COMMERCIAL NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15025, 23 August 1922, Page 2

COMMERCIAL NEWS

HAMILTON MARKETS.

GRAIN, PRODUCE, ETC

-i'he recent increase in the price of butter-fat is very pleasing to both farmer and merchant. The farmer has now more heart to put into his work and throughout the district there are signs of renewed activity, new land being broken in and brought into cultivation. Progress of this kind is very beneficial to the district, and in fact to New Zealand as a whole, as it is generally recognised that all must look to the farmer to help them out of their difficulties. Only increased production can do this, and it is thus the duty of every farmer to make the most of his opportunities and get as much out 01 his land as possible. The prospects for good prices for the season are splendid, and already farmers are purchasing seeds, fertilisers and general requirements more readily than they have done for a long time. past. 1 rices for these commodities are lower than they have been for a long time past, and with good prospects ahead larmcrs of the district should make money during the coming season. Fencing wire and iron are still ilrming in price on account of the strike and coal shortage in America. It will probably be some time before any reduction will be recorded. •Fowl Wheat.—This grain remains in good supply, while the demand also is'keeping up satisfactorily. The market if anything has an easier tendency, but the price is still 7s 6d ex store, Hamilton. Oats.—This grain is also in good supply at late rates. There is an improved inquiry for oats. Chaff —Best lines of local chaff are changing hands at from £6 10s to £7, Rangitikei from £7 10s to £7 Ids, and Marlborough £8 10s. Grass Seeds—There is a fair demand for grass seeds, and the market is firm at late rates. Hardware.—Wire, nails, staples and iron are all in short supply, and the market has firmed considerably, prices being greatly in excess of those obtaining a month ago. Fruit and Vegetables.

The fruit market is very much the same as last week, supplies of apples continuing to come to hand very freely, but on account of the cold weather the demand for them is not very great. The pear market is practically dead, the demand being almost negligible. Now that the season is practically over the majority of fruit supplies will have to come out of cool storage, and prices will accordingly be high. „„ .. Apples.—Dougherties are still the predominant feature of the apple market and are in fair demand for eating purposes at from 7s to 10s. There is a good demand for the choice lines of Nelson Sturmers offering, and prices range from 14s to 17s. Second-grade are changing hands at 10s. the other eaters, Rokewood are being sola at 10s per case and Jonathans (cold storage) 12s 6d. Cookers arc very scarce and prices have risen considerably. A few Ballarat Seedlings offered were snapped up at 12s 6d, -while-Pippins sold at from 7s 6d to •** 9s, and" second-grade from ss. Pears. —The only varieties offering are Wakefield and P. Barry, the former' selling at 14s 6d and the last-

named at 13s. Potatoes. —In view of the large supplies reaching Auckland last week the market eased considerably, but the over-supply has now been bought up,

"and no further shipments are due in the immediate future. Potatoes now have a hardening tendency. Other Vegetables.—Other vegetables are ooming to hand in fair supply, cauliflower being the most handled. Pumpkins are selling at 6s 6d per sack, cauliflowers 5s to 7s per dozen, beetroot 3s per sack, and carrots and parsnips 5s per sack. Poultry and Eggs.

The penning of poultry this week was rather disappointing, very few Klines offering. Quality also was not up to the average and prices were low. A ■' few cocks sent in fetched from 2s -6d i to 3s 6d each, while hens changed : hands at from 2s 3d to 3s 9d, and ducks from 2s to ss. Altogether the market is very dull at the present time, due no doubt to the disinclination of poultrymen to sell their birds now that they have commenced laying. Eggs.—The season of plenty is again with us and prices have dropped considerably. Bedrock has apparently been reached and further reductions are not anticipated. At the figures ruling just now and with the high price of fowl food the poultry-keeper is barely paying expenses with his fowls, and if the poultry industry is to be put on a proper footing this slumping of prices must be avoided. To-day's quotations are Is 4d wholesale and Is 8d retail.

Dairy Produce

Butter. —As was anticipated, 'the wholesale price of butter has been lowered. Best grade factory is now Is 7|d per lb nett wholesale and Is lOd retail, second grade being Id per lb cheaper. Bacon.—There is no doubt that bacon is on the down grade as lo price, and there is considerable fluctuation in wholesale quotations. A fair average price is about lOd per lb for medium sides. At lower prices quality and weights are not economical. The retail prices are: Prime back- rashers is 4d per lb., and shoulders Is per lb.

