COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 21090, 23 May 1930, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

FINANCE AND TRADE-

LOCAL MARKETS Times Office, Friday morning. Grain ahd Produce. Oats.—-The market continues firm. There has been a good deal of inquiry for shipment. A grades have been sold up to 3/10 J per bushel for early delivery, and a sale or two has been reported at an advance of one penny per bushel on this price for delivery up to the end of September. B grades have been sold at up to 3/9 per bushel for May-Junc delivery. The bulk of farmers’ supplies have now been sold, although there are still a good many lines offering. The price to farmers remains the same, namely, 3/- to 3/1 per bushel for A’s, according to bushel weight, and 2/10 per bushel for B’s. Duns are in good demand at up to 4/per bushel, on trucks, country stations. Wheat.—There has been a fair quantity offering, but millers do not seem keen to buy Southland wheat at this time of the year, and prefer to wait until the end of the spring. Consequently most farmers lines have had to be stored or sold as fowl wheat. For fowl wheat the price is 5/6 to 5/7 per bushel, and milling values are 5/9 per bushel for Tuscan, 6/- for Hunters and 6/3 for Velvet.

Chaff—This is offering fairly freely, both old and new season’s. Good bright quality chaff is worth up to £4 5/- per ton, on trucks, country stations. Grass Seed.—This market remains fairly firm. There is a good deal of inquiry, but not much seed for sale in Southland. The area this season is much smaller than usual and it is probable the bulk of the seed now in store will be required for the local seed trade. There are practically no offerings from farmers, but values remain the same —4/- to 5/- per bushel, according to bushel weight and quality. The value of good average Southland seed this season is 4/6 per bushel, and only exceptionally good lines command the highest prices. Italian and Western Wolths are in demand at from 4/- to 4/3 per bushel, on trucks, country stations. Potatoes are now offering more freely, but in the face of the position in Canterbury merchants are not keen to stock up at over £4 per ton. Farmers, in most cases, are not keen sellers at this figure, as they consider it below the Canterbury product. Occasional lines, however, are being purchased. Offerings of seed potatoes aro also being made, but not much business has been done so far. Probable values are about £4 per ton for Arran Chiefs and £5 to £5 10/- for King Edwards. Fruit and Vegetables.

Supplies of apples are still on the heavy side. Many of the Nelson consignments are opening up in a bruised condition and low prices have to be accepted to clear. This has had an adverse effect on sales generally. Large cooking apples are meeting with a sound inquiry and satisfactory values are ruling. Pears are also in heavy supply at present. Only choice dessert samples are in demand, inferior and undersized being difficult to dispose of. Ripe bananas are still available and realizing medium values. Lemons are scarce. Local stocks have now passed into retailers’ hands. A shipment of Island oranges came to hand during the week, but the condition was mixed.

