South African Produce on the Oversea Market. 775 



scarcely necessary to state that the present labour troubles are adversely affect- 

 ing the market, and until a satisfactory settlement is reached buyers cannot 

 operate freely. 



Mohair. — There has been practically no alteration in the mohair market 

 during the past month. The tone of the textile trade generally appears a little 

 more animated, but all buying is simply to cover the day's requirements. 

 Owing to the small outlet for mohair, transactions are stili few and far 

 between, and at prices favouring the buyers. 



Hides. — Owing to the absence of demand the brokers decided to abandon 

 the raw hide sales, which were fixed for the lyth August. Piices throughout 

 the month remained unchanged. 



Sheep Skins. — Auction sales were held en the 3rd September. 627,377 

 Cape sheep skins were offered, and 124,112 sold. The brokers report that the 

 collection, much of which had been previously offered, was fairly representa- 

 tive of the usual origins, and on the wholt: in fair condition, but many of the 

 combing wools were distinctly on the short side. There was a fair demand, 

 chiefly for export, for skins of really " extra long " staple, but a falling off 

 in bidding was always manifest, as the skins approached the '" long wool " 

 category. 



Of 150,774 common Cape (glovers") sheep skins offered, 28,582 skins were 

 sold. Of extra large skins of standard selection there was no adequate repre- 

 sentation, but there is practically no change of value to record. For bye 

 shorts there was after the auction some exchange at prices representing a 

 reduction of about 20s. per dozen on previous nominal value. 



Maize. — According to the Baltic F^xchange, maize is ruling very firm 

 owing to a good inquiry for near positions, helped b>' the strength of the freight 

 position and better Argentine options. A cargo of Rhodesian maize, approxi- 

 mately 4000 tons, has been resold at 80s. For parcels of South African No. 2 

 White Flat, 77s. 6d. to 80s. is about the nominal price offered for United 

 Kingdom and Continental ports. Parcels of La Plata shipping shipped made 

 60s. August-September and 67s. 6d. September-October. 



Maize Meal. — There are buyers at £,\%. los., and possibly ^18. 15s. could 

 be obtained. 



Kaffir Corn. — There is a good market for kaffir corn at about gos. per 

 quarter, but at the present moment no offers have been received from the 

 Union. 



Beef. — The market is very difficult at present owing to the large quantities 

 of poor quality frozen meat in stoie. South African beef is worth approxi- 

 mately 5s. per stone (8 lb.) for hindquarters and 3s. for forequarters. 



Pork. — The market is good for frozen pork, and thi- price to-day ranges 

 from I OS. to los. 3d. per stone of 8 lb. 



Bacon. — This article is still controlled and supplies are on the small side. 

 Shipments from the Union would, therefore, be welcomed. The average price 

 recently paid for South African bacon was about 204s. per cwt. for Green 

 Wiltshire Sides in bales. Smoked baccn should on no account be shipped. 



Eggs. — The old foreign egg connections are still missing, and the trade 

 is dependent chiefly on home supplies and Danish for best qualities, with an 

 occasional arrival of Chinese for lower grades. Later, Egyptian and Morocco 

 eggs and a certain quantity of cold stored Americans and Canadians will be 

 available. Trade has been bad during the past two months on account of 

 high prices and limited supplies. 



Ostrich Feathers. — .Auction sales were held on the 6th and 7th September. 

 It will be remembered that at the auctions held in May last a heavy decline 

 was experienced, and it was decided to postpone further sales until September, 

 when it was hoped that an improvement would have taken place. These 

 expectations have only been partly realized, and the auctions just closed passed 

 off with less activity than had been hoped for. The most interesting feature 

 of the auction was the sale without reserve of 320 cases of western feathers, 

 part of which were very fine, and which met a fair demand. There does not 

 at present seem to be much demand from America, but Paris was fairly well 

 represented, and this, it is thought, augurs- well for the future fashions in 

 feathers. As regards prices, whites and feminas of good quality showed 



