COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 19100, 19 November 1923, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

BRAY BROS. Messrs Bray Bros, report as follows: Fruit.—Regular supplies of seasonable fruit are arriving and prices are reasonable. We are now booking orders for jam fruits. Apples, dessert 10/- to 12/6, and inferior from 2/6 to 5/- case; cooking apples, to 8/- case; strawberries, 1/- to 1/6 pottle; cherries, 1/- to 1/4 lb; oranges, 25/- to 30/- case; green peas, 4d to 5d lb; rhubarb, lAd to 2d lb; new potatoes, 3d to 4d lb; cabbage and cauliflower wanted; spring onions to 2/-. Grain and Produce.—Oats, 12/- to 15/-; wheat, 18/- to 20/-; potatoes, £lO to £ll ton; chaff, £5 to £5 5/- ton; onions (Victorian), 12/6; pollard, 15/- 1501 b bag; bran, 8/6 1001 b bag; oatdust, 5/6; straw, £4 10/- ton; sorrel seed, 4/6 bag jhoney,. 601 b tins’from 7d lb; Globe separator, £4 10/-; motor cars, motor cycles, gigs, traps, and carts for sale. Furniture.—We specialise in manufacturing oak and rimu furniture to any design at short notice. We have supplies of new season’s best Samarang kapok. Large or small orders receive the same careful attention. Inspection invited. Property.—£3Bo for a good, sound, grocery, fruit and confectionery business in town; long lease to run. Good reasons for selling. We also have an inquiry for an exchange of 1200 for an 1800-acre property. Full particulars wanted as regards equity, etc. WM. TODD & CO. Messrs William Todd and Co., Ltd., report the following sales at their weekly market on Saturday, November 17: — Poultry.—Good demand. Hens, 1/8 to 2/5; roosters, 2/- to 4/6; ducks and ducklings, 8/- to 16/-; hens and chicks, 6/to £1 2/-; geese, 3/9 to 4/-; ducks, 2/4 to 2/6. Pigs.—lB4 sold; competition good. Small weaners, 8/6 to 12/-*; weaners, 13/6 to £1 1/6; small stores, £1 5/- to £1 13/-; stores, £1 15/- to £2 1/-; sows in pig, £2 5/-, £2 10/-, £2 10/-; boar, £l. Horses—Draughts, £l4, £l5, £2B; light harness horses, £6 10/-, £7, £ll. Cow.—£6. Produce.—Potatoes (whites), £lO 10/- to £ll, (reds), £9 to £9 10/-; onions (to arrive) ; chaff, £4 15/- to £5; straw, £4 10/-; hay, £5 5/-; barley, 16/-; wheat, 17/6 to 21/-; oats (discoloured), 10/- to 12/-; feed oats, 14/6 to 16/6; Farra Food, 19/6; barley meal, 15/6; ryecorn meal, 16/6; oat dust, 5/-; sorrel!, 5/6; rock salt, 9/- cwt. Miscellaneous.—Barb wire (English), 30/to 32/- cwt; No. 8 galvanised wire, 24/cwt; rabbit netting, 23/6 to 28/- 50yd roll; 6ft fowl netting, 35/-; tens, 8 x 10, 37/6; totara posts, £7 10/- hundred; Ceylon Tea, • 2/6 to 2/10 lb. D. W. McKAY, LTD. Messrs D. W. McKay, Ltd., Exchange Mart, Invercargill, report as follows: Bacon Pigs.—Market easier. We receive any day but Saturday. Prices on application. Produce. —Potatoes: Market well supplied; normally £lO to £l3 per ton. Seed potatoes finished. Oats, 14/- to 15/- per sack; wheat, 21/- per sack; prime chaff, £5 10/- per ton; inferior, £4 10/- to £5; Meggitt’s meal, 7/6 per bag; pressed oaten straw, 4/6 per bale; pressed rye hay, 3/6 per bale; onions to arrive; new potatoes, 4jd per lb; vegetables wanted. Fruit.—-There has been a shortage of good first grade Stunners, but we have just received 300 cases which will relieve the situation. Indifferent quality apples are hard to quit./ Pineapples, bananas and grapes arrived to a bare market. Tomatoes and cherries are coming forward more freely; also strawberries. Current approximate prices Dessert apples, 10/- to 15/- per case, cookers to 9/6 per case; inferior, 2/6 to 5/- per case; strawberries to 2/-; cherries to 1/1 per lb; pineapples to 20/- per case; bananas, green to 41/-; Adelaide oranges to 30/-; grapes to 45/- per keg; lettuce, 7/6 per case; green peas to 8d per lb. General.—Exchange Tea, 12/6 per 51b box. Furniture.