COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 20770, 10 May 1929, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

FINANCE AND TRADE.

LOCAL MARKETS Times Office, Friday morning. Fruit and Vegetables. The shipment of Samoan bananas arrived in a very mixed condition, but sales were fair. In some instances the fruit had reached such a stage of over-ripeness as to make it unfit for sale. Values fluctuated considerably, the firm green samples being sought after and fair prices being paid for them, but low prices only ruled for a large proportion of the fruit. Supplies of apples have eased somewhat and values have been well maintained. Pears also have fallen off and prices are expected to improve. A few tomatoes are still coming to hand, but tho good samples, and they are few, only are commanding any attention. Good sound quinces are in demand. Island and Californian oranges are due to reach the market this week. The first of the season lemons from Adelaide came to hand by the Manuka, but the sample opened up in green condition and it will be some time before the fruit is ready for sale. Jam melons also arrived and met a good sale. Cauliflowers are now coming to hand in fair supplies and the demand is good. Pumpkins and marrows are in heavy supply. Current prices for the week are as follows:—Bananas, green, 20/-- to 23/- per case; others from 7/- to 16/-; dessert apples 6/- to 10/6; cookers 4/6 to 7/6; pears 2d to 3d lb; Cape gooseberries 5/- to 9/6 box; tomatoes 2d to 5d lb; quinces 2/6 to 5/6 box; oranges to 50/-; lemons to 50/-; marrows 7/- sack; pumpkins 9/- sack; cabbages 1/- to 3/- dozen; cauliflowers 2/- to 5/6; parsnips 14/- cwt; carrots 5/- to 8/6 cwt. Grain and Produce. Oats.—The position in this market has not changed much during the past week. F.o.b. values run about 3/6 for A grades and 3/2 per bushel for B’s. In the south, however, prices to fanners are the equivalent to the f.0.b., s.i., prices especially for A grades, this probably being due to the demand for milling and seeds. Value to farmers, on trucks, ranges from 3/- to 3/2 per bushel for A grade, with B grades about 2/6 per bushel. Wheat.—Occasional offerings of wheat are being made by farmers, milling Tuscan being worth about 5/10 per bushel, on trucks, while velvet is worth 6d per bushel more. Chaff.- —New season’s chaff is offering fairly freely, but in most cases the quality is not up to last year's standard. Fanners would be well advised (o leave their chaff in stack for a few weeks yet to give it a chance to mature. Good quality lines arc worth £4 5/- per ton, on trucks, country stations.

Grass Seed. —There is still a good demand for both Perennial and Italian. Oc-

casional offerings have been made by farmers, but most of the seed has now passed into merchants’ hands. Stock held by merchants are light for this time of the year, a good portion of the seed purchased already having been shipped. Value to farmers for Perennial range from 3/8 to 4/8 per bushel, according to quality and bushel weight, the higher price being for exceptionally heavy lines. Italian is worth from 3/- to 3/2 per bushel. Potatoes.