OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Southland Times, Issue 23682, 3 December 1938, Page 4

OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

SLACK BUSINESS IN OATS POTATO PRICES LOWER (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, December 2. Favourable weather has been experienced throughout the South Island and growing crops are looking well. A spell of fine sunny weather is now wanted to round off the splendid start crops have received. The local price for fowl wheat has continued firm at 6/6 to 6/9 a bushel, sacks extra. Business continues slack in the oats market. Local millers are not operating and so far as the North Island is concerned their requirements are practically confined to lines for stock feeding. There is no quantity _ of oats in local stores and any shipping business is being filled from Canterbury ports and Bluff on the basis of 3/3 f.o.bs.i. for A Gartons and 3/- f.o.b.s.i. for B’s. Good yields as stated are expected from the oat crops this year and there should be sufficient return to meet the Dominion’s requirements notwithstanding that the area planted is less than that of last year. Quotations have been received for spread delivery next season and some sales of oats have been recorded. Merchants generally, however, are not showing much interest in this type of business preferring to await the trend of the market.

Local supplies of chaff are on the light side and merchants are drawing trucks from Canterbury. The demand is confined to small lots at the ruling price of £6 10/- a ton sacks extra ex store.

The market for old season’s potatoes is practically finished. The ruling price L £2 5/- to £2 10/- a ton ex store with lines of special quality realizing higher money. The low prices for old tubers is having an effect on the demand for new potatoes which are now selling wholesale at 2Jd per lb retail. SEED SALES QUIETER The demand for seeds is quieter and deliveries from the country have fallen away during the past fortnight. Stocks of all seeds are on the short side. Odd sales are still being made to the North Island and also for shipment overseas and the Government has recently called for tenders for the supply of two large parcels of seed for sowing out in the North Island, Supplies of certified ryegrass are now very short and stocks of ordinary ryegrass are also in short compass. Thera appears to be sufficient cocksfoot available to meet requirements. Substantial sales of dogstail for export overseas have taken place and stocks of this variety of seed are reduced. The cowgrass market is quiet and ample supplies are available. The brown top market continues quiet with isolated sales for export being recorded. FRUIT REPORT

Small quantities of New Zealandgrown apples are still reaching the market from northern cool stores. Canadian Delicious and Jonathans are also on the market.

Approximately 2000 cases of Australian oranges were landed _x the Maunganui during the week. The oranges had a fair demand only as a portion of the shipment was in poor condition. A small shipment of Jamaica grown will arrive next week ex the Kaipara. A shipment of Californian grapes, the last of the season, is due by the Waiana on Tuesday next. Bananas are in short supply. A large shipment is due on Tuesday, December 13, ex the Maui Pomare at Lyttelton. New Zealand-grown lemons have a better inquiry and supplies are short. Strawberries are not over-plentiful. Cold weather conditions had an adverse effect upon prices for both cherries and strawberries throughout the week. Supplies of both have also been erratic and prices fluctuated from day to day. The market has not, however, been short of cherries and low prices are ruling. Reports from Central Otago state that early peaches will be available before Christmas. Crops of all stone fruits, with the exception of late cherries, are reported to be heavy. Large quantities of Central Otago fruit are expected to find a market in the North Island this season.

Tomatoes have had a steady demand throughout the week Supplies have been arriving from Christchurch, Nelson and local hothouses. CANTERBURY MARKET BIG ACREAGE OF POTATOES SOWN (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, December 2. The Canterbury grain, seed and produce markets are still practically without movement. There is some local demand for chaff, but with the increased quantity of feed in the country it is not keen. The quotation has eased from £4 10/- a ton to £4 5/- a ton, but good bright quality is difficult to obtain and little business is passing. The estimated potato acreage for 1938-39 does not show such a heavy decrease as was anticipated in many quarters and the general opinion now is that the actual acreage will be very little, if anything, short of last season’s. The reason for this probably is the position the growers found themselves in when planting time came round. Many of them had fairly considerable stocks of seed which they had been unable to sell and rather than dump them they put them in. It is assumed that the estimate will be below the actual acreage because it is probable that some growers did not put in their returns. The season has only to continue as it has begun for the yield to be a really excellent one. THE METAL MARKET

MINING QUOTATIONS IN LONDON LONDON, December 1.

(Received December 2, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 1. Metals were quoted as follows Nov. 30 Dec. 1 £ s d £ d Copper— Standard, spot 43 14 4i/ 2 43 11 3 Forward 43 19 41/2 43 15 714 Electrolytic 49 0 0 49 0 0 to 50 0 0 50 0 0 Wire bars 50 0 0 50 0 0 Lead— Spot 16 0 0 15 14 41,4 Forward 16 0 71/2 15 15 71'2 Spelter— Spot 13 19 41/2 13 13 I’/z Forward 14 0 71/2 12 0 0 TinSpot 215 7 6 215 2 6 Forward 216 3 9 216 10 0 SilverFine, per oz 20 l-16d 20 l-16d Standard, per oz 21%d 21%d

Share quotations are as follows:— Clutha River Company Buyers (ex div.) 1/6 Sellers 1/9 Molyneux River Company Buyers 7|d Sellers