PRODUCE MARKETS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21363, 5 June 1939, Page 14

PRODUCE MARKETS

CHRISTCHURCH By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, June 2. The spurt in the potato market has been maintained, although there are practically no orders from the North Island. Over-sellers covering their May commitments have been a stimulating factor. The boat which left at the beginning of the week took a good cargo for Auckland, and the next despatch will be to-morrow night or Tuesday. It is expected that this boat will take a fairly heavy cargo, as the end of the May commitments will be on board. Tire market remains very firm at about the mid-week level of £7 to £B/10/- on trucks. In the absence of current trading, the quotation is to an extent nominal. Reports of crops cover a wide range. In some districts they are well up to normal, and even better. In others they are light and a good few large seed will be included in the tables to make a reasonable yield. With the shipment that arrived at Auckland during mid-week and the boat due to leave Lyttelton in a few days, there is little expectation that demand will set in from Auckland for a week or two. There are practically no offerings of oats. Farmers probably have sold all they mean to sell until the winter is further advanced, as there may be a call on them for chaff, for farm chaff is quoted at £4/5/- a ton on trucks, but there is little offering. DUNEDIN By Telegraph —Press Association DUNEDIN, June 2. A further shipment of Australian wheat arrived at this port ex the Kekerangu, from South Australia. A total of some 36.000 sacks was in the cargo and 12,000 sacks have been allotted to Dunedin. The rest of the wheat is for Oamaru and Timaru. This will be the final shipment of Australian wheat for this port. Odd lines of locally-grown wheat are still coming to hand, and further supplies are to be threshed from stack. The advanced price for wheat for June delivery is on the basis of 5/8 f.0.b., sacks extra, growers’ nearest port, with the usual increments for Hunters and Velvet.

Supplies of fowl wheat are sufficient to meet the demand. Most of the merchants carry full stocks, ample to meet requirements for several months ahead. Prices are on the basis of 5/9 f.0.b., sacks extra. The retail value for small lots, ex store, is 6/3 a bushel, sacks extra.

The weather conditions are still favourable for the sowing of wheat, and inquiries continue to be received for seed lines.

Oats from the country are diminishing, but on the other hand there is little inquiry from the United States for lines for feed purposes. Millers, moreover, are not keen to operate, as thye have ample stocks in hand. Shipping quotations remain unaltered, with Canterbury quoting A Gartons at 3/1 f.0.b., s.i., and B’s at 2/10 f.0.b., s.i. Some of the southern ports are quoting Id less a bushel than the figures named, and sales have been recorded at the lower prices. Little life is being displayed in the chaff market. Business is restricted with sales difficult to effect. The ruling quotation for truck lots is £4/5/- a ton, sacks extra, with small lots ex store saleable at £4/15/-.

' The potato market has been firming I for some time. The general tendency I now on the part of growers is to hold their supplies. This, of course, is the usual practice on a rising market. The firming in values in Canterbury is being reflected on the local market. It is difficult to quote values, but sales of Arran Chiefs have been recorded at £9,-10/- to £9/15/- for best quality. King Edwards are in short supply and are bringing considerably higher prices than those named. Little activity is being displayed in seed markets. TREASURY BILLS RATE SLIGHTLY EASIER British Official Wireless RUGBY. June 2. The total amount applied for in tenders for £45.000.000 Treasury bills was £64.060.000. The average rate per cent for bills of three months was 13 l-65d. compared with 13 l-91d a | week ago. apples in keen demand United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 4. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON. June 3. There is a strong demand for all varieties of apples, with values about 6d a case higher. New Zealand apples cx-Piako brought: Delicious 7/9 to 10 6 a case and Cleopatras 10/- to I 11 -.

marrying the town banker and set out upon the highways to find a suitable husband foi her. Mary Astor plays the mother and the "suitors" encountered are Walter Pidgeon and Alan Hale. Gene Lockhart is the unwanted banker and little Scotty Beckett appears as a small but effective menace, who manages to make things mighty uncomfortable for Cupid. Freddie Bartholomew appears in a sympathetic role that is in sharp contrast to the unpleasant characters he has ] layed in many of his pictures. Judy Garland, besides singing three numbers, has an emotional opportunity such as has not be n afforded her to date on the screen.