—these are being marketed more freely now, the digging of main crops going on whenever the weather is suitable. Values to farmers range from £4 to £4 15/per ton, according to quality and variety. Those most in demand are King Edwards, Sutton’s Supreme and Up-to-Dates. From £4 to £4 5/- is being paid for Arran Chiefs and Gamekeepers. Market Report. The s.s. Waipiata is due at Bluff on Saturday morning with sugar and general cargo for this district. A report of the Colombo tea sales held at the end of April show a decline in price all round. High grade teas show a decrease of Jd to Id per lb. Intermediate and lower grades show a reduction of Sd to id per lb. The quality was not of the best, which, no doubt, accounts for the drop. The reports concerning Californian canned fruit are no doubt as serious as reported. A cable from San Francisco states prices for Apricots have advanced 1/6 per dozen and peaches 1/10 per dozen. Canary seed is advancing sharply, this is accounted for by the shortage of the crop in the Argentine. Lentils are firmer and shipments to hand recently show a marked increase in landed cost. Californian dried fruit still continues to advance in price. Oil and Soda bleached, also seeded show an increase of 1/3 per cwt. Current Prices. —Wholesale.— Eggs, 2/4. Bacon, 1/1-1. Pollard, £9 5/-. Butter, factory 1/7; separator 1/3. Bran, £7 15/-. Flour, £l7 5/- to £l9. Oatmeal, £2B to £3O. —Retail. — Eggs, 2/9. Bacon, 1/4 to 1/5. Pollard, 12/- per 100. Butter, 1/8, 1/9, 1/10; separator 1/6. Bran, 9/6 to 10/- per 100. Flour, 25’s 5/9 to 6/3; 50’s 10/6 to 12/3; 100’s 20/6 to 22/9; 200’s 40/- to 41/6. Oatmeal, 25’s 8/6 to 9/6; 50’s 16/6 to 17/8. Cheese, 1/1; matured . 1/3 to 1/4. Onions, 101 b 1/-. Potatoes, 81b 1/-; 281 b 2/6; 8/6 per cwt. (The above list of prices is compiled from a range of values obtained from the various merchants in the town. Where prices do not actually coincide a range is quoted.] EASTERN DISTRICT FAT STOCK. BURNSIDE MARKET. The following prices were secured by district vendors of fat stock at the Burnside market this week:— / Cattle.—H. McQuillan (Wyndham), cows £l4 2/6, £ll 2/6, £l2, £ll, £lO 17/6, £lO 15/-, £9 12/6, £lO 10/-, £8 2/6 and £7 12/6. J. Black (Mataura), bullock £l7 15/-, heifer £l2 15/-. G. Fraser (Waimahaka), bullocks £l6 10/-, £l5 12/6, £l5 10/-, £l4 10/, £l3 15/-, heifers £l3 15/-, £l3 10/-, £l3, £l2 10/-, £l2 12/6, £l2, £lO 12/6 and £lO. W. Pringle (Crookston), bullock £l7. J. Evans (Crookston), bullock £l5 10/-. J. G. Prinkle (Crookston), heifers £l3 10/- and £ll 17/6. D. C. Livingstone (Titiroa), cow £9. Sheep.—G. J. Fox (Waimahaka), wethers 37/-, 35/6, 34/-, 32/3, 38/6, 35/3, 32/6, 32/-, ewes 26/6 and 31/6. J. Edgar and Son (Tapanui), wethers 37/3, 36/-, 33/6 and 33/-. M. McAuley (Tapanui), wethers 31/-, 36/9 and 32/9. W. W. Mackie (Tapanui), ewes 20/3. Stalker Bros. (Kelso), wethers 37/-, 34/-, 32/-, 31/9, ewes 25/6. A. McKenzie (Moa Flat), ewes 26/3, 29/9, 23/6, 23/-. A. Black (Heriot), ewes 23/9 and 22/3. K. G. Sim (Crookston), wethers 42/6, ewes 36/-, 32/-, 27/9, 27/6, 27/3 and 26/-. J. S. Fleming and Co. (Titiroa), wethers 36/-, 32/-, 36/6 and 34/3. H, Pemble (Waikaka), wethers 40/9, 39/9, 39/6, 32/6, 32/-, ewes 26/6. R. Gibson (Kelso), wethers 36/3, 31/3, 32/9 and 30/-. J. Robertaon and Sons' (Waikoikoi), ewes 31/9, 30/9, 25/6, 23/9. G. and J. Cumming (Arthurton), wethers 38/9, 36/- and 35/6. Mrs G. Morrison (Waikaka Valley), wethers 38/6, ewes 28/-. R. Miller, junr. (Mandeville), wethers 38/6, ewes 28/9 and 24/-. P. Sim (Crookston), wethers 33/9, ewes 25/-. W. Miller (Mandeville), ewes 30/-, 25/3, 24/-, wethers 28/- and 24/-. WYNDHAM STOCK SALE. