OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 4

OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Late Threshed Wheat Arriving TRADE IN CHAFF FROM STORES (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, December 10. The position of the milling wheat market shows no change. An odd lot of late-threshed wheat is coming on the market, but this is of fowl feed quality only. Local millers are now waiting for a shipment of Australian milling wheat, which is due this month, to reach the market. Light rain has fallen in some of the growing areas and it should prove very timely. The North Otago district could do with much heavier rainfalls. It is quite apparent, however, that with the reduced areas planted in wheat this season and the decreased returns because of the dry weather a considerable quantity of wheat will have to be imported to New Zealand this season. The fowl wheat market remains unaltered. Best quality is worth 6/- a bushel, with undergrade lines selling to 5/- to 5/6 a bushel, sacks extra, according to quality. Although inquiries for oats are on the light side, the market for prompt delivery is fairly firm. Merchants holding oats are not prepared to reduce their quotations consequent on poor prospects for the coming season’s crops. Current quotations are on a basis of 3/8 f.0.b., s.i. for A Gartons and 3/4 for B’s. Some inquiries are being received for spread delivery throughout next season, but merchants are not prepared to quote because of the uncertain outlook.

The demand for chaff continues poor. Most of the trade is being done from stores, with best quality worth £5 10/— a ton, sacks extra. The shipping market is inclined to be firm and sales have been made from Canterbury and Blenheim to the North Island at £6 f.0.b., s.i. SMALL BUSINESS IN SEEDS All seed markets remain firm, but there is not a great deal of business going through, either in wholesale or retail lines. The possibility of low yields next season is keeping values firm. It is expected that ryegrass will be in short supply. Quality white clover is scarce, with a tendency for the market to firm. All other seed markets are unaltered and as is usual at this time of the year there is no demand from overseas. FRUIT REPORT A small shipment of Australian oranges arrived during the week ex the Karetu from Sydney. The condition and quality of the fruit were much better that that of the previous shipment. The orange market is now much easier, the price ruling at 22/6 a case, as against 25/- a case for the previous Australian shipment. A shipment of Queensland pines also arrived by the Karetu. The consignment was, however, condemned by the Department of Agriculture, being infected with Mediterranean fruit fly and as a result the shippers will suffer a severe loss.

Californian grapes are in good supply, but the prices being obtained cannot prove profitable to importers. A shipment of Samoan bananas will arrive ex the Maui Pomare at Lyttelton. This will be the last shipment to arrive before Christmas.

The first of the season’s peaches arrived during the week. These were grown at Waenga. The quality of tire cherries now arriving shows a distinct improvement on earlier consignments. Inferior grade are still offering at low prices. Strawberries continue in fairly short supply. The season is likely to come to a close quickly. Reports from the Waimate district state that raspberries will be on the market before Christmas. Reports show that crops are likely to be on the light side. A sharp drop took place in the price of gooseberries at the week-end. Tomatoes have been increasing in supply and the market is easier.

CANTERBURY MARKETS GOOD DEMAND FOR CHAFF (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, December 10. The grain and produce markets continue exceedingly dull, except for a continued good demand for chaff, a demand which it is very difficult to supply, as there is very little offering here. Oats are also in good request, particularly Algerians, and stocks are not plentiful. A steady but limited trade continues in small seeds but no great amount of activity is expected in this section until after the holidays. Little interest is being shown in potatoes. WYNDHAM “STOCK SALE Dalgety and Co., Ltd., reports as follows on the Wyndham stock sale:— There was a moderate yarding of sheep. Good quality ewes and medium wethers made up the yarding of fat sheep. Wethers were firmer than last sale, but no improvement can be quoted for ewes. The ewes and lambs offered in the store section were hard to dispose of, because of the continued dry spell. There was a medium yarding of fat cattle, but the quality was only fair. The sale was a good one for several pens, but buyers were not keen and towards the end prices receded somewhat. Taken all over the sale was equal to the previous one. There was a good yarding of store cattle, and buyers were interested at the values of last sale. There was an over-supply of bulls ana buyers had plenty of choice. Sales were made at up to £7. Sales were:—

