COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 20043, 3 December 1926, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

FINANCE AND TRADE

LOCAL MARKETS Times Office, December 2, 1926. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. Oats.—The oat market is very dull as far as shipping business is concerned, and local merchants will not consider selling though it is reported northern merchants are willr ing to buy. There seems to be an impression further north that very large stocks are held in Southland, but such is not the case. Forward business is being done at 3/8 for “A” grade,, and 3/6 for B’s f.0.b., s.i. for next season’s oate. Local merchants, however, are not sellers, and it is considered by them that these prices are too low. The equivalent to farmers would be about 2/9 and 2/7 per bushel respectively. Offerings for past season’s oats at present are small, but prices to farmers remain at about, the same as last week, namely, 3/bushel on trucks, country sidings for A’s and 2/9 for B’s* with the usual slight variations.

Wheat.—The only business being done locally is for fowl feed purposes. Farmers’ stocks were all disposed of earlier in the season. Tlie requirements for fowl feed purposes during the next month or two will probably be drawn either frpm Australia or the Canterbury district. Chaff.—This market is still well supplied. Prices to farmers for good bright quality remains at £4 10/- ton. This price applies to lines with reasonable railage. Lower grades are not in demand and are only saleable at considerably reduced prices. Ryegrass. —There is a lack of shipping demand for this seed, although it is reported some shipments have been made to Britain and America. Apart from this the shipping demand has been disappointing but there has been a demand for local farmers’ lots. In the present dull state of the market merchants are not buyers and those farmers who still have their ryegrass on hand may have difficulty in disposing of it at over 3/- bushel.

Potatoes.—The potato market still continues dull although with a probability of a very late season for local new potatoes all the old potatoes will be required, and it seems likely that there will be a good demand for old potatoes from now on till the New Year and after. Until stocks ease off merchants are not anxious to buy. Prices to farmers will not exceed £2 10/on trucks. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Owing to the increased volume of business during the past week, the fruit marts have developed a much brighter tone. Christchurch tomatoes have come forward in greatly increased quantities, but prices have remained fairly steady. Cherries and Strawberries are now in much fuller supply from the Otago Central district, but the consignments are not likely to increase in quantity owing to the local prices not favourably comparing with the better prices ruling in other centres. New Zealand apples are practically finished, the only supplies available being a few Stunners ex-cool store. The principal demand, however, is for the imported article. Australian oranges are now in very short supply and can be said to be practically finished for the season as prices ruling in Australia are too high to permit importation. The first Californian Navels to be shipped since the embargo was lifted reached the market during the week and opened up in splendid condition. These will suffice to supply the demand for Christmas trade. Bananas are more plentiful than is usual for this season of the year, but there is every indication of supplies being limited for Christmas. There will be only one more shipment this side of the New Year, and it is expected the bulk of these will be absorbed in the North Island. The vegetable market is quite fair. Cauliflowers are scarce, but cabbages, lettuce and other small lines have been coming forward very freely. Cucumbers, green peas and new potatoes are also making more regular appearances and all realising fair prices. Following are current prices for the week:—Strawberries from 1/3 to 1/9; cherries (best samples) 1/5 small 5d to 9d; tomatoes 1/9 to 2/4 lb; oranges, Australian Valencias to 27/6, Californian Navels to 45/-; Californian lemons to 50/-; Canadian apples to 25/-; New Zealand Sturmers 8/- to 15/6; Fiji bananas 25/- to 40/-; cucumbers 9/- to 14/-; green peas sd; new potatoes 4jd; cabbages 2/- to 5/6; white turnips 6d dozen; STOCK MARKET. The following is a range of prices:— Fat Cattle.—Extra prime heavy bullocks £l3 15/- to £l6 10/-; good butchers’ bullocks £lO 10/- to £l2 15/-; lighter sorts down to £9; extra prime heavy heifers up to £l2; prime heavy heifers £8 15/- to £lO 5/-; medium weights £6 10/- to £8; lighter sorts down to £4 15/-; extra prime heavy cows up to £l2 10/-; prime heavy cows £8 to £10; medium weights £6 to £8; lighter sorts down to £4. Store Cattle. —Good conditioned three and four-year-old steers £8 5/- to £10; two-year-old steers £5 10/- to £7 10/-; yearling steers £2 10/- to £3 15/-; three-year-old heifers £3 10/- to £5 5/-; two-year-old heifers £3 to £4 10/-; good wellbred empty cows £4 to £5; boners down to 25/-. Fat Sheep.—Extra prime heavy-weight wethers (in wool) 38/- to 41/-; prime woolly wethers 35/- to 37/6; lighter sorts down to 30/-; shorn fat wethers 26/6 to 29/-; fat ewes (in wool) 26/- to 32/-; shorn ewes 20/- to 25/-.

Store Sheep.—Good ewe hoggets (in wool) 35/- to 37/6; extra good wether hoggets (in wool) up to 27/6; aged ewes and lambs in good condition up to 18/all counted; inferior sorts from 13/- to 15/6; sound-mouth ewes and lambs all counted 20/- to 22/-; younger ewes and lambs 22/6 to 24/- all counted. MARKET REPORT.

The Waipahi completed discharge of sugar and transhipments of various lines early this week.