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report as follows: — Sheep: A small yarding; demand was fairly good and prices realized were fully equal to those ruling of late. Cattle: Moderate yarding, consisting entirely of fat cattle. These included some exceptionally good quality bullocks. Demand was keen with the result that the yarding was quitted at satisfactory prices. Sales were as follows: —17 fat ewes at 19/-; S fat lambs 26/6; 1 wether 23/-; 25 fat ewes 17/6; 25 fat wethers 30/-; 18 fat wethers 33/6; 14 lambs 24/4; 28 ewes 11/6; 24 ewes 8/-; 90 wether lambs 20/3; 19 wether lambs 14/-; 127 f. and f.m. ewes passed; 35 failing ewes 13/3; 16 Leicester rams passed; 1 ram passed; 1 fat lamb 26/6; 1 fat cow £10; 1 cow £lO 10/-; 1 cow £4; 1 fat cow £lO 5/-; 1 fat cow £8 10/-; 1 fat cow £6; 1 fat cow £8 2/6. Henderson and Co., report:—Small yarding of both sheep and cattle camo forward to to-day’s sale. All classes of sheep—especially good carry-over lambs—were keenly competed for, the whole yarding being sold at auction at prices slightly in advance of last sale. Only a few pens of good fat cattle, mostly cows and heifers, were yarded. For these competition was keen and prices all over showed a slight advance on late rates. We sold:—Sheep: 7 fat wethers at 30/-; 339 wether lambs at 22/4. Cattle: Steers at £l3 5/-, £9 12/6, £l2; bullocks at £l2, fat cows at £lO 5/-, £7, £ll, £9, £B, fat heifers at £lO 2/6, £9 5/-; yearling heifer £6 12/6; dairy cow £l2. Pigs: At 30/-, 28/-, 13/-, 11/-, 6/-. RABBITSKIN MARKET. / Messrs Geo. Mills and Sons, Ltd., London, report as follows in a letter dated March 28, 1929:—“Rabbitskin Market Generally: —At the March auctions the demand was very poor, especially for furriers’ descriptions, and prices were generally 10 per cent, lower. Only 150 bales were sold out of 700 offered and the total landed stock after the sales was 1,350 New Zealands and 1,250 Australians. With regard to the future, there will probably be a good demand during the coming season at lower prices. This decline is partly attributable to' the fact that during the past year Continental tames, also Japanese and Chinese rabbitskins have fallen a great deal in value. The production of rabbitskins in Japan has increased considerably during recent years. (Hie Leipzig and Paris markets are unusually quiet, and though there is a little more demand from New York for heavy pelted, this market is very disappointing as the demand for soft pelted, which dealers confidently expected by this time, was not materialized. In general, partly owing to high prices, stocks of furriers tend to increase so that

we expect to see values on a lower basis while an increase in the quantities available would probably make the decline greater. A decline of 20 per cent, to 25 per cent, would probably lead to a more extensive demand- from furriers.” CLEARING SALE AT MAITLAND. MR W. DUTHIE’S STOCK. Messrs J. G. Ward and Co., Ltd., report having conducted, in conjunction with the Southland Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd., a successful clearing sale on account of Mr William Duthie, Maitland, on Wednesday. There was a large attendance of district farmers and the stock, which was brought forward in good order, realized satisfactory prices. Among the offering of sheep wether lambs realized 25/6; ewe lambs 30/-; two-tooth ewes 37/6 and two, four, six and eight-tooth ewes 35/3. Dairy cows realized up to £lO 10/- and a line of store heifers brought £4 2/6. Draught horses also sold well, prices for fairly good sorts running from £26 10/- to £34. An excellent luncheon was provided by Mrs Duthie. