Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 674, 28 May 1929, Page 10

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, May 28, 1929. TUHOLESALE business has been very brisk during the past week, as orders for June account have been very heavy. Early deliveries to both town and country storekeepers are now completed, but trade still continues to be satisfactory. Orders are now being taken for many Christmas lines, including new season’s figs, muscatels, Jordan almonds. dates, nuts, etc., for forward delivery up to November next, bookings being quite up to the standard cf previous years. cargo steadier from Melbourne is not due here until about the end of this week and meantime supplies of Australian dried fruits, canned fruits, macaroni and vermicelli are short. Merchants are complaining that although there has not been a cargo steamer from Melbourne to Auckland for nearly two months, it has been thought fit to make Wellington the first port of call. The delav in obtaining delivery of orders from Melbourne is certainly detrimental to business. A reduction of Id a gallon in the prices of the well-known brands of benzine has just been advised. The list of goods which arrived during the week includes desiccated coconut, salmon. Chinese peanuts, walnut halves and Australian rice. ALMONDS

Quotations for both present crop and new season’s P.G. Sicily almonds were again reduced last week, prices having receded by £4 a ton in each instance. Soft shell almonds are also being quoted for August shipment at lower prices, these representing a decline of £4 5s a ton On the other hand, Jordan almonds continue on a very firm level and all indications point to still higher prices being asked before long. BRAZIL NUTS

During the last two years, the opening quotations for Brazil nuts (usuallv Ja r luar -'- ) have been most favourable to buyers, the market quickly advancing and remaining firm during the rest of the season. The reverse has been ahnnt a e e c Hll , s 'S 3 ?' as Prices are now wmV fifl 6 ton below the original rates, ? 'th the market weak. As most of the tbf - hooked at opening prices, the low er a aiues will not be reflected in time ls rates to the retail trade meanW ALNUTS

Shippers of Akaroa walnuts have advised their Auckland agents to withdraw quotations for these nuts, as the whole of the supplies have now been sold. The crop has been on the light side this vear, but although the nuts vary somewhat in size, the quality is stated to be excellent. PATES

Prices for the new crop of bulk dates nave just been advised. these being somewhat lower than last year. The above offers are being made' for shipments from London from November to February, but no quotations have vet been announced for dates for shipment by the October direct steamer from Basra.

figs Lower offers have now been made by London shippers for all grades of Smyrna figs for shipment in September next, and most of the business has been booked at the reduced rates. Importations appear to be smaller each year in this line, as a carry-over after the seasonal demand is over usually results in a loss to the buyers. MUSCATELS

Since the opening quotations were named some three weeks ago, the market for Spanish muscatels has been weak, with the result that reductions in several packings are now advised. Owing to the risk of the fruit arriving too late for the Christmas trade, business is considerably restricted this year. PRESERVED GINGER

Cables just received from ITong-Kong shippers advise that supplies of raw ginger are now scarce and quotations are withdrawn meantime. This has had the effect of firming the price of the preserved article, shippers advancing their prices for prompt shipment by id a lb. COFFEE

As a result of the damage done to shipments of coffee on the Sussex, local •supplies are likely to be short. The first shipments of the new crop were aboard this vessel and the stocks had meantime run very low. Replacement business for shipment via Australia has already been sent forward, but there will be considerable delay before new stocks arrive. The season for Indian coffee, both Mysore and Neilgherry, has now closed and any further requirements will have to be brought from London. Java Robusta coffee, after showing lower values, has now reacted, latest quotations for both present and new crop supplies having advanced £2 a ton. BEANS

It would appear that haricot beans will he in very short supply throughout the Dominion, as practically the entire shipments on the Sussex were destroyed. Repeat busines has been booked for shipment via Australia, but as this will mean a delay of several weeks, any small stocks available are commanding higher prices. The market in Rangoon is now higher than when opening prices were named, consequently with these higher rates and the extra charges for transhipment freight fresh supplies will land about £3 10s a ton above the previous quotations. The extreme shortage in the crons of Madagascar butter beans and the higher rates now ruling, will make the position regarding all beans still more acute. PIN C APPI FS

Singapore canned inneapples remain steady at previously reported low levels and information from shippers is to the effect that in spite of the reduced rates, there is little demand from London and other overseas markets at present. PEPPER

A further sharp advance of Id a lb in the' price of white pepper was cabled last week, and this is causing some concern to spice millers throughout the Dominion, as their stocks are abnormally low. Considerably lower prices are expected in August, when the new crops will be harvested, as reports from upcountry stations state that these will probably be heavier than usual. TAPIOCAS

Following the previous advice that the market for seed and pearl tapioca was weak, quotations' for both grades for shipment by the July-August direct steamer have been reduced by 5s a ton. CANARY SEED

Quotations for Argentine canary seed have been ruling on a very high i;vel for some time and cables from London shippers now notify a further advance of £6 a ton for prompt shipment. RAISINS

With the exception of oil bleached and soda bleached varieties, all grades of Californian raisins continue to advance and it would appear that the low rates which have ruled during the last twelve months are now a thing of the past. The advance just recorded shows the following increased prices: Seeded raisins in

cartons. 5s a cwt; seedless raisins in cartons, 4s a cwt: seedless in bulk, a further Is 3d a cwt; and golden bleached quality. Is a cwt. Definite quotations have not yet been named for the new crop, but it is expected that prices for hulk raisins will he more than Id a lb dearer than the 1928 crop.

N.Z. CO-OP DAIRY CO., LTD. CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTORATE (From Our Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Monday. ' Two further candidates have announced their intention of contesting the northern ward seat on the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Companv, Ltd. Mr. A. R. Hull, of Waiuku, and Mr. John Luke, of Clevedon. are the two aspirants. It is understood that Mr. F. A. Harcombe, of Kohe Kohe, is withdrawing in favour of Mr. Hull.