POTATO MARKET EASIER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 12

POTATO MARKET EASIER

HEAVY SHIPMENTS NORTH LITTLE STRENGTH IN WHEAT Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The potato market, which, was very firm in the early part of the week, has weakened again, a drop of 5s a ton being recorded. July deliveries have been sold at £6 a ton, f.0.b., s.i., August deliveries at £6 ss, and August-Septem-bers at £6 7s 6d. The main cause is the heavy shipments north during the week, totalling 11,000 sacks. This, on top of the quantity that had previously gone forward. Approximately 46,500 sacks have been shipped in July, compared with 36,500 for the corresponding month of last season. Values to farmers on trucks are about £4 15s. The exceptional spell of fine weather is permitting potatoes to be dug freely, and this fact no doubt accounts for the heavy shipments of the past few weeks. Wheat is scarcely holding recent values. Much more is now offering, and prime milling has been bought at 5s 7d to 5s 7£d a bushel on trucks. A good deal of covering by forward sellers has been done at 6s, f.0.b., s.i. The value of second grade is also easier, and a fair quantity has been sold at from 5s 3d to 5s 5d on trucks. Fowl wheat is now on a basis that should give the poultryman little cause for complaint. A fair amount of business has been done at 5s 6d to 5s B£d, f.0.b., for late months. Although there is a little inquiry for oats to cover forward sales, the market is very dull, and prices have eased. A Gartons have now broken the even money, being quoted at 3s f.o.b.. Chaff is not showing any improvement. All classes of seeds are firm, but there is no life in the market. That of peas has fallen and 6s sd, f.0.b., s.i., is to-day’s value. There is a big quantity in store in Lyttelton awaiting shipment.