TRADE IN PRODUCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 12

TRADE IN PRODUCE

POTATO MARKET WEAKER QUALITY NOT SATISFACTORY July 27, 9 a.m. Chief interest in gram, seed and produce circles over the week has centred round potatoes. The market has eased both on the spot and in the South. The quality of many of the consignments finding their way on to the local market is causing concern in many quarters. The spot market is not overburdened with supplies of prime quality tables, but there seems to be a fairly large surplus of inferior quality ungraded tubers about, and quotations as a result spread over a wide range. Good table potatoes find a ready market through store at from £ 8 15s to £9, but ungraded parcels can be picked up for as low as £ 7 through store. The quality, generally, of the tubers coming up from the South at the moment is not up to the standard of that shown earlier in the season, and some merchants express extreme dissatisfaction at the quality of allegedly f.a.q. lines which have come to hand lately. One of tho largest buyers in Auckland stated yesterday that he had not handled many more than twenty lines of really prime potatoes from the South this season.

The fact that Southern sellers of ungraded lots have been sending - them North on consignment in considerable quantities lately has somewhat accentuated the position and is, in fact, in many quarters tending to put Southern potatoes in bad odour with the consumer. Potatoes from Melbourne With the extremely low levels ruling across the Tasman, some merchants have been casting longing eyes in that direction, but the regulations controlling entry into this country provide a sure check on business. A small parcel of Melbourne potatoes in excellent order was landed over the week and considerable interest will be taken in the manner in which it is cleared. . Spot stocks will be supplemented by cargoes aggregating between 6,000 and 8,000 sacks, which will arrive over the week-end on the Kurow and Wingatui. New Zealand Onions Hard to Quit Onions are causing most merchants considerable concern. Stocks of Southern and Pukekohe onions are still available. Pukekohe holders that a few weeks ago refused a through store parity of 19s a cwt, now have to be content with prices down as low as 11s. Parcels of Southern onions sent up on consignment find difficulty in securing a market. Rgular shipments of Japanese onions are now coming forward, and the quality is good. Through store quotations range up to 17s 6d a crate. Advices received over the week indicate an advance in the Californian market for shipment to these parts of Is a crate. * Maize Market Slightly Weaker Maize is moving fairly freely, and, in addition to a steady seasonal retail demand, a healthy trade is being carried on between the growers and the merchants. Merchants not represented in the Bay of Plenty are dealing almost exclusively with Gisborne. On the other hand, a substantial direct rail trade is going on in the Bay of Plenty direct to Waikato retailers and even to more distant parts of the North Island. Merchants with branches in the Bay of Plenty are able to utilise old-estab-lished connections. Merchants not represented, however, re left somewhat out of the business. The market opened early in the week with values fairly steady on a parity of 6s on the Auckland wharf for prime quality new season’s cereal. Both Bay and Gisborne sellers have shown a tendency to break this level over the past day or so, and isolated sales have been reported on a 5s lOd basis. Cereal Market Depressed. Although no alteration worthy of note lias taken place in spot quotations, the cereal market, as far as oats and wheat are concerned, is sick. There is only a very limited demand for both grains, and the general tendency in the South is downward. Wheat sells through store on the spot at from 5s 6d to 5s Bd. Quotations from A Gartons range ip to as high as 5s 2d with B’s no higher than 4s 9d. Chaff is selling rather freely, and supplies are not over-plentiful on the spot. Further consignments are due next week, however. The spot maket is steady at £9 10s a ton for good, bright chaff. A good seasonal demand is being experienced for bran and polla.rd, and ample supplies are available at unchanged prices. Merchants offer pollard at 10s 6d and bran at 8s 9d. Top-dressing manures are starting to move out of store, and merchants are now beginning to hope that the trade in these products will be bigger than was at first anticipated. Produce Boat Movements The Wingatui, from Dunedin and ways ports, is scheduled to leave Picton to-night for Auckland. The vessel is due here on Monday. The Kurow, from Southern ports, is also scheduled to commence unloading at the Auckland wharf on Monday. The Waipiata lifts cargo at the Dunedin wharf to-morrow, thence Oamaru, Timaru, Lyttelton. Wellington and Auckland. The vessel is due here on Monday week. The Katoa starts loading at Southern ports next week for the North, but is not expected here till about Monday fortnight. ARGENTINE MEAT DECREASE IN SUPPLIES (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Thursday. Lord Bradbury, presiding at a meeting of the Food Council, received a deputation from the London Retail MeatTraders’ Association, who pointed out the decrease in the supplies of meat from Argentina, due to the deficiency of the cattle. The deputation iirged the embargo upon the importation of Continental meat may be removed. Breeding heifers should be imported from Canada in order to increase the supplies of meat. The council promised to consider the representations.