GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 2 June 1923, Page 7

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

TIMARU MARKETS. Large shipments of milling wheat have been sent to Auckland during the week, by the Katoa, Whangape, and Kurow. The demanci for mining wheat, and wheat approaching that | standard, continues good, but there ■ are many rejections owing to damage to the wheat by the recent rains. The matter of price-fixing for the 1924 crop is now being discussed. At the prices fixed for this year’s crop .there is very littlefinducement for farmers to go in extensively for growing wheat. In business circles it is considered that the price for next year’s crop should be at least 6s, or Is more than the prices fixed for the 1923 crop, A; No’ doubt the Wheat. Board will be very cautious before it commits farmers to a definite price for the 1924 crop, especially in view of the possibility of Australia not having a big' surplus for export next year. . The prices for milling wheat this month are as follows:—Tuscan 5s IJd, red chaff 5s 3id, velvet 5s 5Jd, ‘ . Fowl .wheat-is. in fair demand at >4s to- 4s’- 2d, country stations, sacks .extra.

The oat market is quiet. Although quotations are firm, there is very little inquiry. A grade Gartons are quoted at 2s lid, and B grade at 2s lOd, on trucks, sacks extra. A- -■ . ■ The chaff market is a little weaker than it was. Good, bright lines are quoted at £5 10. s, and f.a.q. samples at £4 10s per ton, sacks extra. The linseed market is quiet, today’s value being £l6 to £l6 10s per ton) on trucks, for f.a.q. lines. The damaged linseed has not yet been threshed, and it is at present difficult to say what its value will be when it becomes available.. Grass seeds are quiet. The inclement weather has prevented clovershelling, and very little has yet been seen on the market. Partridge peas are still in good request at 7s for No. 1, and 6s, on trucks, for f.a.q. Potatoes have been very firm dur-

ing tlie week, but closed a little easier. Fairly heavy shipments have been made to Auckland from Timaru and Lyttelton during the past week, and the trade is eagerly awaiting their reception at Auckland, in order to see whether they sell quickly, or whether they will have to be held by merchants, awaiting a demand. This shipment will show whether the high prices are interfering sufficiently with consumption to cause supplies to hold out till the end of tlie season. It is said that more potatoes are available than is generally supposed. There have been periods of excitement before, such as have been experienced lately, but they have a habit of disappearing, not to reappear until a fall takes place, when growers suddenly become anxious to quit. Speculators, too, will probably have their anxious moments, and if, as is commonly reported, potatoes are being retailed in Auckland at Is for slbs, it is difficult to see how 10,000 to 15.000 sacks will go into consumption in anything like the same time as when prices were normal. To-day’s quotations are about £7 10s to £8 for whites, and £7 for reds, on trucks.

CANTERBURY MARKETS

By Telcgrnoh—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Tlie excitement in tlio potato market has subsided to some extent. Next week aoout 10,000 sacks will arrive in Auckland. Altnougfi tne potatoes have been careluliy picked over, where dug from the flooded areas, there is a general fear that a proportion will not retain tneir soundness on the voyage. The Kaitoke is taking between ouuO and bOuO sacks, and it is understood that to secure tnis quantity very heavy rejections at the port were necessary. ’.llie Wliangape, to sail to-day from Lyttelton, iiiied 1000 sac-ks from Timaru aim 2000 from Lyttelton. The Katoa lias sailed north iront Timaru with 2000 sacks, a total of iO,OOO to 11,000. The Kuituna, which is due to sail jate next week, lias had her space cut dow T n, and prouably her cargo will not exceed 40U0 or 6000' sacks. I n view’ of deliveries for , shipment there has been an easing temporarily in tlie local market as far as merchants’ otters are concerned, and some purchases have been made at £7 per ton, though £7 10s is the more general price. Growers, however, are almost invariably holding for higher prices, particularly in cases where the crops were not flooded. Varied reports, but mostly pessimistic, continue to come to hand as to the condition of the potatoes. The fine weather has permitted digging to proceed apace. Chaff is easier, and is quoted at £5 to £5 os per ton. Oats show no alteration.

Millers are accepting good samples of wheat where offered. Fowl wheat is worth 4s to 4s Id to farmers.. It is firm at this price but outside inquiry is so far limited.

Peas are still very firm at up to 7s 6d at country stations. Perennial ryegrass is the liveliest section of the seed trade, sales foregone! machine dressed being made at 7s 3d to 7s' 6d. Cowgrass is inclined to be a shade brighter at from 'Pel to 19* cl.