City Market Sales Resume

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 547, 27 December 1928, Page 6

City Market Sales Resume

MARKETS AND FINANCE

Affected by Rain BIG DISPOSAL OF POULTRY Hundreds of people were buying fruit and vegetables again to-day at the City Markets. They were securing extra stocks, after the immense call made by the public on supplies laid in for Christmas. The markets rested on Christmas Day, and for the greater part of Boxing Day. For a few hours in the morning salesmen were busy disposing of seasonal strawberries. Their task was not difficult, although the heavy rains during the past few days have certainly affected sales of summer fruits. The unexpected change in the weather turned away many a prospective buyer. Cucumbers were everywhere this morrting. They packed most of the benches. Consequently prices were lower than usual. Poultry will be sold to-morrow. There Is still a keen inquiry for all varieties, and no great slackening is expected until the New Year. During Christmas week over 30,000 birds were sold in the markets. A full holiday will be observed on the markets on New Year’s Day, and a small strawberry sale will be held on the following morning. There is no doubt that the rain has spoilt sales to a considerable extent. The quality of some of the summer fruits has been impaired, and buyers have shown greater care in their « hoice. Tomatoes and strawberries are among the most plentiful lines. So far, comparatively small supplies «.f summer fruits have come forward. Peaches have been particularly scarce, and most of the apricots have not been on the best quality. Plums have been fairly plentiful, and some good variety s have bean Offered. Sales of summer fruits have yet to reach their peak. DORMAN-LONG COMPANY TO START IN AUSTRALIA LONDON, Dec. 20. When presiding at the annual meeting of shareholders of Dorman, Long and Company, Ltd., Sir Arthur Dorman explained why the company had decided to invest part of its resources in the Australian steel industry. The company’s policy when its branches were established in Australia, said Sir Arthur, was to provide further outlets for finished material, but as local production increased with protective duties, it was made evident that those markets would become valuable for investment, rather than as a means for absorbing portion of the company's British output. Unfortunately, every ton of steel manufactured overseas meant a ton lost to the company’s British works. IMMENSE TRACTORS LONDON, December 14. The building of immense Swactors. far bigger than anything in existence, and using crude oil, to prov6S« transport systems at reasonable cost, is, it is understood, the first move to be made by the Transport Committee which has been appointed by the Secretary for the Dominions, Mr. L. S. Amery. It is hoped that such a vehicle will open up new land at present cut off by prohibitive transport charges. BUMPER HONEY CROP (From Our Own Correspondent) WELLINGTON. To-day. The last honey season in the Dominion provideda bumper crop and exports were higher than before. Over 800 tons of honey went abroad, and figures just completed show that the value of this honey was £52,000 on last year’s average valuation for Customs purposes. Up to March 31, when the last announcement was made, 8,150 tons of honey had been exported, the value of this being £27,000. After that date the export more than doubled. Once again Auckland led the Dominion in exports, Timaru being second port. The shipments from main ports in hundredweights were as follDw: cwt. Auckland .. .. »>« >. -6,442 New Plymouth m•.i > « 1,490 „ Lytteltop .. -. M _.j 1,664 Timaru .. .• 2,304 Greymouth' ».. >«i .. 1,220 Dunedin . - ... > * .. 1,727 Bluff .. .. .. ... .. .. 1,281 RECORD TOBACCO PROFITS LONDON, December 20. Another record in net profits of the British-American Tobacco Company, Limited, is revealed in the accounts or the last trading year. The sum cleared was £6.563.560, which compares with £6,354,096 earned in the previous 12 months. Dividend on ordinary shares is at the rate of 20 5-6 per cent., and it is accompanied by a bonus of one or dinary £1 share and one deferred 5s share in the new Tobacco Securities Trust Company, of which Mr. Reginald McKenna is chairman. Total 16,128