August 31. lhe Customs duty collected this month totalled £91,601 6s Id, as against £116,442 19s lid in August, 1927. The beer duty amounted to £6160, as against £4766 10s MASS INSURANCE. Over 200,000 employees of General Motors Corporation wer e recently made the participants in what is described as the largest insurance policy issued. The pohey is for nearly £80,000,000 and covers death, sickness, and accident. The insurance is co-operative, but the corporation itself assumes a substantial part of the premium.