COMMERCIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17008, 22 January 1927, Page 9

COMMERCIAL.

AUCKLAND PRODUCE MARKETS, Onions.—The price has fallen again, and 'Pukekohc is now quoting £6 10s. The qualtiy is improving with the perfect weather for ripening, but the soil was so soaked up till the holidays that onions are not realty ripening off very quickly this year, and it will take another week or two to make them hard and dry, fit for packing. Oats. —Demand is very slack, and even now there is no eagerness to buy in the South at prices which a little while ago would have been considered quite favourable. Local quotation is 4s 6d ex store.

Chaff.—Also slow of sale, most buyers waiting for the new season’s. This is not on account of its quality, for old is preferred, but because it will be much cheaper. The first from Blenheim is due next week, and the price is expected to settle at about £9 10s lo £lO ex store. At this level there will lie no inducement lo import from Australia this year.

Wheat.—The position in fowl wheat is very acute, for there is no Australian now available, and any urgent orders are being filled with Canadian, a grain which is not at all popular. A shipment is due from Australia in a day or two, and another next week, but "these supplies will not materially relieve the market, for they are practically all sold to arrive. It will be most difficult for small consumers to obtain supplies for the next few weeks, especially when the Government are restricting import permits. This will probably make it difficult to fill February requirements also, for the Canterbury wheat is not expected to be available till March. Pl oU r.—A little Australian is arriving every week, and selling at the same price as local. This seems likely to continue, as long as there is a margin on cost. Bran and Pollard. —Bran is in very poor demand. There used to be a good demand for feeding stabled horses, hut this trade lias almost disappeared, while the remarkable abundance of grass prevents any sale for farm animals. Pollard is in, good demand for pigs and poultry, and stocks arc very limited. Maize.—There is practically a famine in supplies, hut ibis will lie relieved by a shipment from Gisborne, which is due -to-day. It is estimated that slocks in the Bay of Plenty are now very low, for otherwise larger quantities would lie sent to the city, to take advantage of the record price obtainable. Any small consignments have realised 7s 6d on the wharf, in wholesale lines, and this is not likely to rise much, for during the hot weather wheat is preferred to maize. Eggs.—Price is unchanged at Is tOd retail. Supplies arc slightly falling off, but the demand is diminishing to about the same extent. Potatoes. —The fine weather has in-j duced such a rush of digging that the market is'quit o glutted, and prices are demoralised. At the beginning of the week they were quoted at £;> to £5 tOs at Pukekohe and neighbouring stations, but it is very doubtful what they are worth now, for there is no outlet for the huge quantities coming in. It must be borne in mind that while production is now at its maximum the sale is at its minimum, for the reason that thousands of families have their own garden supplies, and these will usually last them till about the end of February. Consequently there is little inquiry from merchants at present, and the buying from the Island steamer next week will not make much impression on the stocks. The South Island market is very weak for forward delivery, and it looks as if potatoes are going to be a very cheap food for several months.