—Large showing of new linoleums, hearthrugs, brush mats, and diningroom suites, exceptionally keen prices quoted. Inspection invited. F. BOWDEN AND CO. F. Bowden and Co. report an exceptionally busy week. Cherries and Strawberries are more plentiful and prices are rather low. Green Peas and Hothouse Tomatoes are now coming forward in larger quantities and prices are much easier. A big shipment of Bananas, Island Tomatoes and Grapes came to hand on Wednesday in perfect condition and met with a ready sale at good prices. A shipment of Island Oranges and Pines will arrive for Tuesday’s sale; these should meet with a good demand, as South Australian Oranges will be off the market till next week. Lemons are rather scarce. Sydney Passion and Sydney Valencia Oranges are available. Good desert Apples are scarce and supplies are wanted. Cabbages are getting more areplentiful and prices easier. Cauliflowers are selling well. Carrots and Parsnips are scarce and supplies are badly wanted. The first crop of Rhubarb is getting finished and any coming forward is meeting with a good inquiry at higher rates. The week closed with prices ruling:— American Lemons, 52/-; Island Pines, 17/-, Sydney 22/- to 28/6; Gooseberries, 2d to 3d lb; Apples, choice dessert 10/- to 13/-, others cheaper; Oranges (S.A.) 28/-, Sydney Valencias 25/-; Cherries, 9d to 1/1 lb; Grapes, 1/5 lb; Island tomatoes 1/7 to 2/1, Christchurch Hothouse 1/11 to 2/11 lb; Strawberries, 1/3 to 1/4 pottle; Bananas, 28/- to 37/6 case; Passion Fruit, 23/- case; Mandarines 15/- to 23/6 case; Walnuts, 1/1 lb. Vegetables, Produce, etc.: —Spring Onions 2/1 dozen; Fowl Wheat, 18/6 to 19/6, sacks in; Rhubarb, lb; Cabbage, 1/6 to 2/4 dozen; Lettuce, 1/- to 2/1 dozen; Green Peas, s{d lb; Radishes, 1/- dozen. DUNEDIN MARKETS. The milling wheat market remains firm, and good quality is readily taken up by both Otago and Canterbury millers. There is not much offering, but re-sales of wheat purchased by millers early in the season have been made. These particular millers purchased heavily and will have more than sufficient to carry them on till the new season’s wheat is available. The buyers are North Island millers, who have been unable to secure supplies direct from Canterbury growers through the various brokers. The fowl wheat market is firm. The consignments coming to hand are about equal to the demand, which is still fairly quiet from the North Island. North Island merchants advise that they have sufficient stocks to carry them over in the meantime. The present f.o.b. price is 5/3, sacks extra. This price is equivalent to 4/11 to the grower, sacks extra, ex truck, Dunedin. Dunedin millers’ prices are as follow: Flour, 2001 b, £l5 10/- per ton; 100’s, £l6 10/-; 50’s, £l7; 25’s, £l7 10/-. Bran, £5 10/- per ton. Pollard, £7 10/-. Oatmeal: 25’s, £2O; 200’s, £l9. The Australian inquiries for oats have not led to any business, and it is now doubtful whether further quantities will be required. As far as the North Island is concerned, there is little demand, and it is difficult to make sales at 3/24 for B’s and 3/4J for A’s. Stocks held in Otago and Southland are on the light side, but this is the usual position at this time of the year, the stores being required for the new season’s wool. PRODUCE REPORT. Consignments of chaff are on the light side. There is a sound demand from feeders, and prices remain firm at £5 5/per ton, sacks extra, for the best quality. Medium and poor is still in short supply, and sales of this quality are hard to make at £3 10/- to £4 10/- per ton, sacks extra, ex store. There is not much inquiry for chaff for I shipment to the North Island. Canterbuiy