LONDON MARKETS. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated 19th inst, from the High Commissioner lor New Zealand, London : Meat.—'Better tone in market for New Zealand, mutton, but, prices same as last quotations except for ewes. Supplies of South American mutton smaller. Lamb trade steady. Demand is chiefly for lightweight; slow sales for heavyweight, Chilled beef in small supply at higher ' prices. NewZealand ox beef in small supply. N.Z. mutton: Lightweight 6d to 6ld, medium aid to G*d, heavyweight 4id to ssd; ewes, 4ld to 4Jri. N.Z. lamb: Best quality, lightweight lid to Hid, medium lOfd to lid, heavyweight lOd, ordinary lOJd; second-class quality 10£d. to iOtid. N.Z. beef: Ox hinds 43d, fores 3d. Chilled beef: Hinds -7Jd, fores 3|d.

Butter. —Good demand throughout week and prices have advanced. Present quotations are: —New Zealand: Unsalted 220 sto 224 s per cwt (Is Mi 4 lo 2s per lb) : salted, 206 s to 208* 'up to 210 s per cwt (Is iOd, Is IOJd to is 10id per lb). Australian: L'nsalted, 208 s per cwt (is 10id per lb) ; salted, 198 s to 200 s per cwt (is 9id to Is 9Jd per lb). Argentine: 202 sto 212 s per cwt (is 9Jd to Is 10Jd per lb). Irish: Creamery, 194 sto 202 s per cwt, (Is B|d to is'9|d per lb). Danish: 214 s lo 21Gs per cwt (Is IOJd to Is lid per lb). French: 206 sto 216 s per cwt (Is lOd to Is lid per lb).

Cheese.—Market steadier and prices have advanced. Official quotations arc: English: Finest farmers 1 ,108 s to 110 s per owt (Hid to Is OJd per lb). Canadian: Coloured, 84s to 88s per cwt (9d to 9£d per lb) ; white 88s to 92s per cwt (9Jd to iOd per lb). New Zealand: Coloured, 84s to 86s per owt (9d

to 9id per lb) : white. 0«s to 02s per cwt (9Jd to lOd per lb). Hemp.—Manila market quiet and steady. ".1" grade August-October shipments sold at £32 per ton. Sellers' present quotations are:—"G" grade August-October shipments, £34 J.>s; "II" grade August-October shipments, £33 15s; ".1" grade August shipments, £:V2 ss. New Zealand market quiet but firmly held. High points spot sold at £34 per (.on. Sellers quote AugustOctober shipments highpoints, £33 ss; fair £3l 10s. Wool.—This is Bradford holiday week, hence business is very quiet. Values for fine tops are nominally maintained. Present quotations are:— 64's (merino), 4s 8d; 56's (super halfbred), 2s 7d; 40's (coarse crossbred), prepared, Is lid. Some uncertainty is caused by the political situation and the commercial position of Germany. Eggs. —Prices firmer owing to better demand and smaller arrivals: —English, French, Irish, Danish .Dutch, 14s 6d to 18s; Polish and Lithuanian, 10s 0d to 13s.

BUTTER AND CHEESE MARKETS. LONDON QUOTATIONS. me Now Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., has received cabled advice from its London office, under date 19th August, as follows: — Butter.—Anchor, 2145, firsts 210 s. unsalted 2245; Danish, 215 s t. 0.0. Market quietly firm, forward position; looks good further advance. Cheese. White, 925; coloured, 86s; probably fluctuate during next few weeks; expect good market, autumn.

