COMMERCIAL NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15040, 13 September 1922, Page 2

COMMERCIAL NEWS

HAMILTON MARKETS

GRAIN, SEEDS,- ETC,

Trade generally slill continues to show considerable improvement, but this is mainly due to the usual demand for essential lines of agricultural rer quirements at this time of the year. Land must Ije sown, and with the prospects for a* better season ahead farmers are more inclined to take steps to secure the best returns possible from their soil. Fertilisers.- —The demand for, fertilisers is heavy, inquiries being received for almost all lines. The principal lines are all in plentiful supply with the exception of basic slag, which,.however, is not in great demand at this time of the year. Prices remain steady all round, but there are prospects of a slight fall in the prices for some lines. Grass-seeds. —All varieties of grassseed are in fair demand for spring sowing. Prices are easing somewhat, clover and cocksfoot being the principal lines affected. 7 Seed Oats-.—-There is a steady demand for machine-dressed and clipped Algerians, this variety being practically J.he only, one sown for crop in the district. Good lines are quoted at Cs per bushel, farmers’ dressed being priced at ss. Seed , Potatoes. —The demand for .-.-ear.ly varieties of seed potatoes has improved within the last few weeks. Local slocks are now pretty low and growers are commencing to turn their attention to the main crop varieties. Prices vary according to grade and ' variety, ranging from 10s to 14s per I cwt. Fovvl Wheat. —This grain is selling ■■ freely at 7s per bushel ex store, Hamll; ilton. Prices for good samples show J a slightly hardening tendency. There r is no reason to fear any shortage this season. Oats.—Owing to the recent demand i} for export good quality Cartons show . a .decided Arming tendency. To-day’s £■ quotations arc 5s per bushel, ex store % Hamilton. , There is no prospect of a decrease'in the price of good quality -•* oats within the immediate future. “’’^BiMaize:—This grain is rather slow of sale at 6s 6d. Chaff. —This produce iS now in bet- ;- 4 ter demand, due to the farmers utilising their teams to so great an extent at this time of the year getting the land ready- for crops.* Best quality is retailing at £8 15s per ton ex' store, Rangitilcei being worth about £1 less. There is practically no inquiry for local. Machinery.—All classes of farm implements are selling very readily, particularly machinery used in connection with, turnip and mangold crops. Prices all round show a reduction on last year’s figures. Fruit and Vegetables. Generally speaking, fruit is becomtlrig exceptionally scarce. The local markets are practically bare, and prices • ’accordingly are hardening. Apples.—A few Delicious made 'l9s ,„(■»! per case, with ‘‘black spot” lines up to 17s. Sturmers (choice) were in demand at from 14s to 15s, while seconds made from 10s to 12s. Two- • inch Sturmers were quitted at 9s per -case. have increased in s', price considerably within the last few days, first-grade, with good colour, making 14s, while good sound samples changed handß at up to 12s. A few Rome Beauties were offered, being snapped up at 13s. Green cooking apples are almost done, and the few London Pippins offered made from 11s : to 12s. 0 ?Z Pears.-—Half-cases of Josephines changed hands at 6s 6d, while P. Barry were hard to quit at 16s 6d per bushel case. if Lemons. —This fruit is in good dei mand, cured, lines making from 19s to • 23s per bushel case, while uncured - samples were sold at from 14s to 19s, ■ according to colour and size. . ' Island Fruit.—Re-packed ' Island i : oranges are selling at from 22s to 24s • per case, according to size and quality. „A line of-Mangaias oranges were offered, and quickly disposed of at 18s. ■‘' Sydney Fruit.—Fair quantities of Sydney fruit—mandarines, pineapples, passion fruit, and navel oranges—are and the prices ruling are more favourable to, purchasers than previously. - v Potatoes.—The market is firmer than last week. stocks do not appear to be very heavy, and should the demand last for any length of time there will undoubtedly be a shortage, which of course will be reflected here. Present quotations are 10s 6d per cwt for good table lines. Whites are more expensive, and are quoted nominally at 11s. Onions.—Stocks are short, pending the arrival of Californians at the end of the month. Re-picked Australians a_re selling at 25s per cwt, while spot Californians are changing hands at 2Js 6d per crate (nominally 1001 b). Other. Vegetables.—Cauliflowers are still very plentiful and hard to quit, making from 2s 6d to os 6d per sack. Carrots, parsnips and beetroot are all available at from about 8d to lOd per dozen bundles. Good cabbage is rather difficult to obtain, and is priced at 7s per sack. Pumpkins are hard to quit at £4 10s per ton.

