OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 4

OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Delay To Sowing Of Wheat GOOD DEMAND FOR SEED OATS (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, September 9. Severe weather in the districts north of Dunedin last week has_had an unfortunate result as the sowing of wheat was completely held up. As a consequence there will not be the quantity of wheat available next season that was expected. There is not much interest being shown in the local milling wheat ’ market. The only business is in seed wheat and lines for poultry purposes. Stocks of the latter are on the light side and values remain unchanged at 6/6 a bushel, sacks extra, ex store. Merchants are supplementing their stocks of fowl wheat with lines from South Canterbury. The oats market is unchanged, with values ruling at 3/4, f.o.b.sii., for A Gartons and 3/—, f.0.b.5.i., for Bs. The consumptive demand is quiet, with the North Island drawing its supplies from Bluff and Canterbury ports. Dunedin merchants are not interested in sapping business as stocks in the local stores are on the light side and these will be required for feed and seed purposes. f . There is a good demand for seed oats. Stocks are short in the country districts and deliveries are being made

to localities where in other years farmers carried sufficient oats to meet their seed requirements. Farmers had to utilize a considerable portion of their oats for feeding stock during the winter months. SALE OF CHAFF The demand for chaff locally is quiet and sales ex stores are not very brisk. Best quality chaff is worth £6 10/- a ton, sacks extra, ex store, but only small orders are being delivered. Supplies in hand are more than sufficient to meet the demand and where additional lines may be wanted no difficulty is experienced in securing truck loads from surrounding districts or from Canterbury. The potato market continues dull locally. Values have been ruling at £3 to £3 10/- a ton, sacks included, for best quality. Prices are nominal and only limited quantities are saleable at these figures. The late frosts in Otago have caused a setback to early sowings. Business was inclined to slacken, but the demand has again improved. Merchants are taking the opportunity of moving off their available stocks and this has resulted in a limited number of wholesale transactions being recorded. There have been inquiries from Australia for certain varieties of seeds, particularly perennial and Italian. A fair quantity of dogstail has been sold for export and there are also inquiries for white clover. Some Government orders are still being received for seed for planting within the Hawke’s Bay district and supplies of certified ryegrass are getting into short compass. The cocksfoot market is steady and there has been some export business in this seed, supplies of which are not overplentiful. The white clover market is firm and cowgrass and browntop remain quiet. There are still no inquiries from overseas I for browntop. FRUIT REPORT Another shipment of oranges arrived by the Waitaki during the week. The shipment was smaller than usual, only 2000 cases being allotted to the Dimedin market. The quality was particularly good and the price, consequent on the shortage of Navels in Australia, has advanced 1/- a case. There was a small shipment of pineapples ex the Waitaki, but no mandarins. _ Another shipment of pineapples is expected by the Waikouaiti from Sydney next week. A shipment of Californian grapes arrived ex the Waiana transhipped from the Monterey at Auckland. A portion of the local shipment was not ready for loading on to the Waiana and this will come to hand by the Waipiata, which is due about the middle of next week. This vessel will also bring a small shipment of Californian grapefruit.

New Zealand-grown lemons have a better demand and prices show little improvement. Poorman oranges are in short supply. Bananas ex the Maui Pomare ripened up well. A further shipment transhipped at Auckland is due next week. Stocks of apples have now been cleared from the marts and supplies are being taken up as they come forward. Prices for choice quality lines show improvement, but inferior grades have still to be sold at low prices to clear. Supplies of apples in cool stores throughout the Dominion are fairly heavy and they will come on the markets as required. CANTERBURY MARKET RISE IN POTATO PRICES (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, September 9. The Government’s decision to export further shipments of potatoes, chiefly Red Dakotas, from Canterbury to South America very soon resulted in a substantial rise in price on the local market to £3 a ton. This is the figure which the Government is offering for potatoes of exportable quality. Arrangements have been made for the shipment and it is understood that growers readily co-operated with the Government in making supplies for export available. There has been little activity in the small seeds market and no alteration in prices. THE PRICE OF GOLD LONDON, September 8. The price of gold is £7 4/14 an ounce.