ADDINGTON MARKET HEAVY YARDINGS. \ DROP IN MUTTON. , \ There were very heavy yardings of all classes of stock at the Addington ] market, and values were only about ( 10s to 15s per head lower than the big figures realised for ordinary/ beaf ; at toe National market,- Both fat and store sheep were easier, and dairy ; cattle, the numbers of which were amplified by supplies from the South, met with an unusually poor market. Both fat sheep and dairy cattle were being sold after dark set in. : Store Sheep.—There was a large . entry of store sheep, including a good proportion of hoggets, there being , lines forward from North Otago, Central Otago, and Southland. The sale opened decidedly weaker than the . one a fortnight ago, all classes being . affected by the drop in values. During the first half of the sale passings , were frequent. Things brightened up towards the end, but all round hoggets showed a drop of from Is to Is 6d per head on late rates. Values were:—Good mixed sex hoggets, 16s 3d to 17s 2d. Ordinary m.s. hoggets, 13s to 15s lid. Good halfbred wether hoggets, 15s 4d to 15s Bd. Cull half-bred wether hoggets, 13s Id. Crossbred wether hoggets, 13s to 14s 6d. Cull wether hoggets, lis 6d to 12s 3d. Crossbred ewe hoggets 17s. Thrce-quarter-brcd ewe hoggets', 18s 6d. Four and six-looth j half-bred wethers, 19s lid to 20s 3d. i Four, six and eight-tooth wethers, j 18s 3d. Three-quarter-bred four and Six-tooth wethers, 20s. Good two arid four-tooth half-bred wethers, 19s lOd. Good half-bred six and eighttooth ewes in lamb, 29s 9d to 30s. Half-bred two-tooth ewes in lamb, 26s Bd. Aged crossbred ewes in lamb, 16s 9d to 17s 7d. Sound and failing-mouthed ewes in lamb, 18s 6d to 20s 6d. Two, four, six and eighttooth crossbred ewes in lamb, 21s 6d. Vealers. —The yarding of vealcrs was a small one, and the quality was decidedly poor. Many of the calves were immature and unfit for butchers' purposes. Anything at all fit for killing sold well at an advance on late rates. Values were:—Runners to £4 ss. Vealers, £2 10s to £4. Small veal calves, 5s upwards. Store Cattle.—There was a medium entry of store cattle, including a good many nondescript lots. The demand was belter than for some time past, and prices showed an improvement. Values were: —Three and four year-old-steers, £4 7s Gd to £5 10s; two-year-old steers, £3 to £i; three-year-old heifers to £4 10s. Two-vear-old heifers, £3 7s od. Yearling heifers, £1 10s to £2. Fairly good cows, £2 10s to £3 10s; old and inferior cows, £1 to-£1 10s. Dairy Cattle. —There was an overflow yarding, of all qualities. The market was the most lifeless for a long time, and a substantial drop in values was recorded. Passings were frequent, the only sorts to meet with any competition being cows of more •Khan average quality, at the drop. Old cows were unsaleable. A few of the prices were: —Good heifers to £lO ss; good third calvers, £8 to £9 15s; medium third calvers, £6 10s to £7 15s; old cows, £2 to £3 ss; good fourth calvers to £l3 10s; medium fourth calvers, £7 to £9; good second calvers, to £lO 10s; medium second calvers, £G 10s to £8 10s. Pigs.—A medium entry of fat pig* was forward, but porkers were forward in excess of requirements. Values were:—Choppers, £3 10s to £7; light baconcrs, £3 5s to £3 J ss; heavy baconcrs, £4 lo £i !0s; extra heavy baconcrs to £5; average price per lb, Gd; light porkers, £1 18s to £2 ss; heavy porkers, £2 10s to £2 15s; extra heavy porkers, to £3; average price per lb, Gijd to 7Ad. An unusually large entry of store pigs was forward, and the demand was a moderate one, prices being generally on a par with the preceding sale. Values were:—Good medium stores, 37s to 455; small stores, 22s to 355: weaners, -15 s to 20s. Fat Sheep.—An overflow yarding, . comprising 14 races, South Canterbury and North Otago, were well represented in the entry, and there were also several substantial consignments of South Otago and Southland sheep. Quality was not outstanding,' the bulk "of the entry, 75 per cent of which were wethers, comprising medium sorts. The market opened showing a drop of about 5s per head on National week prices, and a shade lower than the market preceding it. , This drop was maintained practically throughout, although ewes, guaranteed free of lambs, and suitable for the 'skier" trade, sold at a much smaller recession. Graziers stepped into the market lo.n much freer extent than usual, and numerous lines of lighter wethers were secured by them.- Values were:—Extra prime ; wethers, to 34s 9d: prime wethers, : 24s Oil to 20s: medium wethers, 21s 9d lo 245: light wethers, 19s to 21s Gd; extra prime ewes, to 28s 3d; j prime ewes. 2Js lo 245; medium ewes, 18s to 205.9 d; light ewes. 15s to 17s 1 9d: extra prime hoggets, to 265; prime hoggets, 21s lo 245; ordinary . hoggets, 18s to 20s Gd: light hoggets, j 15s Gd to 17s Cd. ■ Fat Cattle. A yarding of 350 head, compared with 335 during National t Week. Naturally there was a big I'ull- : ing off in the quality, the penning mj eluding a considerable proportion or - medium beef. The North Island, West 1 Coast, and Southland were well t represented in the better classes ot - cattle. The demand at the outset i was spirited, and very little, if any,

recession on the strong prices realised at the National Sale operated. A few pens touched :!7s 6d per 1001 b, and other prime beef sold at 355. ' Inferior beef made from 30s down. There was a complete clearance. Values were: —Extra prime steers, Cifi 10s to £l7 15s; prime steers, £l3 15s to £10: medium steers, £lO lo £l3 10s; light steers, £6 to £9; extra prime heifers, lo £l3; prime heifers £8 10s lo £lO 15s; ordinary heifers, £5 2s Gd to £8; prime cows, £8 lo £lO 17s Gd; ordinary cows, £5 to £7 15s; aged and inferior cows, £2 15s lo £3 2s 6d.

