COMMERCIAL.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 17 February 1921, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

CANTERBURY MARKETS. Christchurch ‘Frees' Office, Tuesday evening. Business continues to ite as dull as could possibly be. In fact,, merchants -state that- for tills rime of the year they !)p.ve not know'n jt to fid «o slow for many years back. Knowing the state of the market, farmers are mostly occupying themsieives wi t h harvesting operations in preference to visiting the city. Farmers are still waiting for wheat prices fo L'a fixed by the Government. Until this’ is done there is noj much likelihood of tusines.3 being transacted to an appreciable ex t ent Very little is passing fofetwoen fauyers and sellers at present in th® way of new ! season's products; but in this connexion merchants are- not worrying' much, as they Still have enough of last .season's to carry on with. Very poor orders hav-c- been coming in lately from the North Island; Lite London market for oats is still quiet, and the prices ruling are considered too low fo r export. A few' lines of ryegrass have been changing hands, itujt the demand for this is not by any means keen. With regard to cocksfoots the harvesting of this, which was retarded t_y the rain of a short time tack, is now proceeding apace. New season’s seed is now 'being offered, falut there are no buyers at the present price. Atk*U|t £4 is the, price offered for potjatoeo on trucks. Which is not at a]l jo the liking of farmers. As the crops this season will tie 'smaller (han those of last year, producers feel that it will pay 'them to keep tack their stocks for a few months. Onions are not tieing sought after very eagerly. Orders from tlhe North Island for the two latter lines have been tew and far between lately, forward buying being not nearly so much indulged in as in previous years. Among other causey the general financial stringtacy is considered to have a Jot to do Wjth this spate of affairs. Following are probable prices for new season’s produce, based on merchants’ ideas, and also the prices fixed by t he Gov emment for other lines, the prices being thpse paid to farmers at country, stations, free of commission, sacks extra, except Whei’ 6 otherwise- stated :—

Milling Wheat .—According to Government prices: Tuscan 7/3 t0.1i.; Hunters' 7s 6d; Pearl 7® 9d (subject to adjustment). Oat's —Gartons 2b Id to 2s 3d. Chaff—£3 to £3 10s. Perennial Ryegrass —-3 s 6d Italian Ryegrafc—3s 6d Cocksfoot—7d to Bd. Barley—6s 6d fo 7s. Potatoes—£4, Onions—£6 10s, Bran—According to Government firice, £7 15e per top, f.0.t1, main pom ! , I Pollard—According' to Government price, £7 15s per tom f.o.'b.. main ports. Local prides: Bran £8 saitoliard £lO ss. . Oatmeal—2s's £25, 7’a £2B. Flour—Government price £l6los,