OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 4

OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

OATS DECIDEDLY WEAKER / AN EASIER TONE FOR POTATOES (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, September 17. Some millers are still prepared to purchase lines of milling wheat but few lines are now on offer. The advanced prices, for the month of «-eutember are 5/4| for Tuscan, 5/6| for Hunter’s and 5/8) for Velvet f.0.b., growers’ nearest port. . Supplies of fowl wheat are sufficient to meet the demand but the quality of the offerings is very irregular. Prices range from 5/9 a bushel, sacks extra, delivered in Dunedin, for best quality with lines ex stores worth a little more money. Poor quality fowl wheat is saleable at irregular figures. The oat market is decidedly weaker. There is no demand from the North Island and local merchants are disinclined to quote for offerings from the country end these are fairly plentiful. Merchants are holding fair stocks but they cannot find an outlet for them and consequently are disinclined to operate further in the meantime. A Gartons are worth 3/8) f.o.b. s.i. and B’s 3/5 f.o.b. s.i. There has not been much demand so far for seed oats but inquiries are now being received. SLOW SALES FOR CHAFF Supplies of chaff are In excess of the demand and sales are slow. The demand is confined chiefly to small lots, ex stores. The nominal value of truck loads is £5 5/- to £5 7/6 a ton with slightly higher money for lots ex stores. The latest information about the potato market makes it quite clear that there will be no shortage before the new season’s tubers are available. The local market now has an easier tone with Whites worth round about £9 to £lO a ton. King Edwards are in very short compass and high money is obtainable for the small lots available. The market for Chewing’s fescue continues to show a firming tone consequent on the demand from overseas. A fair quantity of this seed is still held by merchants. The cocksfoot, cowgrass and ryegrass markets also continue firm with little, if any, change in prices. Brown top is not meeting with any inquiry from overseas and values are unchanged. . The strong demand for seeds is not yet in full swing but outgoings to the country are now on the increase. “ FRUIT REPORT Another shipment of South Australian oranges will arrive by the Waitaki from Melbourne on Wednesday next. The previous shipment has been practically all sold out of wholesale and retail hands. A small shipment of mandarines wil lalso be landed ex the Waitaki. Ripe bananas are practically unobtainable at present and no further supplies will be available until next Tuesday week ex the Maui Pomare from Samoa. The portion for the local market will come by rail from Lyttelton. A small quantity of Fiji bananas is expected in Auckland next Monday but as there is no connecting steamer with the South Island it is unlikely that supplies will be available for the local market. The Matua is not due in Auckland till October 4 and it is understood that she will bring a larger shipment than usual of Samoan bananas. A shipment of Californian grapes arrived during the week, transhipped ex the Monterey at Auckland. Black Ribiers have the best inquiry. Red and white Malayas are on offer at lower prices. The same vessel also brought Californian lemons and grapefruit. Choice quality dessert and cooking apples have a better inquiry. The market is still overstocked with inferior grade apples which have now to be repacked before being placed on offer.. Dessert and cooking pears are in short supply. THE CANTERBURY MARKETS BETTER DEMAND FOR CHAFF (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, September 17. The potato market remains entirely inactive but the announcement about stocks has had the effect of depressing the nominal quotation still further. The value is nominally £5 10/- on. trucks but it is very doubtful if anything but the barest minimum of business could be done even at this figure. There are no buyers in the market and orders from outside have ceased entirely. A number of farmers who still have part of their crops have been anxious to quit but buyers are very difficult to find. There has been a rather better demand for chaff but the price has not responded and remains about £3 17/6 to £4 on trucks. Oats are very dull but they still meet with a small inquiry. The retail trade in small seeds remains small still but there is an increased interest in perennial ryegrass, particularly for certified seed. . The stocks of seeds are not large in any variety. Perennial rye is very short, particularly certified lines but Italian and Western Wolths are plentiful. Cowgrass is in fair supply and stocks of white clover are also reasonable. Good cocksfoot is short. There is a lot of lightweight seed about for which it is 'difficult to find a market. Montgomeryshire red clover is practically unobtainable as the crop was a failure. DAIRY PRODUCE MARKETS BUTTER QUIET AND CHEESE STEADY (Received September 17, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 16. The butter market Is quiet and cheese is steady. Quotations: BUTTER Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Danish 132/- 135/New Zealand— Choicest salted 116/- 117/Unsalted 118/- 118/Australian— Choicest salted 116/- 117/Unsalted 117/- 117/CHEESE New Zealand— White 68/- to 68/6 67/6 Coloured 69/- to 69/6 68/6 Australian— White 66/6 Coloured ' 67/6 T. J. RICHARDS AND SONS DIVIDEND ANNOUNCED T. J. Richards and Sons, Adelaide, have advised the Stock Exchange Association that the directors recommend,

subject to audit, a dividend of 1/- a share, both preference and ordinary, issued at June 30, 1937, in respect of the half year, and also a bonus of 1/- a share on ordinary shares issued on the same date.