WANGANUI MARKET REPORT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19346, 27 June 1925, Page 8

WANGANUI MARKET REPORT.

Business has received & noticeable impetus from the fine weather experienced last week, and this week there isanother strong inducement to bring residents into the city, namely, the first of the winter drapery sales. Other departments of trade are not at all disconcerted over these seasonal drapery clearance sales, as they alwlays bring an extra number of potential buyers into the city, from which all receive <a certain amount of extra patronage. GROCERIES. GINGER. Ground and whole ginger is now on a higher price basis than for some time, and there is every indication of prices being maintained as at present. LOOSE TEAS. The market reports from Calcutta and Colombo indicate increases in cheaper grades of reasonably good quality teas, and on account of the purchasing of these lower priced teas being considerably hampered by heavy stocks already held by New Zealand importers it would appear that the period of lower prices which recently ruled in producing markets was not taken full advantage of. Prices for good useful teas will therefore increase almost at once. The reports that southern packers are holding to present prices will further strengthen the position, and tend to harden prices. BREAKFAST FOODS. A feature of the early winter trade has been the increased consumption of imported packaged breakfast foods of the ‘‘ready-to-eat.” variety so popular in American States. While the quantity imported would point to increasing demand, yet it is probable that this is but a passing phase, and that the trade will return before long to the New Zealand oat productss and porridge meals. DAIRY PRODUCE. Another rise in butter and cheese in London is welcome news to the farmer, especially as it is apparently not due to any temporary causes, but to a permanent change in the conditions prevailing in the Northern Hemisphere.

SALMON. Considerable interhouse trading followed the notification of new pack prices. Spot values on Sockeyes and Cohoes are particularly favourable against replacement costs, but stocks are too light to last until supplies of new pack arrive, therefore local advances will probably be made to steady the demand. Business on new season’s for forward delivery is proceeding briskly. Some of the leading Canadian packers have already withdrawn all offerings of Cohoes, advising that, ali lowing for the maximum pack on this i grade, only 50 per cent of orders in hand can be executed. It is further anticipated that the ratification of the Canadian-Australian tariff agreement will strongly influence the salmon market, owing to the substantial Australian buying that must follow. RAISINS. New pack soda bleached Thompsons have opened higher than last offerings of old season. This fruit has gained considerable popularity because of its exceptional cleanliness, good bright colour and particularly low cost, compared with sultanas, for which it is an admirable substitute. NORWEGIAN SARDINES. Agents are in receipt of cable advice that the market for Silds is again weaker, revised selling rates being at a reduction of Is per case on previous lists. SULTANAS. The market price of Australian appears to be definitely established at, a comparatively high level, due to the probability of heavy Canadian buying, following the expected ratification of the Austflalian-Canadian tariff agreement. Smyrna. —Further increases in indent cost arc recorded in this market, one packer recently increasing selling rates by 6s Gd per cwt. JAM. Both Auckland and Nelson manufacturers advise an increase in the selling rates of the 53’s of apple and raspberry jam of id per lb on the cheaper | grades. Both manufacturers advise that previous selling rates were below cost, which accounts for the alteration. They also advise that they had hoped to reduce prices generally on account of the recent reduction in the sugar market, but the slight difference this reduction has made per lb of jam has been more than counter-balanced by the increased cost tinplate and other items of manufacture.

GENERAL DRAPERY. Conditions this week throughout the district have been against heavy business and the damp, cold weather has had some effect on shoppers. In town here most of the Avenue shops report fairly good sales and quite a trade has been done in all wet weather lines. Apart from this, however, fair business has been done in other departments, and customers apparently realise the fact that general drapery is cheap. Of course, June and July, with stocktaking and “sales” are invariably in and out months and the trade at these times is greatly influenced by the weather.

The wholesale trade report a good June month and is now settling itself to stocktaking activities. “New season” is already spoken of, but if present weather conditions last, this should still be some way off.

THE COTTON TRADE. Cotton is still in the doldrums ami business is none too brisk. Our Home mail this week mentions that cotton touched 12|d just a month ago, ami that the “easier state of the raw article has enabled a fair amount of actual business to be put through—deliveries being for up to December next and even into 1926.” This is a little more encouraging and, although the business is not for very great volumes it seems to denote that prices will not; go back, and in fact, the reverse may take place should this month’s estimate of the American crop prove uncertain. The “protective” duties put upon silks etc., is causing “mixture makers” some concern and where manufacturers have gone in extensively for cotton and mixtures, prices are almost bound to advance slightly. That there has been plenty of good, cheap drapery available is fully evidenced by our imports, which, in some cases, have swollen to such aa extent as to cause a slight temporary embarrassment. This should adjust itself f.nd New Z?aland should enjoy cheap urapery icr iit least six months. THE WOOLLEN MARKET The best news this week is the fact that Australia is almost immediately resorting to sales and these should indicate, to some extent, what the future has iu store. Of course, Bradford may be holding sufficient wool to be able to sit back without bidding too high, and as Bradford has already lost heavily on November rates the position is one of interest. New Zealand is not so intimately concerned as yet and otfT crossbreds still remain comparatively high. The whole situation is teeming with possiblities and anxieties—business could hardly be worse—made-up goods arc cheap and the only people benefiting, apparently, are the consumers. Locally, the mills arc having none too rosy a time aud most of them have big stocks on hand which will take some time to liquidate. HARDWARE. Trade has only been medium during the past week, general turnover just about holding its own with sales of the preceding weeks. Oversea arrivals have been coming forward well.

PRODUCE. CHAFF. Merchants are experiencing a very trying time in connection with their deliveries of Blenheim chaff. A large part of the chaff which is coming forward this season, although graded as G. 8.0.5. is far below the standard of previous years. Merchants are so disappointed with the quality that they are seeking other markets. There has been a big demand by Auckland merchants for North Inland chaff. LOCAL PRICES Prices are quoted locally for the undermentioned lines as follows: Feed barley, 6s 6d per bushel. Algerian oats (machine dressed), 6s 6d per bushel. Garton oats, 5s 9d per bushel. Fowl wheat, 9s 6d to 10s per bushel. Tares, 12s 6d per bushel. Feed Maize, 8s 6d per bushel. Cocksfoot (Danish) Is 2d, Standard Akaroa, Is 3d. Perennial ryegrass, 8s GcL Italian ryegrass, Bs. Western wolths, 7s 6d. Alsyke, Is 3d per lb. Danthonia pilosa, 2s 6d per lb. Red clover (imported), Is 4d. White clover, 2s Gd. Trefoil, lOd per lb. Timothy, Is per lb. Crested dogstail, Is 3d per lb. Poa pratensis, 2s per lb. Chaff. Blenheim, £lO per ton. MART REPORT. Messrs Williams and Harper report on their mart sale held yesterday as follows: —Light hens sold from 4s 6d to 5s 6d; heavy up to 9s pair. Pigs: Porkers, 16s. Produce and vegetables.—Chaff Gs 6d-to 8s per sack; oaten hay 4s 6d per truss; potatoes 14s to 15s sack; cabbages 2s to 5s dozen; califlower 9s Gd dozen; carrots and parsnips 3s Gd to 4s dozen; pumpkins 3s to 9s dozen; marrows 4s to Gs dozen; apples -Lease 2s Gd to 4s; bushel case 6s to 9s.