Sheep.—l 7 fat ewes at 21/6; 19 at 19/3; 4 at 17/9; 31 ewes and lambs at 17/3; 24 two-tooth wethers at 20/-. Cattle.—l fat cow at £5 15/-; 1 at £5 12/6; 1 at £5 10/-; 1 heifer at £4 15/-; 2 at £4 5/-; 1 empty cow at £3 7/6; 2 dairy cows at £5; 1 Friesian bull at 5 guineas; 1 Shorthorn bull at £3 15/-; 1 at £3 7/6; 1 Jersey bull at £6; 1 bull calf at 22/-.

Henderson and Co., Ltd., report as follows:—

There was a fair entry of all classes of stock. The fat sheep section consisted of prime butchers’ ewes, with a few pens of fair quality wethers. Bidding was slow, but the whole offering was quitted at auction at prices about 2/- below last sale. Because of the continued dry weather store sheep were hard to sell, and values showed an easing all over of about 2/- a head. The cattle in the fat pens were mostly good quality young cows and heifers. These met with a fair sale at slightly under last day’s rates. Stores also showed a slight drop on late sales.

Sheep.—6 fat wethers at 28/-; 14 at 25/-; 3 two tooth wethers at 22/3; 4 fat ewes at 22/3; 5 at 16/3. Cattle.—l fat cow at £5 5/-; 4 store cows at £4; 2 at £3 5/-; 1 at £2 15/-; 1 at 10/-; 2 yearling heifers at £3 15/-; 1 cow and calf at £4; 1 dairy heifer and calf at £3 10/-; 1 bull at £6; 1 at £4.

Wright, Stephenson and Co. Ltd., report as follows:— There was a medium yarding of fat sheep, which met with only a moderate demand. Ewes and lambs in the store pens were hard to quit and the majority were passed. A good yarding of young cows and heifers was penned in the fat pens, and although the start of the sale was slack, prices improved later and the whole of the yarding was sold. Some well-bred Hereford steei s and heifers made up the entry in the store pens, the demand being only moderate, but the majority were sold at prices slightly less than those ruling a month ago. Sales: — Sheep—Nine fat wethers at 30/-; 40 do. at 23/9; 12 fat hoggets at 25/-. Passed: Two hundred and twenty ewes and lambs, 90 do., 50 do. Cattle—Fat heifer £10; 3 fat bullocks at £8 18/-; 1 fat cow at £7 15/-; 1 at £7 7/6; 1 at £6 15/-; 1 at £6 10/-; 3 at £6; 1 at £5 17/6; 1 at £5 12/6; 1 at £5 5/-; 2 at £5; 1 store heifer at £4 15/-; 4 at £4 5/-; 4 at £4- 6 at £3 2/6; 3 at £3; 7 bullocks at £7’ 17/6; 18 heifers at £3 14/-; 12 steers and heifers at £2 16/-; bulls at £7, £5 5/-, £4, £3 17/6 and £3. FROZEN MEAT MARKET (United Press Association) WELLINGTON. December 10. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board advises that the following are the approximate average prices realized for the week, based on actual transactions, wholesale quantities and descriptions of meat mentioned and for representative parcels of goods offering during the week being for business done on the basis of delivery to Smithfield market and/or ex-London stores. Nov. Dec. 2 9 .d d

