STEADY TRADING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 565, 18 January 1929, Page 12

STEADY TRADING

PRODUCE MARKET REVIEWED POTATOES STILL CHEAP Sun Office. 9 a.m. The holiday quiet experienced in grain, seed and produce circles, in common with other markets, has passed, and business over the week-end has been comparatively brisk, with a steady demand for most lines. The position in regard to potatoes shows little change. At the moment, the merchants are experiencing a slack time with this commodity, as the bulk eft the business is being handled by the marts and, in addition, householders are still drawing to a large extent on backyard lots. The market continues to be heavily supplied, despite the fact that there has been a distinct slackening of activity in digging at Pukekohe during the past few weeks. Yields, generally, are reported to be heavy, and this to a certain extent is helping to make up for the low prices. Yeste.rday Pukekohe growers were asking £5 15s on the trucks, but no business was reported at this figure, the market being very weak with no life in the trade in Auckland. Through store. Auckland, merchants ask around 8s a cwt for best quality tubers. Onions Offering Freely Oinions continue to come forward in great quantities and the quality is also showing an improvement. Pukekohe growers were asking £9 10s wholesale, f.0.r., yesterday. The retail market is weak, and indications are that lower prices will rule in the near future. Through store, merchants yesterday asked £l2 a ton. Irrespective of slight variations in the Southern market through store prices for oats in Auckland remain stationary. B Gartons sell at 4e Sd, A’s at 4s lid. Stocks of fowl wheat on the spot are very light, due largely to an exceptionally heavy demand. Heavy quantities are expected to come forward on the Southern boat, arriving early next week. The recent rise in the South has been maintained and through store quotations in Auckland are steady around 7s 8d to 7s 9d a bushel. Maize Market Firmer

The position in regard to maize is decidedly brighter from the holders point of view. Fairly largely qualities have come forward during the week, but this has mostly gone into consumption as spot stocks had been allowed to get fairly low. The price for immediate shipment is steady at 5s 3d, f.0.b., Gisborne. On the spot f.rom the ship’s side merchants are asking 6s 4d a bushel and 2d extra through store.

Business for Mareh-April shipment has been done during the week on a basis of 5s 4d\a bushel, fo.b., Gisborne. Most merchants have bought small parcels at this figure and the general feeling is that the market has reached bedrock for the time being. Chaff has been causing merchants a certain amount of concern. Harvesting operations in the South have been delayed, and merchants are compelled ? raw on old season’s supplies, with little prospects of seeing much new chaff until March.

The spot market is on the highest level for over two years, merchants asking £9 35s to £lO a ton for good bright sample.