TRADE REVIEW.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1735, 5 September 1919, Page 3

TRADE REVIEW.

STEADY BUSINESS. Save la one or two linea, the operations of speculators in the grain and allied markets have eased off, this being the natural consequence of high prlroj and the fact that the season is well advanced. Interest has been somewhat centred duijng the week on oats and cocksfoot, the latter' line especially providing some excitement. [

The oats market has witnessed a revival of the' Australian demand, and, although this outside business is bound to be limited, the effect has been to firm up values. Australian merchants have done business at 4/7 per bushel, f.0.b., s.i., for B's, and 4/8 for A's. Between New Zealand merchants these rates, however, have not been touched. B's are changing hands to-day at 4/5 to 4/6 f.0.b., s.i., for prompt delivery, whilst rates for distant business, which are also firmer, range from 4/4 to 4/5 per "bushel. However, there are not many buyers for distant delivery. The consumptive demand in New Zealand is very small, but the firm tone of business between merchants is reflected in values at country stations, which are Id per bushel dearer for Gartons.' Freight should be available to Australia, and, whilst business with therm may not keep up, it is fairly certain that the market will remain firm for the next few weeks. The operations of oversellers should contribute to this. The crucial time will come when the result of the spring threshing becomes apparent. The surprising feature this season has been that the market has kept so firm, despite the large amount of-oats accounted for by Government statistics. It would almost seem that, even if a further large quantity is threshed in the spring, there will nai be a great weakening of the market, although the quantity which Australia is likely to import will be comparatively small. Even if 50,000 sacks are shipped from here, this would only account for 220J000 bushels. But, as long as • Australian trade keeps up, it will prove a great factor in. holding up prices. High Prices for Potatoes.

Potatoes are now quoted £lO a ton at country stations. The position is that growers will not take less, and although this price is being paid, merchants are not operating freely. .Really, most- of them are simply buying according to requirements, for the speculative element is disappearing from the market. Between merchants. f.0.b., s.i. business is being done from £ll to £ll 10/-, although in one case at Timaru £ll 15/was paid. But prices vary according to the strength of the holder.

A Rise in Cocksfoot. The cocksfoot market has spurted. Standard 16 to 171b seed has advanced from 1/3 to 1/4J to 1/5, with sellers holding out for 1/5. As stocks appear limited and there is bound to be a keen demand for sowing, there is a fairly general feeling that prices will go still higher. Forward speculators have already quoted 1/6. For growers' lines the advance is about Id. General Lines. It is now certain that instead of importing clovers as usual there will be export to the United Kingdom. This accounts for the keen demand and high prices at country stations. Peas are also very firm} 1 especially as overseas shipping space is at present being filled. Onions, are slow of sale at late rates. There is always the chance of Japanese onions in crates being imported from Australia. There is little fowl wheat offering and business is being done at 6/5 per bushel. Other lines do not show a change. Market Quotations. The following are those prices paid to farmers at country stations, with the exception of wheat, which .is on a f.o.b. Wheat—6/8 per bushel. \ .

Oats—Algerian 4/- to 4/4 (seed), Duns 4/to 4/5; Gartens, B*s 3/10 to 4/-, A's 4/- to 4/1. Oatsfaeaf Chaff—Bright £5 10/- a ton. Barley—Malting 6/9 to 7/- per bushel. Cape Barley—4/9 to 5/-. Partridge Peas—7/- to 7/6. Blues 11/-. . Ryegrass—ltalian, 4/9: Western Wolths, 4/6 to 4/9: perennial, 4/9 to 5/3. White Clover—lOd to 1/6 (medium). . Bed Clover—l/ 4to 1/8. , Cocksfoot— lid to 1/1 121b to 131b seed. Linseed—£2s to £26. ■ Potatoes—£lo. Onions—£l4 a ton. Oatmeal—£2B per ton, 251b bags. Flour—£ls per ton, f.o.b. Dairy Produce.

The butter position is slightly worse, if anything, and supplies are still coming forward sparingly. Eggs continue at 1/3 per dozen and the quantity offering remains limited. Dry Goods Lines. Supplies in the dry goods trade have not yet arrived from Australia, despite the ending of the shipping strike. Fluctuations are still occurring, however, in prices. Morton's paste in 2oz tins is now offering at 3/- per dozen, as against the pre-war price of l/3.iThe Hawaiian pineappje pack has advanced during the week by 2/- per dozen. Singapore supplies are practically, unobtainable. A small shipment of Morton's olive oil arrived this week and is being distributed at a price of about 3/- a dozen in excess of the locallybottled article. Three-poodle matches are practically unobtainable, and until the next shipment arrives reliance will have to be placed on the Japanese article. The shortage in Swedish matches may mean that a rise will occur in Japanese. One salmon-packing firm has advised those who have placed orders that they will only be able to give delivery of 40 per cent, of Sockeye and 70 per cent, of Cohoe. They will not accept further orders. However, in the case of Pinks full delivery seems assured.

Fruit and Vegetables. A good supply of vegetables exists, and the demand is fair. Cook Island oranges arrived on the market in bad condition. Cook Island tomatoes and bananas which also came to hand, ex Tofua, sold well, and 'Frisco lemons and valencias met with a keen inquiry. A final consignment should come to hp.nd'on Monday. On the same day a consignment of South • Australian oranges and lemons, ex Moeraki, should come to hand, and on Thursday a , Sydney shipment of pineapples, passion fruit, mandarins and oranges. Fiji bananas are due on Wednesday. Average prices ruling at auction this week -are as follow: Apples, dessert, 14/- to 16/- per case. Apples, cooking, 10/- to 11/- per case. Bananas, Cook Island, 20/- per case. Coconuts, 22/6 per sack. Lemons, 'Frisco, 60/- per case. Lemons, South Australian, 30/1 per case. Oranges, Cook Island. 20/- to 25/- per case. Oranges, valencias, 45/- per case.

Pears, 18/- per case. Walnuts, 1/- per lb. Beet, 2/6 to 3/6 per dozen bundles. Cabbages, small, 2/B to 4/6; large, 6/- to 11/- per dozen. Cauliflowers, 3/8 to 7/- per dozen. Carrots, 1/3 to 2/3 per dozen bundles. Celery, 6d to lOd per bundle. Kumeras, 4d per lb. Leeks, 5d to 1/- per dozen. Lettuce,' 2/6 to 2/9 per dozen. Potatoes, local, 5/- per sugar bag, 20/to 22/6 per sack. Onions, local, 15/4- per. cwt. Parsnips, 1/6 to 2/3 per dozen bundles, 4/- to 4/6 per sugar bag. , Radishes, 6d to Od per dozen bundles. Rhubarb, 5/- to 12/- per dozen bundles. Spring onions, 1/6 to 1/9 per dozen bundles. Turnips, 1/6 per dozen bundles. Swedes, 2/- per sugar bag, «/6 per sack.