A DISTINCT RISE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 98, 6 February 1936, Page 9

A DISTINCT RISE

PRICES AT DUNEDIN WOOL SALE GOOD COMPETITION SUSTAINED. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, February 5. The second sale of the season was held to-day when a total offering of 30,680 bales was submitted to a full and representative bench of buyers. The condition of the wool submitted was good, as it was lighter generally as compared with the December offering. The wools were mostly sound and well grown, an exception being found in hogget wool. Throughout the sale competition was keen and well spread, all consuming centres operating quite freely. The market was a good one for light conditioned lialf-breds, which sold at pai to slightly better in comparison with December rates. Medium and heavy conditioned lialf-breds showed little change. The merinos offeied, which were mainly of medium quality, met with a fair demand at prices showing little variation on the last Dunedin sale. Cross-bred) 'remained firm at prices showing practically no change. Necks, pieces, and crutchings met with an exceptionally good sale, and for these the market was better by from -3fd to Id. As at the December auction, the market for hogget wools was disappointing, except for extra fine half-breds which showed a slight improvement in value. On the whole, the sale must be considered a very satisfactory one, prices being well sustained through the day and fully 94 per cent, of the offering was sold. Range of Values. The following is the range of prices: d. d. Merino—

BRADFORD BUYERS CAUTIOUS. HIGHER PRICES EXPECTED. (Special to the “Guardian.”) DUNEDIN, February 5. A total of 30,680 bales was offered to-day at the’ second auction of the 1935-36 wool-selling season in Otago, and it is estimated that this will yield an aggregate return to the growers of approximately £425,000. There was a full bench of buyers and the sale was good, values being very much on a par with those ruling at the last sale, except for certain speciality lines of fine quality, for which higher prices were paid. The top price of the sale was 20d for super merino, which showed an advance of l-*d on the best price realised at the December sale. Anticipations of higher prices based on reports from the north and from overseas failed generally to materialise, but on the whole the sale may be regarded as satisfactory when compared with those of last season. The offering was of practically the same size as that put forward) at the last sale, and filled the allocation granted by the Wool Committee. The dry season, which expedited shearing, had enabled growers to send m thenwool much earlier than usual, and the catalogue was filled some time ago. In fact, there is enough wool m store to fill the requirements of the next sale, which, is to be held on March 11. In comparison with that offeied a the first Dunedin sale of the season, the wool was much heavier m condition through being shorn later, this being particularly noticeable m station clips from the back country. A number of well-known clips were much dustier than usual as a result ot the dry season, during which sheep had been fed on turnips. The dry summer had the effect of bunging about an earlier appearance of seed, but there was not a great deal of this showing through the wool. The wools offered were on the whole well grown and sound, although there were certain signs of tenderness in wool from the districts where sheep wei o offected by the shortage of feed earlier in the season. About 75 per cent of the offering consisted of fine wools the balance being from cross-bred clips from the coastal districts. In comparison with the previous sale, the most noticeable feature of to-day’s auction was that the only

advances recorded were in speciality lines of fine quality. There were not a great many of these wools on offer, however, and for ordinary half-bred and merino types there was really no marked change in price. Nevertheless, values may be considered to be on a higher plane. Hoggets, which were disappointing at the first sale, were firmer for finer lots, but other sorts showed no change. Cross-breds can be said to be on a par with December rates. An advance was recorded in the values for line pieces and crutchings, which appreciated by about Id per lb. The demand on the whole came chiefly from France, which lifted the bulk of the fine wool. It was noticeable that Germany was a stronger buyer, and purchased a good deal more wool than was expected. Japan was also a good competitor, and support was received from Canada and America. One of the surprising features or this season’s sales has been the lack ot strong support from Bradford. Representatives from this quarter have purchased a fair quantity of wool, but only on strict limits. In view oi the small quantity oi wool held at Home, Bradford has been late in coming into the market with any strength, and has continually operated on strict limits. The wool season is now well advanced, and it was that support would have come- xrom English representatives. Local mills puichased more lots than in Decemuer, lifting a fair proportion of speciality lines suitable tor their trade. Although estimates of average and aggregate values must necessarily be based to a great extent on guesswork at this stage,, it has been agreed on by one or two authorities that the aveiage price a bale yesterday woidd be about 10s or 12s 6d greater than at the previous sale. Un this reckoning it is estimated that the price a bale uould be about £l4 12s 6d, with the per lb price at about lGid. This would bring the total proceeds from the sale to about £425,000, which is nearly twice as much as the aggregate amount received from the second sale last yeai. Central Otago continues to send forward some extremely good quality wools, the top price of 20d to-day being realised by six bales of super merino from the Puketoi station of Mrs Watson. Shennan. The consistency with which the district produces top prices is sufficient indication of the fine wool growing properties of that part of the province.

STEADY PRICES IN SYDNEY. STILL GOOD COMPETITION. SYDNEY, February 5. At the wool sales 12,348 bales were offered, 11,014 were sold at auction, and 1013 privately. The market showed no change, and competition continued good. Greasy merino made to 24d.

Extra super — to 20 Good 16 to 17 Average 14 to 15 Inferior 12 to 13 Fine Half-bred 56-58— Extra super — to 192 Super 16 to 17} Average 13 to 14-2 Inferior 10} to 12 Medium Half-bred 50-56— Extra super 15} to 16 Super 13i to 15 Average Hi to 13 Inferior 9i to 11 Fine Cross-bred 48-50— Super Hi to 13 Average 9i to 102 Inferior 8i to 92 Cross-bred 46-58— Super 9 to 10} Average 7 to 8} Inferior 7 to 7} Medium Cross-breds 44-46— Super 8 to 9 Average 6} to 7} Inferior 5} to 6} Half-bred necks and piecesGood to super 13} to 16} Low to medium 9 a* to 12} Cross-bred necks and piecesGood to super 8 to 10 Low to medium 6 to 7} Locks— Medium to good 5 to 6} Inferior Si to 4} Orutchings— half-bred— Medium to good 6i to 3 cross-bred— Medium to good 6i to 7} Inferior 5 to 6