TRADE IN PRODUCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1081, 19 September 1930, Page 11

TRADE IN PRODUCE

POTATO STOCKS LIGHT , ARRIVALS OVER WEEK-END Sun Office, 9 a.m. An acute shortage on the spot of table potatoes has been the principal feature in grain, seed, and produce circles over the week. The lack of worth-while shipments from the South for more than a fortnight has resulted in the exhaustion of spot stocks, and merchants over tin** past clay or so have been hard put, in many cases, to secure sufficient supplies to meet immediate requirements. In a few instances, cases are reported where merchants have had to draw’ on Hamilton. A rather heavy shipment is due on ! tho Wingatui this evening. The Wainiarim) is loading at Southern ports at the moment, and is clue with a further heavy shipment early next week. Southern Market Weak The position in the South shows little change. Although reports are circulated every day or so regarding an alleged firmer tone in the market down there, there has been little actual change in prices, which hold on levels decidedly unprofitable for the farmer. • On the spot good tubers are selling through store at around £7 H)s a ton and this price may hold until the arrival of a further shipment next week, when supplies should be back to normal again. There may be a drop in tho price with the arrival of the Wingatui’s cargo tonight, but the fact that stocks'are so low at the moment may tend to hold prices above the Southern parity for a few days. Ample stocks of most of the more popular varieties of seed potatoes are held on the spot, and these are meeting with a nominal demand. Business in onions is being transacted mostly in Californians, which are selling through store at IDs Gd a hag and 21s a case. Bookings are being made for Canadians for October i delivery at lGs (id a bag and 17s Gd a ! case. A few Australian onions arc still being dealt in on the spot market, and these are selling around 14s a cwt. The oat market in the South is weak and this has been reflected up here. B Gartons are selling through store at 4s 9d a bushel; A’s at 4s lid a bushel. Chaff prices show little or no movement. Southern chaff is selling through store, Auckland, at .CIO 10s a ton. A fresh shipment of Tasmanian is due here next week, and this is- being booked up at from £0 10s to £lO a ton. according to the terms of delivery I

Wheat remains firm with the general through store price, Auckland, 8s a bushel. There is a healthy retail demand for maize at the moment, but tho wholesale market appears weaker. Gisborne sellers are asking 4s lOd f.0.b., compared with 4s lid last week, and, to make sales, can be induced to break that figure. On the spot the general retail price remains steady at Gs 3d a bushel. Pollard On Lowest Levels For Years The market for pollard is on the lowest levels for years, and is sellins through store on the spot down as low as £8 a ton. The local millers have reduced their price to meet Australian competition during the week. There has been a further weakening in the Australian market over the past few days. Tho average price for bran is £8 10s a ton, but some merchants are advertising even lower prices. The general price for pollard is also £8 10s a ton.