CITY TRADING

Southland Times, Issue 24313, 19 December 1940, Page 2

CITY TRADING

Slack Market For Grain And Seed SHORTAGE OF CHERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES . By OUR COMMERCIAL EDITOR With the approach of the Christmas ; holidays the grain and seed market is > quiet. The oats market is at a stand- • still because no supplies are coming in ■ from farmers and because there are only small stocks in store. There are small stocks in store also of wheat and ■ chaff. The ryegrass market is dull and [ little shipping business will be done 1 with potatoes until the bulk of the crop ; is dug next year. Oats.—There is no fresh develop- • ments in the oats market to report. 1 Business is at a standstill because of the lack of offerings from farmers and , because stocks in store are practically . exhausted. Very little business will be done until the new crop is harvested about April or May next year. Wheat.—Last season’s supplies of wheat have now been disposed of ex- , cept for small stocks of fowl wheat remaining in store which will be required for the local trade. Chaff.—There is no change in the . price offering to growers for chaff, , which is £4/10/- a ton. Merchants ’ state, however, that they can take only limited supplies. They are buying only 1 for immediate requirements, as chaff cannot be allowed to take up storage space which could be used for wool. , Ryegrass.—This market is still dull , and there are still large stocks of low germinating seed on hand, which, at ■ the present time, are impossible to sell i Very little wholesale business is likely to develop until the new season’s crop ' is harvested. It is reported that con- , siderable areas of pasture have been shut up for seed production. Potatoes.—Business in old potatoes is finished and new potatoes are coming freely on to the market. It is too early yet to give an indication of possible shipping values for the new season’s crop. Little shipping business from Bluff is likely until about April or May next year, when the digging of the great bulk of the crop will begin. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Supplies of apples appear to be finished for the season and the marts are almost cleared of stocks. An extra consignment of bananas arrived in Invercargill yesterday. These are intended to fill part of the shortage expected during the next fortnight. The condition of the shipment appears to be satisfactory. A small consignment of New Zealand lemons arrived at the week-end. These have now been cleared, and a small shipment of Californian lemons should arrive before Christmas. A small shipment of Australian oranges arrived on Tuesday and a larger quantity is expected to arrive about the week-end. The condition of Tuesday’s consignment was excellent. Supplies of tomatoes became less plentiful at the week-end and prices have firmed considerably. Choice quality cherries are not very plentiful and good prices are being obtained. A small quantity of pineapples arrived on the market yesterday and were cleared at prices ranging from 17/6 to 23/— a case. Small lots of strawberries are reaching the market and high prices are ruling. There is likely to be a shortage of strawberries for jam-making this season. Vegetables have been plentiful and the demand has slackened as larger supplies from local growers have become available. The market for new potatoes has finned. Wholesale prices are:— Sturmer apples, 10/6 a case. Hothouse tomatoes, Christchurch, from 1/1 to 1/6 per lb; Nelson, 7d to Hid. Cherries, choice, from 1/3 to 1/8 per lb; others, 8d to 1/-. I Strawberries, from 1/3 to 1/10 a pottle. Lettuce, 2/- to 3/- a dozen. Cauliflowers, 4/- to 6/- a bag. Cabbages. 2/- to 3/- a case. Peas, lid to 2Ad per lb. The market is now firming. New potatoes, local, 2d per lb; others, to lid. Carrots, 2/6 to 3/- a dozen bunches. White turnips, to 1/6 a dozen bunches. | RANGE OF PRICES Wholesale Bran: £6 a ton Butter: First grade, 1/4J. Oatmeal: 25’s £29/14/- a ton; 200’s £27/14/-. i Pollard: 100’s £7/10/- a ton; 150’s £7/5/- a ton. > Flour: 200’s £l3/15/6 a ton: 100’s 1 £l4/12/6 a ton; 50’s £l4/17/6 a C ton; 25’s £l5/7/6. Retail Butter: 1/6. Bran: 7/6 per 1001 b. Oatmeal: s’s 2/-; 25’s 8/9. Flour: 25’s 4/6, 50’s 8/6; 100’s 16/-. Pollard: 9/- per 1001 b. EGG PRICES Eggs were quoted yesterday at 1/2 to 1/3 wholesale and 1/5 to 1/6 retail. The i agents of the Southland Poultry Producers’ Association quoted wholesale rates at 1/4 for medium, 1/5 for standard and 1/6 for heavy. Vickery’s Egg ( Pool prices were the same. 1 e SEPARATOR BUTTER Separator butter was quoted yesterday at lOd to 1/1 wholesale, and 1/- to 1/3 retail. .

The prices of eggs and separator butter are subject to constant variation. The prices quoted were those ruling yesterday.