Poultry and Eggs,

Poultry.—-Very little poultry has been offering lately, while the quality is poor, good table birds being scarce. : The demand is fairly keen at ruling s' prices. Quotations are: Prime roosters jj[ 3s to 5s Cd, others 2s to 2s !)d; young laying hens 4s to os Gd, older sorts ,2s to 3s lOd; and ducks 3s to 3s 9d. Eggs.—Prices remain as at last ■ week, viz., Is Id per dozen wholesale, 'and Is 4d to Is Gd per dozen retail. •S'; The low price has had the effect of !* checking supplies, and growers report :. greatly increased sales of preserved : eggs. The price is expected to rise before very long.

Dairy Produce

Bacon.—No Change since last week is reported. The local wholesale price for'sides is lhd per lb, the retail price for back rashers being Is 2d to Is 4d, and shoulders Is per lb. Butter. —The price is unchanged, wholesale quotations being Is Bfd nett per lb for pats. First quality is rctail'ing at Is lid per lb, and second-grade id per lb less.

VAIKATO MARKET REPORT.

The Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Co., Ltd., report:— Beef.—The beef market ha s shown improvement since our last report,, and everywhere a firm tone is evidenced. Mutton.—Supplies of fat sheep are ©xdeedingly scarce, with the result that values have advanced rapidly. There seemg every probability that the market'will continue to harden for some , little time to come. ’ Store Cattle. —The market for store cattle Is again hardening. Not many grown steers are offering, huL younger cattle of the flame sex meet with - good competition whenever offered. q’he demand for heifers is somewhat although many good sales ’a&ve been made, The present low

value of dairy cattle undoubtedly accounts- for this. Fresh-conditioned cows meet with good competition also, but store cows show little improvement. Store Sheep.—A demand awaits all classes of store sheep, but the markets have been very bare for some time. Occasional small lots of hoggets appear and meet with ready sale. Considerable • inquiry exists for ewes with lambs at foot, and these arc certain of a good reception' when they arrive. Dairy Cattle—The tone of the market generally has improved, and good animals-close to profit find ready sale. Backward sorts arc in a similar condition in respect to value. Pigs.—The yards during the past two weeks have been inundated with pigs, and in consequence theonarket has collapsed. Store pigs on the other hand still draw steady competition. Horses. —There is a good enquiry for farm horses, and it is hoped the Spring Fair this week will evidence this. We quote as follows: —Bullocks, heavy prime £8 to £9, medium £6 15s to £7 15s, light £6 to £6 10s; oows, heavy. £6 to £B, medium £4 to £5 ss, forward £2 7s 6d to £3 ss; steers, four-year £4 to £5 ss, Ihree-year £3 5s to £4;- heifers, two and a-half-ycar Shorthorn r.w.b. £7 to £9 10s, twoyear Jersey £lO to £l3 10s, two-year Shorthorn £5 10s to £7: cows, stores, £1 2s 6d to £2; steers, two-year, best £2 12s Gd to £3 2s 6d, medium £1 17s 6d to £2 10s: heifers, empty twoyear Shorthorn £3 15s to £4 15s, empty two-year Holstein £4 10s to £5 10s, empty Uvo-ycar Jersey cross £4 15s to £6; yearling heifers, Jerseys £4 15s to £6, best Shorthorn £2 10s to £3 ss; steers, best Shorthorn £1 7s 6d to £1 12s 6d; wethers, prime heavy 30s 6d to 33s 6d, prime medium 29s to 30s, light 25s to 29s 6d; ewes, prime v heavy 22s 6d to 28s, medium 19s Gci to 21s 6d; store hoggets, host 16s 6d to 18s, medium 14s to 15s Gel: pigs, baconers, heavy £2 10s to £3 ss, light £2 2s Gd to £2 7s 6d; porkers, heavy 35s to £2 2s Cd, light 30s to 32s Gd; good slips £1 to £1 10s, small slips 17s 6d to £1 Is; weaners, 12s 6d to 16s 6d; horses, heavy draughts £35 to £45, medium £3O to £37, light £2O to £27; harness >horses, £lO to £l7; hacks, £7 to £ll.

