WANGANUI MARKET REPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18790, 26 May 1923, Page 8

WANGANUI MARKET REPORT

OATS. In feed oats there has been prac ieaily no alteration in prices sine-, last week, though it would appear that the continued demand from Australia will at least keep prices up to their present level, if it does not put them up a bit. There is good demand for Dun oats of super quality, these being lather difficult to obtain. Seed oats have slackened in demand lately, no doubt due to the fact that practically all the autumn sowing Is completed. Good quality lines are not at all likely to recede in value, the contrary being more probable. CHAFF. ■ Owing to the floods in Marlborough and Canterbury the market fdr this became very excited during last week. Prices to-aay are, however, slightly easier. WHEAT. The wheat market is active for very little apparent reason. Prices have increased during the past week by about a penny a bushel. Whether this is due to the floods in the South Island, or to increased demand is hard to say, but it is probable that it is due to both causes combined. The same thing applies to fowl wheat. POTATOES. Owing to the floods in the South Island the potato market has been extremely active, and a jump of from £2 10s to £3 per ton has taken place within 10 days. Whether prices will maintain this level is hard to predict, as in this case and in all other classes of produce, it will be some time before an accurate estimate can bo obtained of the actual damage done by the floods. MANURES. There are prospects that prices for manures will be cheaper than they have ever been since the war. The cause of this, no doubt, is the plentiful supply of Nauru phosphate, also to the use of labour-saving machinery in its manufacture. GENERAL DRAPERY. As usual, the aftermath of the races last week resulted in this week’s operations being confined very much to hand to mouth buying, and shopkeepers have not experienced anything like their ordinary trading. At the same time the weather conditions have more tend ed to voiles than woollens and so, these two factors combining gave trade a slight set back. Towards the end of the week things brightened a little, due no doubt to the schools “taking up” again and inspiring certain demands. We notice still another shop being taken in Guyton Street, and apparently Wanganui Is well thought of by outsiders, who apparently are more optimistic of the future of this town than the “local born.” In common with those others who started recently, we trust their optimism will have its due reward. That old-established mercery establishment —Markham and Shewan -—has this week undergone a change by the retirement of Mr Shewan, whose interests have been purchased by Mr London. The trading name of the new firm being Markham and London. Wanganui missed having another mercery business this week, as two well-known Wellington traders failed to secure a good tenure . shop, and so trasferred their intended business to Taranaki.

We are pleased to notice that the recent shopping week was not altogehter a “frost” financially, but had the committee worked as hard as the general secretary things would have resulted in a good balance for next year. The idea is good, and we hope it will be per--severed with. Shopping weeks are having a big run in the Homeland at present, and many have proved a real boon dur ing a slack period. Why doesn’t "Wanganui go in for better window displays, particularly at night time now we have plenty of “juice"? We have just had a balance-sheet from a London drapery house, wherein is disclosed the interesting fact that the stock was turned over eight and a-half times during the year, and despite the bad times a good dividend was declared. Here’s a lesson for all drapers. COTTON. Despite the little set-back in March last, cotton has again reached the average level of the year, with a hardening tone on account of the none too optimistic crop outlook from America. It seems fairly certain that prices will not recede to any marked degree, as, on the one hand, spinners have resolved to sell no raw yarns at under cost pri,ce, and on the other hand, the Burnley Manufacturers’ Association has recommended its members to stop all looms working for a month. Burnley contains 100,000 looms, so readers will readily understand what a restricted output this stoppage means.

Nottingham cotton laces, etc., have advanced somewhat as the direct result of advertising and although only one-third of the operatives are working at present, the news that French lace makers have advanced prices by 15 per cent., may be the means of stimulating our own lace trade. WOOL. Wool values hardened considerably as the result of the recent London sales, and the finer grades show a more decided advance man do the coarser grades. Also a demand extraordinary has set in trom Continental makers up, who have been unable to cope with the business offering them. Thees factors, combined with the fact that tne next B.A.W.R.A. onerings will be mainly cheaper wools, appear to have stabilised the market at its present rate. Already made up goods show an advance in price. LINENS AND JUTE. The linen market is the “easiest" of them all at preseent, and despite shortages m yarn, no great stimulus has taken place, although prices are firm, with good values offering all round. The much feared strike amongst the jute workers in Dundee eventuated as predicted, and 30,000 workers had the gates shut against them, as their union refused to allow them to work the system of double spinning, which manufacturers wished to introduce. This system is already in operation in some of the mills, and was to be extended. What a pity our market prices have to suffer because of these 111-timed strikes! hardware.

Hardware sales are steady', and showing signs of improvement after the spell of unsettled weather, the building trade getting in its stride again. There is quite a lot of building going on, and in fact more than there are carpenters available to do the work, and this is holding up some jobs. During the sltwup a considerable number of experienced tradesmen left for green pastures, and they would be gladly welcomed back here now. Prices are all firm at present and merchants are not expecting lower values for some time to come. Quite good stocks and selections of lock sets, window fittings, tiles, sanitary ware, etc., are now held in the town, and the demand for the latest styles is continuing to improve, A desire in the past to keep the price down has forced the proprietors of even the best class of residences to patronise the less expensive class of hardware. Architects are, however, doing their best to improve the tone, which is very desirable in such a growing town. United States of America and Home markets still have an upward tendency, and delivery from the States is very slow. Domestic orders are so insistent that the export trade is being neglected, which will probably mean shortages locally of certain lines. FRUIT. Messrs Sharpe, North and Co. ro port good trading done during the week. Several varieties of apples are becoming scarce, but others have come to take their place. Prices are as follows: Stunners, Ss to 4s halves; 5s 6d to 7s bushels. Rome Beauties. 6s 6d bushel. Ballarat Seedlings, 6s 6d bushel. Delicious are not so plentiful, and have firming tendency in consequence. They are selling fiom 7s to 10s bushel. Onions, in strings, 9d.

Rotaries, local 13s sack; South Isand. 16s to 20s sack.

Local potatoes are not in largo supply, and loutn Islanders are ”.'so short owing to recent floods. Oranges and bananas from tho Islands will shortly be on the mar ket.