WANGANUI MARKETS’ REPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18785, 19 May 1923, Page 8

WANGANUI MARKETS’ REPORT

PRODUCE. Oats. —Canterbury reports state that the market at the present moment is unchanged, but owing to a good many of the stacks of threshed oats still remaining in the paddocks probably a good deal of damage has been done by the recent floods. It is just possible that for milling lines the market may advance. In #»me districts the rain was so heavy that it penetrated the covering of straw and ran through the stack from the top to bottom. The -two bottom tiers of the stack are almost certain to be lost altogether. Wo anticipate a further advance. WHEAT. Damage has also been done to threshed wheat stacked in paddocks, but good and encouraging news has been received regarding wheat in stack still to be threshed. Some parcels of wheat have suffered and the market may be found to readily absorb that which may be found to be out of condition—a low price will have to be accepted for this quality. It is considered, that although cheap, out of condition wheat may be avail'•.le in excess of a normal season, really good whole low! wheat will improve in value. RYEGRASS. Owing to the exceptionally strong demand for ryegrass at harvest time, the farmers quit all they had, so there was nothing to be damaged in the floods. The market is still very bare of supplies, and a keen demand is expected in the spring, as many Canterbury farmers intend putting down pastures instead of wheat. Clovers.—A fair quantity of this was destroyed by the floods—the Rangiora and Kaiapoi districts being responsible for the bulk of the crop. It looks as if farmers who insist on growing nothing but colonial seed will have to pay high prices. CHAFF. This market has firmed up considerably, due to reports from the Blenheim district. G. 8.0. sheaf is very short and holders are asking for big money. We do not see any easing is possible in this market. POTATOES.

ing” woollen prices for next summer and winter season, and we would not be surprised to learu that Leicestershire and Bradford prices show a considerable advance at next sampling period. Wholesalers and retailers holding fair stocks should be well pleased with present buying as the future hardly holds out the possibility of to-day rates being held to for long. COTTON. Cotton also has taken a slight advance and the market is precarious at present, although a drop seems very remote owing to the spinners combining and refusing to sell to the weavers at under cost price, as has been happening this past six months. CARPETS. The carpet trade is enjoying a “boom” and here again prices are firming more everyday, while manufacturers hardly care whether any orders come from New Zealand or not. One carpet firm has been running its looms for 24 hours a day for the last five years, and to-day the American demand is as little satisfied as it was four years back. Another manufacturer recently received an American order for 40,00 b yards of one design in carpeting—three months straight-out work, for his looms. Only 5 per cent, of carpet operatives are on the unemployed list — virtually the same condition as before the war. «■ THE ELECTRICAL TRADE. This trade is quite busy, the majority of work in hand consisting of connecting up private houses. There is also good business doing in motors, and several installations have been made. Butchers are using them to run sausage machines and mincers; bakers for cake mixers, sugar sifters and general bake-house work. A number of people are appreciat ing the use of the electric iron, grillers and hot plates, while radiators arc going into the homes and business man’s office. Reticulation is progressing as well as the broken weather will allow. The poles are pushing into the residential areas. Aramoho is fairly well connected up. St. John's, Duriq Hill and Wanganui East are waiting for a favourable opportunity to put in the wires. Wanganui people are installing an exceptionally’ good class of fittings and the demand is very large. The semi-indirect lighting, which masks the glare of the light, is proving the most popular. This form of lighting directs the bulk of the light to the white ceiling, and thus distributes the light evenly all over the room. “Juice” is still available from 6 a.m. to midnight only.