Quinces have met with very keen competition. Invercargill marts could handle more of this fruit to advantage. A parcel of Victorian grapes came to hand ex the Maheno and sold at good values to a waiting market. Late tomatoes are still finding their wayji to the market, but as the samples arc not outstanding the demand is limited. A small parcel of mandarins and oranges which arrived from Sydney opened up in immature condition and met a very poor demand. Jam melons have reached the market and arc selling well. The vegetable market is fair. There is a good demand- for- large cauliflowers and cucumbers. Cabbages are in over supply. Current prices are approximately as follows: —Apples, dessert, 6/- to 12/6 per case, according to grade, cookers 5/- to 7/-; pears lid to 3d lb; quinces to 3d lb; Island oranges to 30/- case; Australian grapes to 25/-; ripe bananas to 35/-; tomatoes 2]d to. 44d; cauliflowers to 7/6 dozen; cabbages 1/- to 2/-; cucumbers 4/6 to 9/-; carrots 7/- to 9/- cwt; parsnips 9/to 11/- cwt. Market Report. The importation of desiccated coconut into Australia from Ceylon is now prohibited. Practically the only coconut now being sold in Australia is manufactured in the islands of the Pacific. New Zealand buyers must now carry sufficient stocks as it will be impossible to buy from Australia. During the past few days there has been considerable activity in the Canterbury onion market, and prices have advanced 20/- per ton. Compared with past seasons the prices ruling to-day are exceedingly low and are not a paying proposition for the growers. The price of flour was advanced 10/- per ton on Wednesday last inclusive. Singapore pineapple prices are decidedly firm. From quotations received during the last few weeks no change has taken place. The next direct boat will be leaving August-September and buyers should operate at an early date to secure parcels at the good prices on offer. Latest quotations from London for new season’s Sicily almonds show a decided hardening in price. Buyers should be careful in making their forward purchases on a c.i.f. and e. basis as the exchange will add a further five or six shillings on c.i.f. quotations. » Current Prices. —Wholesale. — Eggs, 2/4. Bacon, 1/3. Pollard, £9 15/-. Butter, factory, 1/4; separator 1/-. Bran, £9 5/-. ■Flour, £l7 5/- to £l9. Oatmeal, £2B to £3O. —Retail.— Eggs, 2/8. Bacon, 1/6. Pollard, 12/6 per 100. Butter, factory 1/5 and 1/6; separator 1/3. Bran, 11/6 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 9/6, 50’s 16/6 to 17/6. Onions, 121 b 1/-. [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.] Stock Market. There was a fair yarding of fat cattle and fat sheep at Lorneville sale on Tuesday, and owing to there being no sale held during the Winter Show week, the butchers’ supplies were fairly low, and consequently practically all the yarding in these sections were disposed of at auction. There was a large yarding of fat cattle, comprised chiefly of well finished bullocks, and a few nice pens of good quality heifers. Prices at the beginning of the sale were on a par with those of the preyious sale, but as the day progressed, these eased considerably, and there were several pens passed. The yarding of fat sheep was comprised chiefly of fat ewes of average 1 quality, with a fair proportion of well-finished wethers, and a small entry of fat lambs. Owing to the plentiful supply of fat ewes, the

demand for prime wethers was limited, and prices accordingly eased. In the fat lamb section, the yarding was small, there being quite a keen demand for the offering, and prices firmed to a slight extent. Entries were very small in the store sheep section, these mostly being aged ewes and cull lambs.

The store cattle yarding was the smallest for some considerable time, the quality being very poor, with the exception of a pen of nice Hereford steers. The few dairy cows offering met with a keen demand; there appearing to be quite an inquiry for cows coming to profit. The following is a range of prices:— Fat Cattle: Extra prime heavy bullocks up to £l6 15/-, medium weights £ll to £l3 10/-, lighter sorts down to £9 .10/-; extra prime heifers up to £ll 10/-, medium weights £8 to £9 10/-, lighter sorts down to £7, prime heavy cows up to £lO 15/-; medium weights £7 to £8 10/-; lighter sorts down to £6, vealers £2 to £3 10/-, runners up to £5 7/6. Fat Sheep: Extra prime butchers’ lambs up to 26/-, medium weights 20/3 to 21/6, lighter sorts down to 18/-, extra prime butchers’ wethers up to 28/6, medium weights 24/- to 26/6, lighter sorts down to 21/-, extra prime heavy butchers’ ewes up to 21/6, medium weights 12/- to 15/-, lighter sorts down to 9/6. EASTERN DISTRICT FAT STOCK. BURNSIDE MARKET. Eastern District fat stock at the Burnside market yesterday realized the following prices:— Cattle: J. S. Fleming and Co. (Titiroa), bullocks £l5 12/6, £l4 12/6, £l3 7/6, £l2 17/6 and £ll 5/-; P. Campbell (Wyndham), bullocks £l6 2/6, heifers £ll 2/6, £lO 17/6, £lO 12/6, £lO 2/6, £lO 17/6, £lO 12/6 and £9 17/6.