LONDON MARKETS.

The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated 9th instant, from the Iligll Commissioner for New Zealand, ’London: — Meat. —More buyers than sellers for mutton, and prices have slightly advanced. 'Demand'for iamb exceeds the supply, and prices are somewhat firmer. Beef in small supply. N.Z. mutton; Lightweight 7d to Bd, medium 6?d to 7gd, heavyweight 53d to G£d; ewes. 4Jd to 5Ad. N.Z. lamb; Best quality, lightweight lid to URd, medium lid to USd, heavyweight lOd, ordinary lid; second-class quality lid. N.Z. beef: Ox hinds' 43d, fores 3Jd. Chilled beef: Hinds 7Jd, fores 3£d. Butter—Market firmer. Present selling prices of New Zealand salted is about 214 s per cwt. Danish market very quiet owing to high prices asked. Official quotations are:—New Zealand: Salted, 212 s to 216 s per cwt (Is 10.3 d to Is lid per lb)'; unsalled, 224 s per cwt (2s -per lb). Australian; Salted, 204 s to 206 s per cwt (Is 9|d to is lOd per lb). Argentine: 206 sto 212 s per cwt (Is 10d to Is 10.3 d per lb). Irish: Salted, 198 s to 202 s up to 204 s per 'cwt (is 93d to Is 9Jd per lb) ; unsalted, 206 s to 210 s per cwt (Is lOd to Is 104 d per lb). Danish: 220 s per cwt (is Hid per lb). French: 206 s to 216 s per cwt (Is lOd to Is lid per lb).

Cheese. —Market firmer on account of light supplies, especially New Zealand. Official quotations are; —English': Finest farmers’, 108 s to 112 s per cwt (114 dto Is per lb). Canadian: Coloured 84s to 90s per cwt (9d to 9|d per lb); white, 88s to 92s per cwt (9id to lOd per lb). New Zealand: Coloured, 84s to 88s per cwt (9d to per lb); white, 88s to 92s per cwt (9Acl to lOd per. lb). The s.s. Port Kembla is discharging New Zealand produce this week. Casein. —French rennet, £63 to £7O per ton. Hemp.—Manila declined early this week, but market closed firm. "J” grade September*-November shipments sold down to £3O 5s per ton, later £3O 15s. New Zealand marliet continues dull. Fair grade September-November shipments sold at £3O per ton. Secondhand sellers quote Highpoints Septem-ber-November shipments £3l 15s per ton, but buyers not interested. Wool. —Sales continue well attended with competition brisk for merino, fine and medium crossbred at hardening rates. Coarse crossbred selling freely, not quotably higher. Scoured crossbred occasionally irregulai*. Slipe in good request.

ADDINGTON MARKET,

HEAVY YARDINGS

The fine day resulted in a big gathering of farmers at 1 the weekly market at Addington. There were heavy yardings of stock in most sections, notably in beef and mutton, and an easing" in values w'as recorded. Store slieep also met with a less active enquiry. The continued stretch of dry weather is occasioning some concern amongst graziers, and the effect it is having on feed prospects is already noticeable in a slight depression in the market. Should it continue for another week or fortnight it will be a serious maLter in many parts of flic province. The fat cattle entry was lifted out of the ordinary by a beautifully finished line of bullocks from the Manawatu district.

