SHARP DECLINE IN POTATOES

Southland Times, Issue 23502, 7 May 1938, Page 4

SHARP DECLINE IN POTATOES

OATS TRADE SLACK IN CANTERBURY (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, May 6. Interest has been maintained almost exclusively in potatoes in the produce markets this week. The price remained firm, as reports of heavy rain, which was likely to hold up digging in the North Island came in, but with the fine weather of the last two days, business has slackened. The market has been in a curious position. Rain held up digging in the North Island, and that quarter immediately came on to the South Island market for prompts. At the same time, rain was interfering here with the lifting of the crop and prompt potatoes were scarce and naturally dear. There were no boats to the north for about a fortnight till yesterday, when a small shipment was taken by the Port Waikato. Two boats are due to go next week and between them they will take about 15,000 sacks. This, and the fact that the digging has been resumed, generally has brought the market down sharply. The price at present is nominally £3 5/- on trucks, but prices of up to £4 were obtained when the demand was at its height. It is not likely that the Canterbury crop will come on to the market this year with a rush, as most growers are having the same difficulty in obtaining diggers as they had last year. Oats are very slack and there appears to be no interest at -all in the crop except for Duns, for which there is the usual steady demand. Chaff is quiet at from £4 5/- to £4 10/- on trucks, according to station. The small seeds trade is very quiet indeed, except that there is some interest in white clover, which will apparently be in short supply. The demand for this line has been strong in the last few days and quotations have risen to. as high as 1/- for best. The increment on milling wheat attracted very little in from the country, and it seems that a small amount only is held in stack for later prices. GOOD YARDING OF CATTLE MATAURA STOCK SALE There was a medium yarding at the monthly Mataura stock sale, and satisfactory prices ruled. Sheep pennings were comparatively few, but there was a good yarding of cattle, for which competition was keen. Fat cows brought from £5 12/6 to £6 10/-, and forward steers and heifers sold at from £3 to £4. Sales were:— National Mortgage and Agency Co. Ltd. sold: Eighty-nine m.s. lambs at 14/-, 129 ewe lambs at 22/1, 86 f.m. ewes at 2/7, six fat ewes at 14/-, 150 f, and f.m. ewes at 9/6, 47 do. at 7/6, one empty cow at £1 16/-, two forward steers at £3, two 18-months steers at £2 17/6, two fat heifers at £3 15/-, two i do. at £3 17/6, two fat cows at £5 12/6, one fat steer at £4, one heifer at £2 17/6, 14 yearling steers and heifers at 33/-, two calves at 11/-, seven two-year-old steers and heifers at £4, six 18-months 'Steers and heifers at £2 13/-, 3 fat heifers at £6 10/-. Passed in: 90 f.m. ewes at 7/-. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. Ltd. sold: Thirty-three f. and f.m. ewes at 7/6, one ram at 3Jgns, two at 2ijgns, one cow and calf at £6 2/6.

Wright, Stephenson and Co. Ltd. sold: Three fat heifers at £6 10/-.