Sheep: G. J. Fox (Fortrose), wethers 28/-, 25/-, 24/- and 19/-, ewes 18/-; Cross Bros. (Otama), wethers 24/9, 19/6, „22/-, 17/6 and 17/3; Tripp Bros. (Heriot), ewes 25/9, 24/-, 21/9, 18/9 and 18/-;’P. H. McLean (Waimumu), wethers 34/6 and 30/3; Stalker Bros. (Kelso), wethers 30/6, 28/- and 26/-; M. Ischia (Chatton), wethers 29/3 and 24/6, ewes 23/6 and 19/3; lan Haggitt (Mataura) wethers 29/- and 21/-, ewes 20/3, 17/9 and 17/6; D. McLennan (Dunrobin), wethers 22/6, 18/3 and ewes 14/-; A. McKenzie (Moa Flat), ewes 21/9 and 14/3; T. F. Landells (Mataura), wethers 19/-, 18/-, 17/- and 16/6; W. J. Spittle (’Koi), wethers 29/-; P. Williams (Kelso), ewes 22/6, 13/-, 11/6 and 11/-; J. Clark (Waipounamu), wethers 20/9, 20/-, 19/6 and 15/9; H. Master (Wyndham), wethera 16/-, 14/- and 13/-; D. Falconer (Kelso), ewes 16/-, 15/- and 13/-; Southland Farmers’ Co-op., Gore, as agents, ewes 26/6, 26/9, 24/- and 22/3; W. Clark (Kelso), ewes 18/6, 15/9, 13/3 and 11/3; A. Tayles (Gore), lambs 23/6, 23/-, 22/and 20/9; P. H. McLean (Waimumu), lambs 23/3, 22/6, 22/- and 18/9. THE SHAREMARKET. YESTERDAY’S TRANSACTIONS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 22. Sales on ’Change: Gisborne Sheepfarmers (1931) 71 per cent. £B2; National Insurance 14/6; Dominion Investment and Banking 19/-; New Zealand Breweries 53/3; Robinson Ice Cream, new issue 25/-; Northern Steamship 14/2. Wellington, May 22. Sales reported: Westport Coal £1 11/6, cum div.; Tooth’s Brewery £1 13/9, £1 14/-, £1 13/11, ex div. Christchurch, May 22. Sales on ’Change: New. Zealand Government 51 per cent. Inscribed 4 (1936) £99 7/6; E.S.’and A. Bank £6 4/-; British Tobacco 39/7, 39/6, 39/9; Stoney Creek (6d paid), 6d; New Zealand Farmers’ Fertilizer 18/9. Dunedin, May 22. Sale on ’Change: Paddy’s Point 3/10. Sales reported after last call: Milburn Lime and Cement 32/6; Okarito 1/6 prem. NEW ZEALAND APPLES. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph-Copyright.) London, May 21. The Port Caroline’s Corinthic’s and Northumberland’s New Zealand consignments realized the following prices:—Jonathans 12/-, 14/-; Delicious 12/-, 13/-; Stunners, Cleopatras, and Dunns 13/-, 15/-. The Port Caroline’s New Zealand pears brought:— Trays, Winter Nellis 4/-, 5/6; Josephines 5/-, 5/6; double trays—Barry’s 6/6, 7/-; Victors 5/6, 6/-. LONDON WOOL SALES. STRONG TONE CONTINUES. London, May 21. At the wool sales 7800 bales were offered, including 3780 New Zealand, and about 7040 were sold. There was a moderate selection of greasy merinos, mostly spinners’ sorts', and a good offering of all sorts of New Zealand. The strong tone continues, all sections operating at full late rates. AUSTRALIAN GRAIN MARKET. (Rec. 8.40 p.m.) Sydney, May 22. Wheat: In bulk 4/6J; bagged 4/7:]d. Flour: £lO 15/-. Pollard: £8 15/-. Bran: £B. Potatoes: Tasmanian £10; others £B. Onions: £4 10/- to £5. Oats: White 4/-; Algerian 4/6. Maize: 5/6. (Rec. 9.40 p.m.) Adelaide, May 22. Wheat: 4/3. Flour: £lO 5/-. Bran: £7 10/-. Pollard: £7 17/6. Oats: 2/8 to 2/10. HIDES MARKET.

(Rec. 9.5 p.m.) Melbourne, May 22. In the hides market heavies and kips declined one-eighth of a penny to a farthing. Others are unchanged.