Canadian apples which arrived this week are of exceptional quality and colour and a ready demand is expected. Sugar, syrup and treacle experienced a sharp rise early this week and a further advance is expected. The tapioca market is very firm, this is no doubt due to the heavy from European quarters. Prices for new season’s Turkish Canary seed have advanced slightly. The latest quotations for new peanuts are more reasonable than was anticipated a few weeks ago. CURRENT PRICES. —Wholesale.— Eggs, 1/6. Bacon, 1/3. Pollard, £lO 5/- per ton. Butter, factory 1/s|, farm 9d, separator lOd. Bran, £8 5/-. Flour, £2O 5/-. Oatmeal, £29 to £33. —Retail.— Eggs, 1/10. Bacon, 1/7. Pollard, 12/9 per 100. Butter, factory 1/7 nett cash, 1/8 booked; farm lid; separator, 1/1. Bran, 10/6 per 100. Flour.—2s’s 7/-; 50’s 13/6; 100’s 25/6; 200’s 46/6. Oatmeal, 251 b 9/6; 501 b 18/6; 1001 b 34/6; 2001 b 66/-; loose sid lb. Cheese, 1/2; matured 1/4. Onions, 4d per lb. Potatoes, 7/6. DAIRY PRODUCE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, limited, report having received the following cablegram from their London House under date December 1:

Butter: New Zealand choicest salted, stored 156/- to 158/- per cwt. Market firm. Controlled stocks cleared 160/- to 162/per cwt. Cheese: Controlled 89/- to 90/- per cwt. Market firm with upward tendency. MATAURA STOCK SALE CATTLE PRICES EASIER (From Our Correspondent.) There was a fair attendance at the monthly Mataura stock sale yesterday and prices were slightly easier than in recent sales in the district. There was only a small entry of sheep, the store yarding being composed of three lines of ewes and lambs. A fine of 150 ewes and lambs sold by Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Company realised 16/10, the ewes being particularly good. Another fine in which the ewes were also good realised 16/while a line of medium sort brought 12/9. Very few fat sheep were penned, and these sold at recent market rates. There was a large yarding of cattle, mostly stores, and values for these were easier. The fat cattle entry was confined to cows, for which prices ranged from £5 to £B. Bulls were in good demand and sold at £5 to £8 8/- according to age. Dairy cows brought from £5 to £7 10/-, while plain stores made from £2 to £3. THE SHAREMARKET. YESTERDAY’S TRANSACTIONS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, December 2. Sales on ’Change: Soldiers' bonds (1933) 5i per cent. £101; Soldiers’ inscribed (1933) 5j per cent. £101; New Zealand Breweries 24/11; Bank of Australasia £l4 2/6; Bank of New Zealand 60/6, rights 60/8; New Zealand Insurance 38/-; South British 56/3; Milne and Choyce debenture stock 24/2; Taranaki Oil 10/4; Wilson’s Cement 33/6; Alburnia 3/9; Moanataiara (contributing) 5/8, 5/9, 5/8, 5/8, 5/9, 5/8; Kawarau 3/4; Lucky Shot (contributing) 1/4; Ohinemuri 5/6, 5/8; Waihi Grand Junction 2/2. Wellington, December 2. Sales Reported: New Zealand Government loans 4J inscribed stock £96 17/6; Wanganui Borough 5| deben ures (1940) £95 10/-; Union Bank of Australia £l5 5/-; New Zear land Guarantee Corporation, ordinary 10/5. Christchurch, December 2. Sales Reported: Bank of Australasia £l4 2/6; National Bank of New Zealand £7 1/6; Christchurch Gas 34/7; Union Bank of Australia £l5 5/-. Sales on ’Change: Beath and Co. 32/3. Dunedin, December 2. Sales on ’Change: Mount Lyell 29/(two); National Bank of Australasia £lB. Sales reported: Upper Nevis 8/- (2); Union Bank £l5 10/-. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. (By Telegraph—Press Asn. —Copyright.) (Rec. 9.5 pan.) Sydney, December 2. Wheat 4/9 at country stations, 5/4 extrucks Sydney. Flour: Early January delivery, £l3 10/-; export, £l2 5/-. Oats: Tasmanian Algerian 3/10, 4/-; white 4/3, 5/-. Maize: South African 7/6. Potatoes: Tasmanian £l5 to £23; New Zealand £l4 to £l5; Victorian £lB to £l9; West Australian £24 to £25; Local £lB to £2l. Onions: Victorian £l2; local £ll.—A. and N.Z. Adelaide, December 2. Wheat growers’ lots: December 5/4; January 5/3, 5/3|. Flour: Bakers’ lots £l4 to £l5. Oats: 2/4, 2/6.—A. and N.Z. LONDON WOOL SALES. PRICES MAINTAINED. (Rec. 8.20 p.m.) London, December 1. At the wool sales there was a good selection, competition and prices being fully maintained?®* The sales close on December 10. New Zealands sold were:—Kra, top price 15| pence, average 15 pence.—A. and N.Z. LINSEED PRICES. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated November 30, from Calcutta, wtih reference to the linseed market:— Linseed: We quote £l6 for linseed per ton net C and F Sydney immediate shipment. Market quiet.