OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Southland Times, Issue 23734, 4 February 1939, Page 11

OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Wheat Supplies Short LITTLE INTEREST IN OATS

(United Press Association) DUNEDIN, February 3. The fowl wheat market is unchanged. Supplies are on the short side and some of the new season’s Canterbury : grown . wheat will be released to meet poultry keepers’ requirements. Current value for best quality is 7/- a bushel, sacks pvlva py qfnre. Little interest is being displayed in the oats market. Stocks of old season’s oats are light and merchants are now awaiting the arrival of new season’s cereal. The Canterbury market has opened at 2/6 for A Gartons and 2/9 for Algerians, on trucks at country sidings, sacks extra. In view of the poor consumptive demand it is expected that the price for white oats will ease unless some outside demand eventuates. Algerians are in short supply and these will be wanted for autumn sowing for winter feed. Some sales of oats have been made for forward delivery but merchants are not showing much interest in this class of business. Stocks of chaff are . not over plentiful but the demand is limited and merchants are drawing most of their requirements from Canterbury. The present value for best quality is £6 10/- a ton sacks extra, ex store. Potatoes are in heavy supply, the dry weather enabling growers to dig their tubers. The ruling price is £7 to £7 10/- a ton. Up till recently the potato market had a sound tone following on the pdor quality of tubers grown in many household gardens consequent on very wet weather. . The future of the seeds market is un- .

certain. At one stage it was thought that there would be ample stocks of all seeds but wet weather upset calculations. The position about ryegrass is somewhat acute as a fungus disease has attacked most of the crops. This has had a serious effect on the germination percentage and merchants are not prepared to operate until they see how the seeds are going to turn out. Some of the first of the ryegrass crop shows a low germination. This is the position right throughout the South Island. Later-saved ryegrass seed may be in better condition but this appears doubtful at present. The harvesting of fescue has been later than usual and some of the crops have been cut on the green side. It is expected that the bulk of the seed will be in good order. The opening price for fescue is 1/3 a pound but whether this value will be maintained is a matter of opinion in view of the big crop and the doubtful prospect of the export demand. It is estimated that the crop of fescue will be 800 to 900 tons this year as compared with 400 tons last year. The crested dogstail seed crop in the south appears to be up to the usual standard. ' ’ It is too early yet to state what will be the position about white clover and cowgrass. FRUIT REPORT A busy week has been experienced in the fruit markets and the season is now at or near its peak. Prices for all classes of fruit were good early in the week but they receded as the days went on. Increasing quantities of peaches and apricots arrived during the week and following on the hot spell in Central Otago supplies were very heavy today. Consignments of apples are steadily reaching the market mainly from the Nelson district. Hales variety peaches are in full supply and have a good demand. Wiggins and Triumph varieties are also offering freely but they have not the same keen demand as is experienced for the Hale variety. Supplies of apricots are on the increase. The Moorpark variety is a little backward. So far prices for Reds are on the low side. <

Raspberries still are on offer in small lots with high prices ruling. The season is just about finished. The next shipment of bananas is due on February 13 transhipped ex the Maui Pomare at Lyttelton. The wholesale marts are bare of supplies and there will be a shortage before the Maui Pomare’s shipment reaches the market. Bigger supplies of 'tomatoes are reaching the marts and prices have shown a considerable drop over the past few days. Considerable quantities are arriving from Nelson. These are in better condition than those usually coming from this district. Nectarines have a good demand; plums are in heavy supply with low prices ruling. Satsumas have a ready sale. Bon Chretien pears are arriving from Central Otago district. The first consignments early in the week realized very high prices but the market came back at the week-end following increased supplies. WHEAT COMING IN IN CANTERBURY QUALITY GOOD BUT YIELDS VARY (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, February 3. There have been no price changes in the Canterbury grain and produce markets this week. Threshing is more widespread now and wheat is coming in well. The quality continues to be excellent but the yields so far reported vary considerably. Some have been very low and others unusually high. The general opinion is that the yield may by very slightly lower than last season’s. The oat sample like wheat continues to be very good but little if any im? provement has been shown. In the further samples of ryegrass which have reached the markets plains cocksfoot is still offering at 6d but none of the Akaroa seed is in yet. Akaroa growers may find this season’s prices disappointing, as merchants are still holding fair quantities of seed from last season.

THE METAL MARKET (Received February 3, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 2. Metal quotations are as follows:—

Feb. 1 £ Feb. 2 £ ton. s ton. - d s d Copper— \ Standard, spot 42 16 10',2 42 18 114 Forward 43 3 1*,4 43 3 9 Electrolytic 48 10 0 48 0 0 to 49 5 0 49 0 0 Wire bars 49 5 0 49 0 0 Lead— Spot 14 9 4>/ 2 14 5 7*,2 Forward 14 14 4>/ 2 14 10 7 >,'2 Spelter— Spot 13 13 1*2 13 11 10* 2 Forward 13 19 4'/2 13 16 10>/2 TinSpot 216 2 6 215 7 6 Forward 214 17 6 214 7 6 Silver— Fine, per oz 19 15-16d IS 15-16d Standard, per oz 21 21*/ad