continues to under-quote the local market ) and merchants there are asking £6 12/6 f.0.b., s.i., for good bright quality. This price does not pay local merchants to ship at a profit. Little business is now passing in old season’s potatoes. Retailers are the only purchasers, and they are paying £9 per ton for good quality, locally grown. Canterbury grown is worth about £7 to £8 per ■ ton, sacks included, ex truck, Dunedin. North Island reports that the season for old potatoes is now practically over. Auck- i land grown new potatoes are now plentiful I in northern markets. Supplies of onions are out of wholesale I hands. A consignment of Melbourne grown I is on board the Moeraki. Dairy butter shows a further weakening j in price. Current local wholesale prices are as follow: Chaff.—Good quality, to £5 5/-; medium and light, £3 10/- to £4 10/-. Potatoes, £7 to £9. Dairy Butter.—Bulk, 1/3; pats, 1/2 to 1/3; milled, 1/3 to 1/34. Eggs.—Stamped, 1/4; cased. 1/3. | i Bacon.—Rolls, 1/2 per lb; sides, 1/1. ! Hams, 1/5 per lb. DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs Dalgety & Co., Ltd., report hav- j ing received the following advice from their head office, London, under date of November 15:— Market strong. We quote NewZealand salted 164/-, Danish 172/-; finest Australian salted 154/-. Cheese.—Active. We quote coloured, 106/-; white, 104/-; Canadian, c.i.f., 102/-. SOUTH CANTERBURY MARKETS. There has been little change in the produce market during the past week. Wheat is quiet, and small lots of milling quality are still coming in and being placed by millers, who are taking good quality lines. There is very little left in growers’ hands. Millers are selling one to another, and there are enough stocks left until the new season’s wheat comes in. There has been a brightening in the inquiry for fowl wheat, and a better demand from the North Island, the advent of the warmer weather bringing about a demand for wheat instead of maize from the poultry dealers. This is assisting the consumption considerably. Present quotations are:— 4/10 to 4/11 on trucks to farmers, sacks extra. There is a demand for seconds and inferior quality for grinding, and anything of reasonable value can be placed. The oat market is very quiet, both from the buyers’ and sellers’ point of view. Nominal values are:—B Grade Gartons 2/8 and A Grade 2/10 on trucks. Small stocks are held locally and the demand is weak. Oatsheaf chaff is rather quiet, and good, bright samples command £4 10/-, inferior and undergrade stuff, £3 15/-. Some late threshings of linseed are now being shipped. Fair average quality lines are worth £l6 15/- on trucks, and undergrade £l2, according to sample. The next week or two should see the bulk of the linseed disposed of. Clovers and ryegrass are quiet, and the wholesale demand is slow. Good, clean cowgrass is worth 8d to farmers, and white clover lOd to lid, according to cleanliness and purity. LONDON WOOL SALES. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated November 15, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London:— Wool.—Sales closed yesterday. Competition ruled brisk throughout, and of total offerings of 189,000 bales, 159,000 were sold; Home trade taking 94,000; Continental 64,000; and American 1000. Merino selection was small with demand well maintained and closed par to 5 per cent, above last sales. Rates for crossbred hardened, and closed at best fine 5 per cent.; medium and coarse, 10 per cent, to 15 per cent, higher than September rates. Average closing lates:—6o/64’s (Merino), 1/10 to 2/4; 56’s (super halfbred), 1/11 to 2/3; 48’s (fine crossbred), 1/2 to 1/4; 44/46’s (medium crossbred), lid to 1/1; 36/40’s (coarse crossbred), lOd to 1/-. Slipe in large supply, active demand, closing at 10 per cent, dearer for best and 5 per cest. dearer for coarse and faulty lines. Next sales commence December 3 with break for election period. Messrs Dalgety & Co., Ltd., report having received the following advice from their head office, London, under date of November 16:— London Wool Sales.—The list of arrivals for the December wool sales closed on November 15. The following are the quantities available:—3s,soo Australian; 67,000 New Zealand; 1000 Cape; 26,000 carry forward; 60,000 Bawra. LONDON MARKETS. (By Telegraph—Press As«n.