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. (Rec. 8.50 p.m.) Sydney, May 9. The wheat market is dull, awaiting developments in America, where the grain trade is reported demoralized. The bulk of the wheat here is offered at 4/6 for parcels on the Sydney basis. Flour.—£ll 10/-. Pollard.—£7 10/-. Bran.—£6 10/-. Potatoes.—Tasmanian £l5 to £l6; Victorian £l4. Onions.—Victorian Spanish £l2; New Zealand Spanish £l3; Globes £ll. Oats.—Algerians 4/-; white 4/7. Maize.—6/2 per bushel.—Australian Press Association. (Rec. 9.5 p.m.) Adelaide, May 9. Wheat-growers’ Lots.—4/2; 4/21. Flour. —Bakers’ lots £lO 12/6. Bran.—£6 2/6. Pollard.—£6 10/-. Oats. —2/10.—Australian Press Association. THE HORARATA’S APPLES. London, May 8. The Hororata’s New Zealand apples were somewhat wasty. Others were in fair condition. Jonathans, Wolseleys and Dunns realized 12/- to 15/-, Ribstons 11/- to 12/-, Delicious 14/- to 16/-. Pears, Packhams 5/- to 6/-, Moses 6/- to 7/6; Comice very wasty. DAIRY PRODUCE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report having received the following cablegram from their London House under date May 8, 1929:— , Butter: Choicest salted 167/- to 168/per cwt. Market firm. Cheese: White 85/- to 86/-; coloured 87/- to 89/-. Market slow. TALLOW SALES. Messrs Dalgety and Company, Ltd., report having received the following advice from their head office, London, under date of the Bth:— Tallow Market: Nominally unchanged. DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs Henderson and Co. advise that their London principals, Messrs Lovell and Christmas, Ltd., cabled on 7th instant as follows:—“Butter market slow. Prices unchanged. Cheese market weaker. Present prices white 86/-, coloured 88/-, 89.” Messrs Paterson and Co., Ltd., report that the following is a copy of a cable received from their London principals, Messrs J. and J. Lonsdale and Co., Ltd., dated 3rd instant: — ** Butter firmer. Danish 164/- to 166/-; New Zealand 164/- to 166/-; Australian salted 158/- to 160/-; unsalted 160/- to 162/-. THE SHAREMARKET. YESTERDAY’S TRANSACTIONS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 9. Sales on ’Change.—City of Auckland Debentures (1936) 5 per cent. £97; Commercial Bank of Australia 30/2; Bank of New South Wales £5l 17/6; South British Insurance 63/6; Grey Valley Coal 23/9; Kauri Timber 18/9; Robinson Ice Cream 23/6; Ohinemuri 8/-; Waihi Mining 13/9; Mount Lyell 44/6. Wellington, May 9. Sales on ’Change.—Bank of New Zealand 61/10; Mount Lyell 44/3 and 44/-. Sales Reported.—Auckland Gas 24/6; Holden's Motor Body Builders 30/6; 4] per cent. Bonds (2 lots) £100; Commercial Bank 30/3; National Bank of Australia (£5 paid) £9 16/3; Bank of New Zealand 62/-; Bank of New Zealand (long term) 29/-; Gear Meat 42/9; Colonial Sugar £5B 10/-. Christchurch, May 9. Sales on ’Change.—Bank of Adelaide £lO 3/- (2 parcels) ; Commercial Bank of Australia £7 8/6; National Insurance (cum div.) 16/8 (2 parcels) ; New Zealand Refrigerating (£1 paid) 16/6; Tooth’s Brewery 58/9, 59/-; British Tobacco 47/7; Mt. Lyell (cum div.) 44/6 (2 parcels), 44/5, 44/4 (2 parcels), 44/3 (3 parcels): Mahakipawa 10/- (.3 parcels). Sales Reported.—Bank of Adelaide £lO 3/-; National Mortgage 85/3 (2 parcels); 85/-; Staples Brewery 46/-, 45/11; Mt. Lyell (cum. div.) 44/7, 44/8, 44/7. Dunedin, May 9. Sale on ’Change: Mount Lyell 44/6. Sales reported: Gear Meat 42/9 (two), 4J per cent. Inscribed (1938) £lOO, (two).