PRODUCE OF CANTERBURY

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1930, Page 7

PRODUCE OF CANTERBURY

PROSPECTS FOR POTATOES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Little interest is being taken in the potato market for next year. There is a seller’s offer to-day of £4 2s 6d a ton f.0.b., sacks in, for April-May delivery and supplies for April-May-June delivery are quoted at 2s 6d a ton above that figure. No sales are reported, however. The old season’s crop has been cleared to a very large extent, although there is still a demand for odd lots of a few tons in each case. The price for these ranges from 30s to 35s a ton on trucks to growers. Indications at present are that the crop next season will be a good -oue, provided the season is reasonably favourable. The recent rains have been beneficial to the crops and statistics have indicated an increase in the acreage. With regard to the oats market there is little to report except that the sellers’ quotations for forward business are 3s f.0.b., sacks in, for A’s and 2s lid f.0.b., sacks in, for B’s. It is a lifeless market at present. There is no. change in the market for cocksfoot. The nominal quotation is Is for machine-dressed seed. There is considerable speculation as to the extent of the crop for the coming season, as it is considered in some quarters that as a result of the backwardness of the spring this year there will be more paddocks required for grazing purposes than usual. It is reported that the cocksfoot on the plains is looking very well at present and there is an increased acreage. Each year there is a small carry-over in the merchants’ hands. The cowgrass section is dead with overseas prices at a low level. There is a fairly good carry-over of brown top seed. The- duty of 40 cents per lb imposed in America on imported seed seems to have settled the matter of export in the meantime. Chewing fescue has been absolutely cleared. After some small demand from the United Kingdom and Europe for crested dogstail of choice quality the market is quiet again and the price has eased back to 7Jd per lb f.o.b. At one stage of the season the export value was up to 9d per lb. There is still a fair carry-over of the seed in the Dominion.