COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 15

COMMERCIAL.

LOCAL MARKETS. SUMMER FRUITS IK POOR SUPPLY. REDUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND FLOUR. local market prices this week were as follows (spot cash): —

All varieties of soft and summer fruits are very backward, and only very limited quantities have found their way on to the local market. Peaches are likely to be an exception, and it is anticipated that fair supplies will be available over the week-end and for the Christmas trade. Early small varieties of apricots can be obtained, but are not plentiful. Early plums are very short indeed, and dessert varieties arc almost unobtainable. Supplies of New Zealand cherries have already ceased, owing to heavy rain in the producing districts and dealings in this fruit will now be confined entirely io importations from Australia. Grapes are as scarce as other fruits and at the present time only one house is producing. Oranges are far from plentiful owing to the late arrival of the Christmas steamer, and it will be well on towards the holidays before many are for sale locally. Lemons are purchasable in fair quantities and there is a good inquiry. Tomatoes have been increasing in quantity and improving in quality, and the demand for them promisee to be as keen as ever. Chicumbers are coming to hand in small lots. As usual, they will become strong favourites in the warmer weather. Other kinds of salads are coming forward more freely. Early marrows are the only change under the heading of vegetables since last week. They will be procurable over the holidays. Green peas are particularly scarce, and wilt probably remain so until the New Year. New potatoes are finding plenty of local buyers, and their quality is appreciated. The Waikato market continues to advance, the total rises being eqnal to £2 per ton from the bottom. Eggs continue to firm in price, and the latest buying and selling quotations are Is 9d and 2s. Poultry has been easier during the past week. Last week’s range of prices at auction was: Hens, Is 9d to 3s 4d; cockerels. Is 6d to 4s 2d; chieks, 3d to 9<i'; bantams, Is to 2s 6d; ducks, 2s 2d to 4s; geese, 5s to 6s; ducklings, 9d to 2s; turkeys, 7s to 14s; hens and chicks, 7s 6d to Iss; chicks, 9d. New Zealand pollard has advanced £1 a ton. Christmas hams have met a strong inquiry from Auckland and the Waikato, where they are paying Is 4d wholesale, but local sellers have none to offer. Flour grown in New Zealand has been reduced to £l6 10s f.o.b. less discounts. The fall is probably due to the early arrival of an Australian direct shipment which is being quoted at favourable rates. The New Zealand new wheat crop, it is now estimated, will be between five and six million bushels to meet consumption estimated at eight millions. The growers are again agitating for the import of flour to be prohibited, or in the alternative an increased duty sufficient to give the local millers a monopoly again. It is very unlikely, however, that public opinion would tolsrate such an imposition on the consumer, who considers he is already doing more than necessary in contributing roughly Id a loaf as a subsidy to the wheat and flour industries. No doubt Taranaki farmers will make a strong protest when the tariff commission takes evidence.

TARANAKI STOCK MARKET. Newton King, Ltd., report:— . At Kaponga, on December 16, there was a steady inquiry, with prices on a par with late rates, accounted for a complete clearance of a large yarding. Prices were as follows: Store pigs, 325, 425; weaner pigs, 27s 6d; 15-month Jersey heifers, £2 15s to £4 16s; store and forward cows, £2 15s to £4; light fat cows, £5; boner bulls, £2 15s to £5. At the haymarket, New Plymouth, on the same day, almost a full penning of very good quality pigs came forward, and were all sold under the hammer to a keen demand. Yorkshire sow to farrow £6 12s 6d; weaners, 20s, 225; slips, 235. 28s tid, 33s 6d; stores, 355, 37s 6d. [£2 4s. At Stoney River, on December 14, only a moderate yarding was offered to a small attendance, owing to the very wet weather. There was a firm demand throughout the sale, and practically every pen changed hands at the following rates. Store pigs, 325, 39s - r slips, 235, 28s; yearling heifers, £2 2s, £2 19s; 15-month heifers, r.w.b., £3 16s; 2-year-old steers, £3 16s; fattening cows, £2 lbs, £3 ss; forward cows, £4, £4 15s. A consignment on behalf of Mr. C. Wells, Warea, of 14 fat bullocks, averaged just on £lO. THE WOOL MARKET. GOOD PRICES MAINTAINED. Timaru, Dec. 15. The first Timaru wool sale of the season was held to-day, a bench of about 80 buyers, representing Bradford. Continental, American and local markets operating. A catalogue of 10,276 bales was practically all disposed of, the passings being negligible. The wool was well grwon, being bright and attractive and stronger in quality than r' -’t offering at the first sale last year. This was due to an abundance of feed and a good winter. Competition was very keen for all clr.s«es' of ! alf breds and merinos, which realised good prices. Thrce-quarterbreds were also sought after, but crossbreds were not in demand. The sale was in all respects a sound one, and prices showed an advance of about a penny on the recent Christchurch sale. Following is the range of prices:— Merino: Pieces, good to super. 1 fid to 17jd; low to medium, 13d to 15d; bel- _ lies, good to superior, 121 d to 13jd; to medium, 8d to 12d. Half bred: good to super, 14|d to 17d; low I to medium, 12Jd to 13jd. Crossbred: I Pieces, good to super, lOd to lid; crutch

ings, medium to good, 7ld to 9d; inferior, fld to 7id. Locks: Half bred, fid to 8d; crossbred; sfd to 7sd. Three-quar-terbredsr Super, I5Jd to Ifild; average, 13}d to 15d; medium, to 13d. Merino: Super, 19d to 20Jd; average, 17d to 18Jd; medium, 16d to I6fd. Corriedale: 17id to 18Jd; average, 16d to 17 Id. Fine halfbred: Super, 19d to 20Jd; average, Hid to 18Jd; medium, 16d to 17Jd. Medium halfbred: Super, 17d to 18jd; average, 14d to Coarse half bred: Super, 14d to 15Jd; average, lid to 14jd; average, lid to 12d; medium, 9fd to 10|d. WAIKATO STOCK MARKET. The Farmers’ Co-op. Auctioneering Co., Ltd., report:— Beef.—There has been no change in the markets since our last report, with plenty of prime ox and cow beef offering, ox selling at 28s to 29s per lOOlbs., and cow at 255. None of the exporters are operating yet. Fat Sheep. —The market continues firm for prime wethers, hoggets and lambs, but ewes are considerably easier. Exporters are operating freely for lamb at ijd, but very few wethers are changing hands at export price, namely, 4Jd, vendors in most cases not being prepared to accep this price. Store Sheep.—There is still a fair demand for ewes and lambs, and twq and four-tooth wethers, but little demand for dry ewes out of the wool. Store Cattle. —All cusses of store cattle are easier, due, no doubt to the prices offering for fat cattle, store cows being the class most affected. Pigs.—Heavy yardings of both fat and stores are coming forward, bacon company buyers operating for baconers and porkers at prices equal to 5Jd, with still a keen demand for stores at good' prices. Horses. —There is a good demand for useful farm horses, with little inquiry for all other classes.

Hams Buying. Selling. 1 3 Baton (rolls) 1 2 Bacon (sides) 1 0 Butter (creamery) pats ..... 1 6 Butter, best (separator), pats 1 1 1 3 Butter (separator) lump 1 0 1 2 Eggs 1 9 2 0