POTATOES ROTTING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20359, 17 July 1934, Page 9

POTATOES ROTTING.

Wet Weather Delay* „ Digging.

CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS,

The present spell of # wet # 2^™w Stm added to the worries of potato who fear that some of the crops ha\e been in the ground for so long Lin matured state that losses will have to be met from rotting. This year has been worse in this respect than any other recent season. Though the bulk of the main crop has been dug. a fair amount still remains in the Little pitting has been done this *f*"°*‘ The North Island demand for potatoes is small Moat of the stuff going north represents forward sales, with little new business. The Wingatui. Is due to leave LVttelton to-morrow for the north. Will take an average quantity. Farmers are not offering freely. The advance in the price of onions from the nominal quotation of 20s a ton to from 25s to 30s is due mainly to Improvement in quality. Most of the poor er-keeping stuff is off the market and the good keepers are predominant. Tho inquiry has improved slightly in the last week or so. What looks like only a temporary improvement in the value of partridge peas has taken place. The rise is believed to bo due to over-sellers covering shortages. The export demand is no greater than formerly. Fowl wheat remains firm. Following are the prices quoted to be paid to farmers on trucks at country stations, sacks included unless otherwise mentioned:— Wheat, f.o.b.—Tuscan 3s 10d. Hunters 4s. .Pearl 4s 2d (July delivery). Fowl Wheat—2s lid to 3s a bushel. Potatoes—White £2 15s to £2 17s «d (July delivery), Dakotas £2 15s to £2 17s 6d (July). i Onions —25s to 30s a ton, according to quality. I Ryegrass—-Perennial 3s 3d to 3s 61. j Italian and Western Wolths 3s 3d to 3s i 6d. Cocksfoot—Akaroa 9d to lOd, Plains j 6d to 7d. 1 Clovers—White Is to Is 4d, cowgrass I to lOd. | Oats—Cartons Is Rd to Is lid. Algerians Is 7d to Is 9d, Duns Is 9d to 2s a bushel, according to quality. Chaff—To £2 10s. Partridge Peas—No. l’s 4s to 4s 3d, f.a.q. 3s 6d to 3s 9d. Linseed—£l4 a ton. Bran—Shipping £4. local £4. Pollard—Local £5 10s. shipping £4 10s. Flour—£l3 12s local. £l2 17s for shipI ment to the North Island. with tho usual increments for smaller packages

PIG MARKETING. Co-operative Association Shows Record Year. Another very successful year, both from the point of view of the number of pigs and bobby calves entrusted to them, and from the point of view of realisations, is reported by the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing: Association, Ltd. The financial year ended at May 31 last, and for the period under review the record number of 110,632 pigs was handled, chiefly for export to the United Kingdom, and over 166.000 hobby calves. The turnover for the period was in excess of £300,000, also a record. The annual meeting of members is to be held on August 30. The Income and Kxpenditure Account shows that, after allowing for all costs and charges of collecting pigs and railage to works, all freezing works charges due and accrued, shipping charges and insurance, office and administration expenses, £174,580 0s 9d remains available for the suppliers. Advance payments made to suppliers at the time the pigs were received has accounted for £138,482 Is 9d. In December last a second advance payment on pigs received from June 1, 1033. to October 80. 1033, wns paid out at per lb on porkers and id per lb on baooners. The usual provision has been made for payment up of capital, and 1-16 d per lb on all pork supplied has been appropriated to a special reserve fund for that purpose. After providing for all the above there remains for final distribution to suppliers £31,360 5s 7d. Carcases in freezers. Stocks of < arcases in freezers are not large, particularly in \ iew of the greater number of pigs handled during the year. Most of the pigs held in store are merely awaiting delivery, either to United Kingdom buyers or to loeal bacon companies for their winter requirements. By reason of these facts the directors will be able to make the August payment this year a final one. An inspection of the table setting out the association’s returns to its suppliers for the year shows that with the final payment and shareholding concessions the total returns to the farmers will be: For porkers up to 80, the -winter and spring pigs will run out at s*d per lb. summer pigs 51d to sd, and the autumn pigs at 42d. The. returns on heavierw'eight porkers are equally pleasing. In banners, the early pigs will show 4d per lb to producers, rising to 4Jd in November, then to 4Jd, and later to 4Jd in April. The figures quoted are for prime grade. Finest selected baooners will net farmers Id per lb premium over the prices mentioned. Choppers will end the season 13d per lb all through. Short Term Deposits. Another item in the balance-sheet of special inter*st to suppliers is “ deposits on short term and at call,” which stands at £22,839 4s 4d, and represents surplus funds which have accumulated and which are held for final distribution. The balance required for the final payment Is due and payable during August. The company will send out its usual shareholding notices and application forms toward the end of the present month. Applications for shares close on August 11. Extension of Operations.—During the I year the association's operations have been extended to the South Island and North Taranaki, and the report states that in both of these new districts the support given to the association has been pleasing to the directors. Overhead and general administration charges continue to show an improvement and thi;* year on the basis of turnover are more than 1 per cent less than last year. Retiring Directors.—The two retiring directors are Mr W. A. Phillips (chairman) and Mr E. E. Hale, both of whom ;ire eligible and offer themselves for reelection.

MINING. Reports and Returns. A report issued to shareholders of the Central Shotover Gold Mining: Company. Ltd., states that elevating operations were started on June 28, and three shifts are now being worked. The manager reports that the pipe line is a. very satisfactory job, and the water supply and pressure are very good. The electric lighting plant has now been installed, and the wiring of th« huts for the staff has been completed. The weather has been very severe, with exceptionally hard frosts and heavy snowfalls, but the manager has been able to keep the water running through the pipes, although at times stoppages were nearly caused by travelling Ice. A considerable area of bottom wash has been uncovered and good prospects are appearing. It is hoped to have an interim wash-up next week. SCataki Dredge. AUCKLAND, July 16. The Mataki return for the week ended July 15 was 34 ounces for 133 hours.