—Copyright./ (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 17. (Received November 18, 5.5 p.m.) Cotton—December, 20.24 d. Rubber —Para, 12$d; plantation and smoked, 14yd to 14$d. Jute—November-December, £24. Copra—November-December, £27 5/-. Linseed Oil—£42 5/-. Turpentine—73/3. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company year’s dividend is 4 per cent., tax free. Mr Allan Smith has resigned the chairmanship. MEAT MARKET, LONDON, November 17. (Received November 18, 5.5 p.m.) Sheep—New Zealand ewes, 6}d. Australian: Firsts, 6d; seconds, s|d; ewes, sid. Argentine: Light, 74d; heavy, 6gd;ewes, 6d. Patagonian: Heavy, 6Jd; ewes, sjd. Lambs.—Canterbury, light 11 id. Frozen Beef.—New Zealand: Fores, 3gd; hinds, 4jd. Australian: Hinds, 4gd. Argentine: Fores, 3sd; hinds, sd. Uruguay: Fores, 3|d; hinds, 4Jd. Chilled: Argentine fores, 3Jd; hinds, sfd; Uruguay hinds, 4fd; others unchanged. Messrs Dalgety & Co., Ltd., report having received the following advice from their head office, London, under date of November 15:— London Meat Market.—Quotation New Zealand prime crossbred lamb, Canterbury heavy 9fd, light lOJd; North Island heavy Bsd, light lOd; demand for New Zealand lamb runs principally on lightweights. Quotation New Zealand prime crossbred mutton: North Island heavy 7d, light 7Jd; demand for New Zealand mutton steady. Quotation New Zealand prime ox beef, hinds 4sd, fores 3d; demand for New Zealand beef limited. Market for New Zealand lamb steady; mutton quiet; beef dull. Quotation good average quality crossbred lamb, Australian light 7Jd; demand for Australian mutton nil. THE APPLE TRADE. HANDICAPS ON LONDON MARKET. LONDON, November 16. The steamship companies which carry apples from the Pacific Coast to England via Panama have agreed to accept freight here provided that they receive a banker’s guarantee. The National Fruit Traders’ Federation is asking the Australian shipping lines to make a similar arrangement. The F. W, Moore Company has written to Mr Bruce and Mr Massey regarding the proposed duty on apples, pointing out that this year 420,000 cases of apples from the United States arrived here after the Australasian season had opened, and thus Australian and New Zealand apples had too meet unexpected competition to that extent, in addition to 264,000 cases of Canadian apples, with the result that for one-third of the season the Australian and New Zealand growers received nothing for their fruit.

WINE PREFERENCE CONCESSIONS. HEAVY WINES ONLY AFFECTED. LONDON, November 16. Commenting on the proposal to increase the preference to the dominion wines, the Wine Trade Review points out that the total wine importations amount to between 11,000,000 and 13,000,000 gallons annually, of which 600,000 to 800,000 are from the dominions, but over 90 per cent, of this quantity does not exceed 30deg. of alcoholic strength. Most is, in fact, below 28deg.; hence the proposed extended preference is not quite so important as it appeared at first sight. AUSTRALIAN COMMERCE. MELBOURNE, November 17. The fruitgrowers again waited on Dr. Earle Page and announced that a repre sentative of the proprietary canners had refused to accept the offer of the Commonwealth unless the amount was raised to £150,000, which is £60,000 more than offered. Dr. Page flatly refused the request, and expressed surprise that the proprietary canners should bring about a deadlock, while the much-criticised co-operative concerns were doing their best to encourage the industry by extending the oversea markets. The Government already had gone further than intended and would go no further. The Tariff Board imposed a dumping duty on all Portland cement from the United Kingdom on which the sea freight is less than 4/6. The duty will be at 5 per cent, ad valorem. BRISBANE, November 17. Mr Theodore, the Premier, is sailing in the Niagara early in January en route for England to negotiate for the conversion of loans falling due in 1924-25. The Bill imposing a tax on all stock has received the Royal Assent.