Store Sheep—The entry of store sheep was an average one for this time of the year, consisting mostly of hoggets and wethers with a few lines of ewes in lamb and a couple of pens of ewes and lambs. The ewes in lamb were all of inferior quality, but the ewes and lambs were better and brought really good prices. There was hardly (be same briskness in the demand for hoggets and wethers as at the previous sale, but still the demand was sound throughout, and a good clearance was made. Values: Good mixed sex hoggcls 16s lo 17s, ordinary nflxcd sex hoggets 14s 3d to 15s 3d, threc-quarlerbred ewe hoggets 21s, cull halfbred ewe hoggets 18s Bd, wether hoggets 14s lid lo 15s Gd, cull wether hoggets J 1 s id, two, four and six-tooth wethers 18s 4d to 19s 9d, fairly forward four and five-tooth halfbred wethers 20s Gd to 21s 9d, inferior two and four-tooth wethers 14s lOd to IGs 2d, aged ewes and lambs 13s lo 14s 2d (all counted), failing-mouthed halfbred ewes in lamb 20s lOd, two and four-toolh ewes in lamb 23s 7d, aged halfbred ewes in lamb 19s. Spring Lambs.—The fancy prices realised the previous week for I In; 1 rio of spring lambs forward wore certain to stimulate an increased entry today. Thirly were penned, and limy made good prices, ranging from 22s to 355. Fat Sheep.—A heavy yarding of between eleven arid twelve races. A small proportion was exceedingly

good, but there was more than an average showing of lightish wethers. South Canterbury was again well represented amongst the heavy sheep, 'l’he market opened easier, particularly for lighter sorts. A few graziers operated for these, but passings were fairly frequent. Values were uneven, hut, on an average, were down on the preceding week by Is Gd per head. A proportion of the lighter sheep would have been more suitably placed in the store section. There is a good deal of this class of sheep coming forward, and generally those with good skins have been selling well, but the over-supply of light wethers has a lowering tendency on the value of prime muflon. Values: Extra prime wethers to 31s Gd, prime wethers 24s 3d to 275, medium wethers ‘2ls 9d to 245, light and inferior wethers 19s 7d to 21s Gd, extra prime ewes to 26s Gd, prime ewes 21s Gd to 24s Gd, medium ewes 19s to 21s 6d, light ewes 15s to 18s 9d. Fat Cattle. —Another big entry of 425 head as against 450 last week. Outside entries provided a considerable proportion, there being nearly 100 from the North Island and a good draft from the West Coast. The bulk of the local entries were moderate quality, but the outside sluff was generally of excellent quality. The market opened .easier than last week, medium beef being principally affected. First class beef sold at an average of with in 10s to 20s per head of the previous week, and medium from 15s to 255. Considering the yarding following on the big entry of last week, the sale was a fairly good one. Values: Extra prime steers £ls to £l6 10s, prime steers £l2 10s to £l4 17s 6d, medium steers £9 5s to £l2 ss, light and unfinished steers £5 7s 6cl to £8 15s, prime heifers £7 5s to £9 2s Gd, medium heifers £5 10s to £7, inferior heifers £2 15s to £5 ss, extra prime cows £9 5s to £ll 7s Gd, prime cows £7 to £9, ordinary cows £4 10s to £G 15s, old cows £2 15s to £4 7s 6d.

Vcalers. —There was a larger yarding of vealers than the previous week, but again the general quality was indifferent. Anything good sold distinctly well at about last week’s rates. Values: Runners to £5 12s Od, vealers £4 to £5 ss, small calves 5s upwards.

Store Cattle. —A yarding of nondescript sorts, comprising for the greater part low-conditioned cows. A pen or two of well-grown steers met with fair competition, hut generally there were no quotable lines to give an idea of current values. Whilst feed prospects are so uncertain, there is not likely to be much life in the store market.