BURNSIDE STOCK SALE, j a feature of the sale at Burnsidc was tiie excellent quality of the sheep and fat cattle offered. The quality of the sheep, which were sent forward in large numbers, was much above the standard of late yardings. As there is ■ no outlet for export purposes, butchers were practically the only competitors for sheep, and prices in consequence were from Is to Is Gd per head lower than late rales, although in some instances the. reduction was even greater. Owing to the abundance of cattle now being sent, forward, the qualitv of which is very good for this season of the year, prices were easier llian late quotations. There was very little life in the pig sale, and prices were about on a par with last, week's rates. There was a good yarding of dairy cattle, but the demand was somewhat slack. The store cattle market showed no improvement in the qualitv offered or In value. Fat" Cattle: A large yarding, numbering 284 head of excellent quality. There was a good demand at the opening of the sale, but prices were fully 10s per head below previous rates. Canterbury buyers then look a hand, and lifted' some 40 head prime bullocks, with the result that opening values were maintained. Prime ox beef sold at up lo 30s per 1001 b., medium ox, 22s Gd to 28s 6d; good heifer beef, 23s to 255; cow beef, 19s to 225. Prime bullocks realised from £ll to £l3 10s; medium, £8 15s to £lO 10s; light and unfinished sorts, from £6 10s upwards. Prime heifers realised from £7 to £8 10s; medium, £5 10s to £G 10s; light and aged, from £4 upwards. Sheep: A large yarding, numbering 3111 head, comprising mostly wethers. Very few ewes were sent forward. The yarding included many animals of excellent quality. Competition was fairly brisk, being confined to butchers, and prices were easier to the extent of Is to 2s per head. Prime heavy and light wether mutton was worth 4jd to 4Jd per lb.; prime ewe, 3id to 3kl per lb.; light and aged, 3d. Extra prime heavy weight wethers realised from 31s 3d to 35s Gd; prime, 24s to 29s 9d; med> ium, 20s to 23s 3d; light and unfinished sorts, from 17s to 19s. Prime ewes realised up to 25s 3d; medium, to 17s Gd.

Dairy Gallic: A good yarding was ofrercd, but the demand was somewhat slack. Best dairy cows realised from £9 to £lO 10s, and others from £3 10s lo £5.

Store cattle: A small yarding was offered. With the exception of one pen of four-year-old bullocks, the yarding was of poor quality. These realised up to £0 9s per head. There was very little competition for other sorts and' prices showed no improvement. Pigs: A medium yarding, all classes being represented. Several pens of good baconcrs from the Oamaru district claimed attention, and were disposed of at satisfactory prices. Competition for the bulk of the yarding was somewhat slack, and prices were about on a par with late rates.. Best baconers realised from 5Ad to Gd. per lb., and best porkers from 7Jd to Bd.

JOHNSONVILLE STOCK SALE. Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., and Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Lid., report on the Johnsonvillc sale, held on Wednesday, 16th August:—The sheep pens were well filled with mostly good wethers and ewes, also some prime lambs. A few inferior sheep were yarded, all classes selling freely at prices on a par with last week. The cattle yarding consisted of a few good bullocks, but the majority were not up to Ihe mark, nevertheless a keen competition existed at prices in excess of last sale. Cow and heifer beef sold freely. No vealcrs were yarded, being prevented by the heavy rain. We quote: Best ox, £9 15s to £10; good, £8 10s to £8 12s Gd; light sorts, £6 12s Gd to £7 7s Gd; cows, £6 to £G ss; heifers, good lo £7 ss. Sheep: Best wethers, 26s 3d to 295; fair, 23s Id to 255; light, 21s 7d; heavy ewes, 24s to 255; good 22s 3d to 23s 6d; medium, 20s to 21 s; light, 19s; lambs, 21s 9d to 23s Gd.

CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKET, The following are the current values of produce on trucks at country stations, Canterbury, except for wheat and milling offals, the prices of which are ou ll Lo - h t>* siy: — Milling wheat: Tuscan, 5s 9Jd a bushel, Hunters Gs OJd a bushel, Pearl Gs Gid a bushel; fowlwhcat, 4s to 4s Id a bushel; oals, Gartons, A's 2 S id to 2s sd, B's 2s 2d lo 2s 3d a bushel, Algerians (good seed) 2s 3d to '>s 4d- ryegrass, 3s to 4s; while clover,'lOd lo iOJd a lb; cocksfoot, 5d to sid a lb; linseed, £l4 a Ion; barley, good mailing 2s Gd lo 3s a bushel'; Partridge peas, 8s 3d a bushel; polaloes, £4 5s a ton; flour, £lB a ton; bran, £5 to £5 10s, according to packing; pollard, £8 lo £8 10s, according to packing.