COMMERCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 21 June 1924, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

THE LOCAL MARKETS,

STILL QUIET. Lack of animation is the ruling characteristic of tiie local grain ana produce markets. There is now no wheat left in farmers' hands, and millers are depending upon purchases from Australia to see them through until the new crop is available, which 1 will not be for many months yet. A good many farmers are not bothering to sow wheat this winter, but instead are turning their attention to sheep which they say pay them very much bettor; and there is a general impression that the future of the wool and fat lamb market -will remain bright for some years, by reason of the fact that there is a world-wide shortage of sheep. A certain quantity of wheat must be sown, however, if a proper rotation is to be followed in order to secure the best results, on farms which are chiefly suited for agriculture. The last of the wheat bonuses, under the official purchasing scheme, have now been paid out, and they have made an acceptable addition to the receipts from the farm for the year, The announcement made last week that Canadian oats would arrive here shortly, aroused a good deal of interest, and there have been many inquiries for them, farmers requiring oats both for seed and feed purposes, as the local crop last year was practically a failure. The purchases of Canadian oats, which have so far been negotiated, are not very large ones, but others may follow, if the first ones prove satisfactory. The cost of those so far bought, range from 4s 8d to 5s per bushel, landed on, the wharf at Timaru. The returns from barley during the past year or two have not been very encouraging to growers, but the prospects now for this cereal, are a little brighter, and a number of farmers, with land suitable for the growing of barley, have entered into contracts to grow it next season, on a guarantee of a minimum price of 5s per bushel. Here and there about the district are to be seen some excellent crops of black skinless barley, which, before being left to grow for cutting, promise to provide some good greer feed for sheep and cattle. With the oat market so bare as it is, oaten sheaf chaff is in good demand, and £7 per ton is readily obtainable for it, on trucks, country stations, sacks found by buyers. The market for peas has slumped badly, owing to surplus stocks at Home. A number of farmers Here have Undertaken to grow garden peas under contract next season. The market for linseed is hot so firm as it was, duo to the fact that the immediate needs of the Dominion for this commodity, have been met. Today’s price of £l6 10s , per ton for f.a.q. grade is a long way”.short of the £4O per ton, which was obtained for linseed a few years, ago, but in view of the fact that there is no world shrotage of linseed this year, it is not anticipated that the price will advance very much, if at aIL . ■ - t . The grass seed market is not buoyant, but merchants are holding fait stooks in anticipation of better business in the spring, Potato growers have been • disappointed at the low prices which have ruled this season, when, in view of the spoor-crops, it was .thought That prices would be high. They hiay/be higher yet, but those who are holding are advised not to hold too long, otherwise they will themselves depress the market by over supplying it, when pick-ing-over time comes. And if they-hold too long the demand for the next two or three months will be filled from Australia. Prices range from £4 to £5 6s per ton, on . trucks, country stations. If importations from Australia were to' cease, values' here would immediately rise.

CANTERBURY MARKETS, By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 20. Business lias been quiet through the week. The chaff market is still nun at late rates, and there are apparently largo quantities going into ,consumption. Forward oats have weakened con* siderably- This is no doubt due to hea\ r y importations of Canadian oats, also to the fact that there are fair quantities coming from farmers in the south, and 1 a lot of oats, are going into store. B’s can be bought for delivery, J uly-Sep tember, at 5s July B’s have been sold at 5s 4d, which shows a considerable drop. The partridge peas market appears weaker than ever, and recent cabled advices from London state that the position is not likely to improve. Iu ryegrass, ft fow sales have taken place to North Island buyers, at recent quotations. Farmers holding potatoes are hard to deal with, merchants state, and although there were several parcels offering during the week, offers of £o would not tempt holders to sell. Potatoes for forward delivery have firmed, and advices received from Auckland indicate the surplus stocks up there are being worked off, and the wharves are getting clear again. There have been one or two inquiries from Auckland, and some parcels of whites were sold to-day for prompt # delivery, at a little over £6 f.0.b., s.i.

MART REPORT. Messrs Morton and Pearson report for week ended, June 14th, as follows: — . . . Business with fruit was brisk, and good prices were realised for prime fruit. A shipment of Sydney fruits reached the market, and as the condition was poor prices realised will show a loss to the consignor. Vegetables were keenly enquired for, and all classes sold well. There was an excellent attendance at Friday’s furniture sale, and_ the prices obtained were very satisfactory. A Buick motor car was offered at auction, and sold. A consignment of lamb and mutton came to hand daily, and met with a steady demand. Prices realised for last week were: p ru it Apples, choice dessert 10s 6d to 13s 6d, medium grades 6s 6d to 9s Gd, cookers Ss 6d to 10s; dessert pears 7s 6d to 8s 6d, cooking 4s Gd to 8s 6cl; Sydney oranges 12s to 15s, pines 18s, passions 18s, mandarins Ss to 12s, ’Frisco lemons to 38s 'Frisco oranges 345, Australian lemons 22s Gd, Rarotongan bananas 19s, oranges 12s case; hot house tomatoes 8d to Is lb. Vegetables— Cabbages 3s 6d to 8s dozenProduce —Table potatoes 10s to 13s, swede turnips 6s to 7s, carrots gs to 12s, parsnips 10s; onions 17s cwt; artichokes 2£d lb; chaff 8s sk; wheat, whole 225, seconds 18s, oats to 265, bran 9s 6d, pollard 16s; peas 17s to 20s, fowl mas 12s 6d, oat strawchaff 4s, bulk honey 6d lb. Poultry—Hens 2s to 4s Gd pair, roosters 2s 6d to ss, ducks 4s to 4s 6d pair.