DUNEDIN MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4038, 4 August 1931, Page 18

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

WHEAT, OATS, ETC. Friday Evening. The continued importations of Australian flour and, to a less extent, of the Canadian article, together with bran jn l pollard shipments going into the Noith Island, have had an effect on the output ot the flour mills in the South Island, ft is some years since these importations have been so heavy, and the sliding scale of duties, which provides for a heavy impost on flour, has not had the effect of keeping out shipments. For some time the favourable rate of exchange to buyers of Australian flour has upset the conditions in the Dominion, and. in addition to this, the statement is made that methods have been adopted to circumvent the full i fleet of the duty on flour.

Bran and pollard shipments, of course, are admitted duty free, and on account of the low prices of these commoditn s New Zealand millers have had to reduce their prices in order to meet the position. The direct result is that millers are not keen to operate in milling wheat Moreover, with the expected lower prices for next season's crop, they are not prepared to carry’ forward any quantity of wheat.

The price for milling Tuscan wheat remains unchanged at 5s lOd, f.0.b., sacks extra. There is not, however, a great deal of milling wheat on offer. Only an occasional lot is appearing on the mar kct. The fowl wheat market remains unchanged, with little interest being shown by North Island buyers. For shipment from, this port 4s lid. f.0.b.. sacks extra, is being asked, but only small parcels are changing hands. There is still a fairiy large quantity available in the local stores, and agents are selling, where buyers can be found, at 4s 6d, sacks extra, ex store. This wheat has to be of good, whole quality. Any lines under this grade are slow of sale, with buyers showing a nrcference for the better quality. Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are as follow;— Four: 2001 b. £l7 2s 6d; 100’s, £lB 2s 'id: 50’s. £lB 7s Gd; 25’s, £lB 17s 6d. Bran, £5 10s per ton. Pollard, £6 per ton. Oatmeal: 2001 b. £2l; 25’s, £23. The inquiries received for oats about a week ago have not resulted in any’ business being done. The market seems to have relapsed into a state of quietness. Stocks held in the stores are not heavy and merchants are asking 2s lOd, f.0.b., s.i.. for A’e and 2s 7bl for B’s. Some undergrade oats are changing hands at 2s 6s to 2s 7d. f.0.b.. s.i.. according to sample. These are being shipped to the North Island, but there is not a very keen demand from that quarter. Millers are not interested in the market. Heavy oats that are suitable for seed are, however, being inquired for from Canterbury. The prices to farmers are 2s 3d. sacks extra. o n trucks, for heavy A’s. 2s 2d for ordinary A’s. and Is Ud to 2s for B’s. These prices are on trucks, country sidings. The shipping price in Canterbury has shown a further decline, and it is reported to be the lowest since 1895 for this time of the year. The price is 37s Gd per ton. f.0.b., s.i. Some of the growers in Canterbury have been accepting 25s per ton, on trucks, country sidings.

The chaff market continues to drag, with small sales only going through. These are confined to deliveries ex the store, the quotation being £4 10s per ton, sacks extra. The sales ex the truck are light, as it is the exception to find a buyer for a truck load. The value of truck loads is £4 per ton. sacks extra. There is no business passing in seeds, and merchants are still content to mark time, waiting for a spring demand. There is no change to record in the quotations. "" Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follow: — Chaff: Good quality, to £4 10s per ton, ex store, Dunedin, sacks extra.

Potatoes: Best quality, to £2 10s pel* ton.

Dairy butter: Milled bulk, lid to IS per lb; separator pats, lOd to lid. Bacon, lid per lb. Hams: Ordinary, lljd; boneless, Is OJd per lb Onions: Melbourne, 9s 6d per cwt. Eggs; Stamped. Is 8d; case, Is 7d. The market is a little easier for Delicious apples, fairly heavy supplies of which arrived during the week from Christchurch and Central Otago. Heavy supplies of o'her varieties are arriving from Canterbury. Large cookers have a good demand, but small are difficult to place. A shipment of Island orange? arrived during the week, ex the Breeze, but they opened out in rather poor condition, and had to be repacked. Australian navels have been sold out of wholesale hands for the first time this season. A further shipment* is expected by the VVainui from Melbourne. Poorman oranges are in good supply and prices are easier. A shipment oF Sydney fruit is expected by the Waikouaiti, due on August 6. Choice quality pears are realising good prices. Only small lots are on offer. A small lot of Island tomatoes and Rarotongan bananas arrived during the week. Marrows are in short supply and high prices are being realised. Cauliflowers are still in short supply and prices for choice quality remain high. Fairly large supplies of inferior quality have been coming forward and these have to be placed at low rates. Choice cabbages have a good demand. Other vegetables are in good supply and pric’-s are low Wholesale prices are as follow: — Apples: Delicious, choice, 8s 6d to 10s per case; Jonathans and Cleopatras, choice, 5s 6d to 7b; Stunners. 5s 6d to 7s; cookers, 4s to 5s 6d; small dessert and cooking applies are unsaleable. Bananas: Ripe, £l. Oranges; Australian navels, choice 10s to 12? 6d; others 7s 6d to 8s 6d: Poorman, 7s 6d to 8s 6d per case; Sevilles, 13s Gd per ease; Islands (repacked), 15s to 17s. Lemons: Australian, 10s to 12s Gd per case. Pears: Winter Nelis, 3s to 4s per half case; small, unsaleable; cookers, 2s. Pines. 14s to 16s per case. Mandarins, 10s to 12s 6d. Cauliflowers: Choice, 12s to 16s per sack; medium. 7s to 10s; others, 2s to 3s. Celery: Choice, 6d per head; others, 6d per bundle. Marrows, 14s per cwt. Cabbages: Choice, 4s to 6s per sack of 18. Lettuce: Choice, to 2s per dozen. Potatoes, 3s 6d per cwt. Carrots, 4s per cental bag. Swedes, 2s per cental bag. Parsnips, 4s 6d per cental bag.

MERCHANDISE MARKET. Saturday Morning. It should be pointed out that the proposed duty of 3d per lb on tea does not represent the full amount of the charge. In addition, there will be the surtax of 9-40ths of the duty, this amounting to about Jd. ' The price of Zig-zag papers has been advanced. following on a number of small increases that have taken place recently in the landed costs.

Owing to the decision of the Customs Department that Jiffy Jel has to be classed as provisions, n.e.i., the agents have be m compelled to advance the wholesale quotations accordingly. A slight reduction is announced in the price of locally-packed preserved ginger. The Golden West, which is due this week, from Pacific Coast ports, will land supplies of prunes, shaker salt, tinned peas, and Canadian flour. The prunes show an advance of 5s per cwt on previous shipments.

Some merchants are short of shelled walnuts, and have had to secure stocks from their northern branches. Other merchants, however, are carrying fair supplies

Some brands of packet dates are in short supply. The Kiwitea is to arrive from Auckland on Thursday with sugar. Advice has been received, however, stating that some orders for supplies cannot be tilled in the meantime.

Under the 3 per cent, primage duty Australian- and Californian dried fruits will have to bear an additional charge of Id per lb.