Dairy Cattle.—There was a fairly large yarding of dairy cattle, and it included a big number of cows in very low condition. There were certainly some sad-looking specimens ift the outfit.- The sale was fairly lifeless except for good sorts, but, all round, the previous week’s prices were about maintained. Values: Good second and third calvers on the point of calving, to £l2; second and third calvers on the. point of calving, £5 to £9 10s; first calvers, £4' to £8 10s; aged springers, £1 to £3; backward and inferior cows, 10s to £2. Pigs.—The yarding of fat pigs was a small one. There was a good demand for porkers and choppers, but baconers met with a slack sale. Values were:—Choppers £4 to £5 18s, light porkers 47s Gd to 52s 6d, heavy porkers 55s to 65s (average 72d to BJd per lb), light baconers £3 12s to £4, heavy baconers £4 5s to £4 10s (average 6d to 6Jd per lb). One of the largest entries of store pigs yarded for the past two years was forward, and prices were considerably lower than at recent sales. Values were:—Medium stores to 50s, small stores 24s to 355, slips 18s to 22s 6d, good weaners 12s to 16s, small weaners 5s to 9s.

BURNSIDE MARKET.

A feature of the sale at Burnside was a sharp .drop in prices for fat cattle, in striking contrast tp the extremely high rates realised at last sale. The yarding was a very large one, and many of the pens contained animals of very choice quality, with a good sprinkling of cattle above the average. Fat Cattle. —There was a large yarding, a total of 312 head being offered. Prices for prime beef at the commencement of the sale were easier by about 30s per head, but the market appeared to improve slightly later. Light-weight prime ox beef was worth 33s to 35s per 1001 b, heavy 32s to 34s 6d, prime heifer beef 28s to 30s, light-weight 27s to 295, good cow beef 25s to 27s Gd, and inferior 22s Gd to 255, prime heavy-weight bullocks realised up to £l6 12s 6d, prime £l3 to £l4 10s, medium £ll to £l2 10s, and lighter ; kinds £9 to £lO. A heavyweight bullock of excellent quality realised £l7. Extra prime heavyweight cows and heifers sold up to £lO 10s, prime £8 to £9, medium £6 10s to £7 10s, and light and aged from £5 10s to ’£o.

Fat Sheep.—A total of 1976 head was offered. Prime heavy wethers were scarce, but prices all round were about on a par with last week's rates. The bulk of the light-weight sheep were secured by graziers and country butchers. The yarding included a number of pens of good quality animals. Prime wether mutton was worth 4id to 4Jd per lb, light to sd, prime ewe mutton 4d to 4id, and medium quality 3Jd to 3id, extra prime heavyweight wethers realised from 38s Gd lo 40s Gd, prime 27s Gd to 335, medium 24s to 275, and light and inferior sorts from 19s to 21s. Prime ewes realised from 24s to 2Gs, medium 21s to 225, and light and aged from 17s to 19s.

Store Gattle. —Over 200 head were yarded, mostly young mixed sexes and cow's.. With the exception of one pen of three-year-old bullocks, the quality of the store cattle offered was not of a very high standard. The demand however, was brisker Ilian usual, but intending purchasers operated only up to certain limits. Bidding for threeyear bullocks reached £6 15s per bead, and the animals were passed in at that figure. Two-year-old Hereford heifers realised from £2 JSs lo £3 ss, Hereford cows up lo £3, and well-grown bullocks from £3 3s lo £6 10s per head. About 50 head of dairy cattle were offered’. The quality was not up lo the usual standard, and prices did not show any improvement. Pigs.—A medium yarding was offered. Competition was fairly brisk, and prices were in advance of late rates, both baeoners and porkers showing a rise of from 3s to 5s per head. A line of good baeoners from the North Otago 'district sold under keen competition. Prime baeoners were worth aid to Gd per lh, and prime porkers 72d to 82d.