Lamb Market.—The market remains very firm because of extremely small spot stocks. Mutton Market.—Wethers and ewes enjoyed a good trade, with prices better. Beef Market.—There is a fair demand for frozen beef, with prices unchanged. Chilled Beef Market. —Slightly easier this week because of heavier supplies. New Zealand Porker Pigs.—Firmer on a better trade. New Zealand Baconer Pigs.—Stocks short and prices nominal. T. AND G. MUTUAL LIFE SOCIETY SIXTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING GREAT PROGRESS AND EXPANSION Melbourne, 10th December, 1937. The sixty-first Annual Meeting of the T. & G. Life Assurance Society was held today. The Chairman, Mr J. T. Thompson, announced that the New Business in the Ordinary and Industrial Departments comprised 184,668 Policies, assuring £16,929,046. The whole of this New Business was secured in Australia and New Zealand and greatly exceeded the New Business Completions for the previous year. The Accident Department issued 24,558 Policies, assuring £6,952,671, and in addition 8,860 Policies in the Ordinary Department were endorsed with Accident Benefits. The Total Income amounted to £5,424,878. The Policyholders’ Funds increased by £2,240,621, a record increase in one year, and now amount to £26,867,974. Payments to Policyholders amounted to no less than £1,950,359. The rate of interest earned on the mean funds increased to £4 11/9%. Of the total assets 62.2% had been invested in Government, Municipal and other Public Body Securities. The Actuarial Report disclosed a surplus of £848,069 which, after reserving £50,000 for actuarial contingencies and certain other benefits, is to be distributed in the usual way as reversionary bonus additions to the sums assured. After referring to several other interesting features of the Report, the Chairman said that the Board was gratified that its efforts on behalf of the Policyholders had been rewarded in the shape of a New Business record for the year, and in conclusion expressed the Board’s thanks to the Field and Indoor Staffs for their loyalty and valued services.

CANADIAN WHEAT FOR 1935 SOLD

(Received December 10, 6.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, December 9. The Minister of Trade, the Hon. Mr W. D. Fuler, announced that the Grain Board had sold the last of the 200,000,000 bushels of wheat carry-over which had been acauired in 1935.

N.Z. SheepCanterbury and North Island selected and crossbred wethers and maiden ewes: 5% 6 Under 481b 48-561b 5 514 57-641b 4% 5 65-721b 4% 4% North Island: 48-561b 57-641b —— — 65-721b — — Ewes: 481b and under 4>,4 4% 47-561b 3% not quoted 57-641b 3% not quoted 65-721b 3% 3% N.Z. Lambs— Canterbury, first quality: 814 not quoted Under 361b 37-421b . 8 Vs 814 43-501b 7% not quoted Second quality: Average about 311b North Island, first quality: Under 361b — — 37-421b — —. Second quality: Average about 311b Other South Island: Under 361b — 37-421b 43-501b —— —— Second quality: *• Average about 311b — _ North Island Downs— 361b and under — — 43-501b a—-* Second quality: Average about 311b Australian Lambs— Victorian first quality: Under 361b 8 not quoted 37-421b I 8 not quoted Argentine Lambs— First quality naw season: Under 361b 714 714 37-421b 714 7«4 N.Z. Frozen Beef— Ox hinds (145-2101b) 414 not quoted Ox fores (145-2101b) 314 not quoted N.Z. Chilled BeefOx hinds (145-2101b) 5% 5% Ox fores (145-2101b) 3% 314 Argentine Chilled Beef5% 5% Ox hinds <145-2101b) Ox fores (145-2101b) 314 4 Uruguayan Chilled BeefOx hinds (145-2101b) 514 not quoted Ox fores (145-2101b) 414 not quoted Brazilian Chilled BeefOx hinds (145-2101b) — —’ Australian Frozen Be“f— Ox hinds (145-2101b) 414 not quoted Ox crops (145-2101b) 3% not quoted Australian Chilled Beef— Ox hinds (145-2101b) 5% 514 Ox crops (145-2101b) 3% 314 Southern Rhodesian Chilled Beef— Ox hinds (145-2101b) 514 514 Ox fores (145-2101b) 3% 3% N.Z. Porker Pigs— First quality: 60-801b 714 714 81-1001b 714 7% 101-1201b 7 not quoted Prime baconers: 121-1601b 614 6%