WANGANUI MARKET REPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 28 June 1924, Page 8

WANGANUI MARKET REPORT

POTATOES. There is a good demand without much alteration in recent prices. The quality of the South Island grown is hardly up to previous years. The market is firmer, owing to the farmers refusing to accept the merchants’ idea of value. OATS. The market for New Zealand gartons remains stationary, whilst Canadian oats have shown a further decrease since our last report. Consumers are generally relying more and more o’n the imported article as the season advances. WHEAT. The Australian importation is the principal factor in the market to-day. Many of our local houses have supplies of this, which can be sold at a slightly more favourable figure than the N.Z. grown. . CHAFF. Blenheim chaff has advanced considerably within the past two days. The price now asked by southern merchants is £8 19s per ton for prompt delivery, and £8 15s per ton for forward shipments. It seems certain that the price of Rangitikei chaff will advance considerably. GRASS SEED. A little interest is shown in general lines just at the present time, as it is anticipated that prices for more important varieties will probably see higher money before first supplies are available. Apart from this there is not much doing as it is between seasons. GENERAL DRAPERY. Trade locally has been in keeping with the weather —pretty shocking—and apart from Wednesdays and Fri days the retail trade has certainly struck a b?.d patch instead of enjoying the ordin?|y winter seasonable business. This is ail the harder to understand as stocks are very full, varied and cheap withal. Money appears tighter than usual, and retailers are not facing the future with the cus tomary cheery optimism. Trading in the country has been much in keeping with local conditions, excepting that outdoor storm clothing has had a vigger run than usual. Tire wholesale trade has not . brisk, excepting for job lines which become apailable as stocktaking activities develop.

THE WOOLLEN MARKET. j\e curious position outlined last week still exists, and is complicating an already impossible position at Home. Wool dearer than manufactured tops is an absurdity, and now that the Continental activity for crossbreds has materially eased on account of financial strain, it is difficult to foreted what may happen. Manufacturers are still producing under high cost conditions, which the heavy taxation makes harder and as the cost of living does not decrease makers-up are faced with either a further reducing of employees, or selling goods at a loss. Manufactured goods are cheaper to buy to-day than raw wools, and as the latter show no signs of going back very much, the future must be looked to with great care. Locally we have advice that blankets and flannels have all taken a move upwards, and will probably remain about. 20 per cent, higher for some time to come. THE COTTON TRADE. Our Home report to hand by this week’s mail quotes the trade as entering on a further sphere of activity, with the raw material round about 18d per pound. Raw stocks are rapidly dwindling, and this has made for hur; ried buying where makers-up have orders to fill. Our report goes on to say: “There is a steady trade being done without interruption, and in certain grades of fine good commitments can only be fixed for forward delivery and all weak places, so prominent some months ago have been filled up for the next four or five months.” This means present rates until the end of the y?ar, unless holdcra of stock who are finane>Hy weak and have to realise, or unlesK the currency exchanges adversely affect prieen, buyers would be

well advised to continue the hand to mouth policy \\ith purchases. WANGANUI PRICES. Prices are quoted locally for the undermentioned lines as follows:—• Feed Barley, 6s 6d per bushel. Algerian oats (machine dressed), 7s 6d to Bs. Black barley, 12s. Tares, 17s 6d. Emerald rye corn, 6s 6d. Garton feed oats, 7s to 7s 3d. Feed maize, 8s to 8s 6d. Cocksfoot, Danish. Is 2d. Standard, Ak.aroa, Is 3d to Is 4d. Perennial ryegrass, 9s 6d to 10s. Italian Tyegrass, 9s 6d to 10s. Western wolths, 9s 6d to 10s. Danthonia pilosa, 2s Gd. Cowgrass, Is 6d per lb. Red clover (imported), Is 3d per lb. White clover, 2s 6d. Alsyke, Is 3d per lb. Trefoil, 9d per lb. Timothy. Is per lb. Crested dogstail, Is per lb. Poa pratensis, 2s per lb. Chaff, Rangitikei, £lO 'to £lO 55., Blenheim and Canterbury, £ll to £ll 5s per ton. Basic Slag, for March delivery, £ 5 12s 6d per ton, 0.t., Wellington. Fowl wheat, 8s per bushel.