COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 24682, 2 March 1942, Page 6

COMMERCIAL

DECREASE SHOWN IN CUSTOMS FIGURES FOR FEBRUARY Customs returns for the month of February compared with those for the same month la?t year showed a decline of £4631. Beer duty showed a slight increase and sales tax increased by £633. The returns for the month, with those for the corresponding period of 1941, are as follows:—

OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND.— The general downward trend in Customs revenue was continued at Auckland in February, but the collections payable to the War Expenses Account, beer excise duty and sales tax all showed substantial increases. The figures for February, with those for February 1941 in parentheses, were: Customs, £189,934 (£216,216), War Expenses Account, £93,607 (£81,229); excise on beer, £30,726 (£23,240); sales tax, £72,556 (£66,743). WELLINGTON.— The total Customs returns at Wellington for February were slightly down on the figures for the same month in 1941, although beer duty and Customs revenue for war purposes show an increase. The figures were: Customs, £208,300; sales tax, £65,583; beer, £10,410; Customs (war tax), £29,363); sales tax (war tax), £65,585; beer (war tax), £1486. CHRISTCHURCH.— The Customs returns show that the revenue for February declined generally compared with the same month last year. The figures, with those for 1941 in parentheses are: Customs, £57,516 (£70,577); beer, £17,787 (£15,286); sales tax, £29,723 (£29,676); war expenses account. £34,654 (£35,298). DUNEDIN.— The Customs return for February were down to £26,461, which represents a decrease of £18,089 on the total for the same month last year. There is a drop also in beer duty and the totals for sales tax and the War Expenses Account were both slightly below the corresponding figures for 1941. The comparative figures are as follows, those for February 1941 being given in parentheses: Customs duty, £26,461 (£44,550); beer duty, £31,362 (£37,381); sales tax, £18,837 (£19,189); War Expenses Account, £27,057 (£29,624).

THE RIALTO William Todd and Co. Ltd., report as follows for the week ended February 27:— Pigs.—Rough weaners, 8/6 to 10/-; s.m. weaners, 11/6 to 15/-; well grown, 16/- to £l/10/6; stores, £l/4/6 to £l/14/-. Poultry.—Hens, 9d to 1/7; heavy breeds, 1/8 to 3/5; geese, 3/5 to 4/3; ducks, 1/7 to 3/1. Produce.—Table potatoes (fresh). Id to I'/ad per lb; onions, 15/- a cental; chaff, £6 10/- to £6/15/- a ton; oats, 18/- to 21/-; wheat, 29/- to £l/10/-; farra food, 16/6; oat dust, 5/6; meat meal, 11/-; boneflour, 15/6; poultry, pellets, 12/6; calf nuts. 12/6; rock salt, 12/6; molasses, 12/6; moose meal, 21/-; Moose nuts, 20/-; lucerne meal, 15/6; oyster shell grit, 6/- per cwt. Miscellaneous.—Draught collars. £2/5/_; winkers, 16/6; riding pads, £3; pumice boilers, £9/5/-; pumice wash tubs, £3/5/-; stakes, £2/15/-; droppers, 22/6; posts, £9 10/-; horse covers, £2/15/-; cow covers, 13/6; binder twine, B’/id per lb. Grass Seeds.—White clover, 2/-; cowgrass, 1/9; timothy, 1/3; dogstail, 1/-; Montgomery clover, 3/6; Lotus Major, 2/-; ryegrass, 12/6 a sack; cocksfoot, 2/-; mixture of ryegrass, clover and cocksfoot, 3)2d per lb.

INCREASE IN PRICE OF WETHERS The rates for fat lambs and ewes are unchanged in this week's schedule. Wethers have been increased by »'<d per lb. The rates are as follows:— Lambs—23lb to 361 b, B%d; 371 b to 421 b. B>/ 4 d; 431 b to 501 b, 7’bd; 511 b to 561 b. 5%d; seconds, 231 b to 361 b, 8d; 371 b to 421 b, 7'/ 4 d. Wethers—4Blb and under. 5 1 ,2 d; 491 b to 561 b, sd; 571 b to 641 b, 4%d; 651 b to 721 b, 4’zd; 731 b to 801 b, 3d; seconds, 561 b and under, 4%d; 571 b to 721 b, 4%d. Ewes—64lb and under, 3d; 651 b to 721 b, 2>/ 2 d; 731 b to 801 b, l))d.

1942 1941 £ £ Customs 8673 13,304 Beer 235 117 Sales tax 2806 2173 TOTALS 11,714 15,594 War expenses (sales tax; 2806 2,207 War expenses (other) 643 781