COMMERCIAL.

Western Star, 30 March 1920, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

OTAXJTAU STOCK SALE The Otautau stock sale on Friday was not 80' successful as previous sales, the attendance of buyers being below the average. Owing to butcher’® requirements fat cattle always bring a fair figure, bub owing no doubt to the poor quality and) scarcity o!f feed at present store cattle were well below the average. The prices for sheep were in some oases good, while in others poor prices were offered. The following were the average, prices of an unsettled market; 4-tooth wethers 29/- to "32/3; 2-tooth wether 28/-; 2tooth ewes 14/1 to 25/-; 4 and 6-tooth ewes 2G/- to 28/1; 4, 6 and 8-tooth ewes (sound) 25/-; full and failing mouth owes 13/- to 14/9; lamhs 18/10 to 20/3; rams 15/'- to 20/6. SOUTHLAND STOCK AND PRODUCE MARKET.

There is little change to report in the stock market for the past week. A small yarding of fat cattle was on offer at Wallacetown, and the majority was in inferior condition. This class. of stuff met with a small demand, but anything really prime brought spirited bidding. This condition also applied to the fat sheep yarded. The store cattle market during the week has been very dead, there being practically no demand with the exception of dairy heifers, which were readily bought. 'Young, breeding ewes have hardened in price,’ also all 4, 6 and 8-tooth ewes. There is a fair enquiry for good rape lambs. Good forward conditioned wethers are not meeting with a great demand at present, but should increase in value when winter feed is ready.

Oats, —The market is weaker locally, there not being much disposition on the part of merchants to buy. It is reported that sales were made up to 5/3, 0.t., but nobody now appears anxious to buy at over 5/-, in. fact even lower prices are being offered by buyers. The reason of this is that There has been a considerable selling movement in the North Island) for forward delivery spread from April to September, and local merchants can buy much'more cheaply than from the ■farmers. 0? course these miay be paper oats, but the sellers are rer sponsible and reputable business firms, and there is no question but that they will be delivered. - Chaff.—The local market continues fairly easy owing to the slackening of the Auckland demand, but the shipments by the Waipori have cleared out a good), deal of surplus stock. Prices may be quoted at from £6 10/to £6 10/-, on trucks, for prime quality.

Ryegrass.—There is not the quantity of seed offering now, most farmers having taken the opportunity to sell when the market was high. Prices are nominally from 6/6 to 7/6, according to weight and purity, but there is not much disposition on the part of merchants to buy. Potatoes.-—There is nothing doing so far except in early potatoes, which are bringing from £l2 to £l4 per ton in small distributing lots, less railage and merchants’ commission.

Hemp.;—The market is quiet and there is not much doing. When, however, more ahiping space is offered for London it is expected that- the demand will be keener.