TRADE IN PRODUCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 665, 17 May 1929, Page 10

TRADE IN PRODUCE

SHORTAGE OF PUKEKOHE TUBERS POTATO MARKET FIRMER Sun Office, 9 a.m. A firmer tone in the market for potatoes has been one of the features in grain, seed, and produce circles over the week. The consignments of potatoes from the South, which have been hanging fire on the wharf over the past three weeks or so, have been gradually worked off, and, with a sudden shortening in supplies from Pukekohe over the week, spot stocks of potatoes have become very light. The result is that the market has a decidedly firmer tendency, and the possibility is that arrivals on the Kaituna and Waipiata toward the end of next week will come to an almost bare market. Merchants’ through-store quotations on the spot for best quality potatoes range up to Ss a cwt. The market in the South is very firm. Onions Well Supplied The spot market is well supplied with onions at the moment. Regular consignments are arriving from the South and the quality generally, is good, although difficulty is being experienced in certain quarters owing to sprouting, necessitating picking over. Through merchants’ stores, Auckland onions sell at up to 9s a cwt. Sydney continues to draw on the New Zealand market, and, apart from comparatively heavy shipments direct from Lyttelton, Wellington and Auckland are still able to’ send small parcels forward. Maize Market Very Firm Further strength has been added to the maize market over the week, and up to 6s 2d, f.0.b., s.i., Gisborne, has been paid for shipment within the next fortnight. Supplies are difficult to obtain, and the Auckland market at the moment is carrying weil under normal supplies. Through store, Auckland, the cereal Us at up to 7s 6d a bushel, 2d under uie price asked for wheat. Indications are that supplies will be very short from now on until the coming* on the market of the new season's maize. Oat Market Slightly Firmer The market for oats is slightly firmer, although there is not much business being done in the line at the moment. Through store, Auckland B Gartons sell at 4s 5d a bushel; A’s are 3d dearer. The chaff market has a firming tendency. Through store quotations are unchanged at £ 9 10s a ton. The market lor wheat shows no alteration at 7s Sd a bushel. A substantial shipment of Australian bran and pollard is due in Auckland shortly' on the boat at present loading at Adelaide. The spot market is not oversupplied at the moment. Through store, merchants ask Sst 6d a cwt for bran, and 10s 3d for pollard. Comparatively heavy business is still being done in manures, and a big shipment of basic slag and North African ground phosphate, which came to hand this week, will mostly go into immediate consumption.

DAIRY CO. ACTIVITIES PAYMENTS TO SUPPLIERS The output of the Hikurangi factory last month was 83 tons oewt 2yrs 221 b against 81 tons, llcAvt, 2qrs 251 b for April last year. For the preset.t season to date the output amounts to 1,257 tons oewt Oqrs 41b, an increase of 190 tons Jcwt. Paying Is 5?,d for finest, the company distributed £10,709 14s 8d for last month's butter, against £9,638 7s 9d for the previous April, when the price was Is 3£d. So far this season the advances total £160,004 12s 6d, compared with £124,954 3s. * * * The Te Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., made 53 tons of butter in April, compared 3S tons for the same month last year. The output for the 11 months_ to date is 743 tons, compared with 471 tons last year. The average butter grade for the month was 92.07. The company is making a cash advance payment of Is 4Ad a ib butter-fat for finest quality cream supplied in April, and shareholders will be credited with an additional 4d a lb. The amount of the cash payment is £6,657, compared with £4,599 for April, 1928, when the rate of advance was Is 4d. The total amount paid for the season to date is £97,124. compared with £57,386 last year. Messrs. G. Spinley and G. E. Churches retire from the board of directors, but are eligible for re-election.

WHEAT, FLOUR AND PULSE (L nited P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright > (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 12.13 p.m. LONDON, Thursday'. Wheat.—Cargoes are steady, but owing to lack of buying* and featureless American cables, the market closed quiet, scai'cely changed. Parcels are in poor demand, 3d down. London futures, July'. 41s 4id; August, 41s sd; October. 425; November, 4is lid. Liverpool futures, May, 7s 10 7-Sd; July', Ss 1 7-8 d; October, Ss 52d; December, Ss 7 7-Sd. The spot trade is quiet. Australian, ex ship, 44s 9d. Flour is easier. Australian, ex store, 32s 9d. Peas and beans are dull, tending to be , easier. BUTTER AND CHEESE Merchants report receipt of overseas cables as follow: Amalgamated Dairies, Ltd., from their London office, under date May 16;—Butter: Our prices unchanged. Salted and unsalted “Anchor,’’ 186 s; market very quiet. Danish, 160 s, f.o.b. Cheese; W r hite, S6s; coloured, SSs; market very quiet. Andrew Clement and Sons, Ltd., from their London house, under date May 16: “Market very quiet. Butter market slow at 165 s to 1665; cheese market quiet at S6s to SSs.’’