LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 4

LIVE STOCK MARKETS.

EXPORT VALUES UNCHANGED. STORMY WEATHER AFFECTS CONDITIONS. BOBBY CALVES ARRIVE. The export posrtlon regarding meat has shown little change since last report. The lower rates ruling for mutton and lamb have apparently stimulated the demand, and Smithfield advises that consumption is "satisfactory and improving."

Stocks of New Zealand frozen beef in London are negligible, and have been lor some time. Apparently there is a demand for our product—at a price—and export dealers have been operating in the Dominion during the last four or five weeks, and the earlier of their shipments should soon be on the London market. Unfortunately shipping conditions to the Old Country this season have not been entirely satisfactory, and dealers have had 1 difficulty in getting spare at short notice for prompt carriage. At about 15/ to IG/ per 1001b fair quantities of beef cattle have been taken in various parts of the Dominion for shipment overseas. So far there is no evidence of local stocks being depleted, and it would appear that the numbers of fat cattle available have been much greater than was supposed. A continuation of export will quickly bring the available supply down to a level with domestic requirements.

In the country boisterous weather has affected the condition of stock, and a good proportion sent forward to the markets and freezing works are below usual standard of quality. At the freezing works operations for the 1931-32 season are rapidly drawing to a close, but tiie advent of a new season is already being heralded by the receipt of small numbers of bobby calves. The trade in this line has been an important feature in recent years, but it would seem that lower rates are likely to rule for this coming season. Export markets for all classes of skins are shockingly low. It is suggested that the railway department might be asked to assist the industry by making some concession in the matter of freight charges. That there is still confidence in the dairy industry, notably in the Northern districts, where it has made conspicuous headway in recent years, is shown by the excellent prices realised at the Wharigarei •Jersey sale to-day. Up to G3 guineas was paid this morning for choice pedigree animals. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that the North Auckland factories now account for one-sixth of the total butter export of the Dominion.

At V/estfleld. There wag a much smaller yarding of fat cattle at Wostfield yesterday, but the demand was only moderate, and values showed no improvement. Exporters secured a fair share of the offering. A notable entry was a fine line of extra prime Shorthorn and Polled Angus heifers sent forward by Messrs. Holdsworth Bros., of Whakatane. These averaged £i 12/10 per head. A shorter yarding of calves met a keener demand, and prices were higher for all classes. Average yardings of fat sheep and lambs found a ready sale at about late rates. There was a good demand for pigs, and recent Quotations were fully maintained. The range of prices, together with those ruling the previous week, was as follow:— KEEP (per 1001b) M Last WCCk ' Extra choice ox .. 10/ 19/ Choice and prime " x , 10/ to 18/ 16/ to 18/ Choice and prime cow and heifer 14/ to IS/ 14/ to 17/ Ordinary cow 8/ toll/ 8/ to 14/ SHEEP (per head) — Heavy prime wethers 14/ tu 10/0 14/ to 16/6 Med iu m prime wethers 12/ to 13/0 1-/ to 1 3/0 Unfinished wethers 8/ to 11/0 8/ to 11/0 Prime ewes 8/ to I.'l/ 0 7/6 to 11/ Unfinished ewes . 4/ to 0/0 3/ to 0/6 Extra heavy prime lambs 13/0 to 15/ 13/0 to 15/0 Prime lambs 0/ to 13/6 8/ to 13/0 Unfinished lambs. 0/ to S/9 4/0 to 7/0 CALVES (per head) — Runners 32/ to 09/ 25/ to 51/ Vealers 17/ to 43/ 15/ to 10/ PIGS (per head) — Baconers 32/ to 54/ 32/ to 51/ Porkers 10/ to .'54/ 20/ to 30/ Wcaners 3/ to 10/ 3/ to 10/ Slips !•/ to 13/ 0/ to 15/ Large stores .... 12/ to 10/ 13/ to 18/

ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale yesterday as follows: — Beef.—Our beef pens contained 363 head, as against 519 head at last Wednesday's market, comprising 211 steers and 152 cows and heifers. There was no improvement in the demand, and values were unchanged. Extra choice ox sold to 19/ per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 16/ to 18/; secondary and plain ox, 12/ to i 15/; prime young cow and heifer beef, , 14/ to 16/; ordinary cow beef, 8/ to 13/. ■ Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £7 5/ to £7 12/6, for steers from Messrs. Blackett Broe., To Kowhai, and Mr. W. McLean, Walton. Heavy prime steers made £6 10/ to £7 2/6; lighter prime steers, £5 5/ to £6 7/6; light prime steers, £4 10/ to £5 2/6; small and unfinished steers, £2 10/ to £4 7/6; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 5/ to £4 15/; heavy prime cows and heifers, £3 10/ to £4 2/6; lighter prime cows and heifers, £2 10/ to £3 7/6; other killable cows, £1 10/ to £2 7/6. Sheep.—There was a full yarding of sheep. Wethers sold at late values, and ewes were slightly firmer. A total of 1837 sheep was sold. Extra heavy prime wethers made 14/6 to 15/6; heavy prime wethers, 13/6 to 14/3; medium to heavy prime wethers, 12/ to 13/3; light to medium prime wethers, 11/ to 11/9; unfinished wethers, 8/6 to 10/9; extra heavy prime young and maiden ewes, 11/ to 12/6; heavy prime ewes, 9/ to 10/9; lighter prime ewes, 8/ to 8/9; other killable ewes, 6/ to 7/9. Lambs. —A heavy entry of lambs sold freely at fully late rates. A total of 805 lambs was sold. Extra heavy prime lambs realised 13/6 to 15/; heavy prime lambs, 12/ to 13/3; lighter prime lambs, 10/6 to 11/9; light prime lambs, 9/ to 10/3; small and plain lambs, 6/ to S/9. Calves.—We had an average yarding of calves. Bidding was brisk and our quotations show an improvement for all classes. Runners made £1 18/ to £2 11/; heavy vealers. £1 17/ to £2 5/; medium, £1 11/ to £1 15/; light, £1 5/ to £1 9/; small, 17/ to £1 1/; rough and bucket-fed, 9/ to 15/; bobby calves, 1/ to 6/ (a total of 204 calves was sold). Pigs.—Fat pigs were also penned in average numbers. All well-finished sorts met with keen competition, and sold at higher rates. Porkers were in particularly good request. Choppers made £1 5/ to £3; heavy prime baeoners, £2 8/ to £2 13/ (one extra good pigs made £2 14/); medium baeoners, £2 to £2 5/; light, £1 ■ 14/ to- £1 17/; heavy porkers, £1 10/ to £1 14/; medium, £1 7/ to £1 10/; ■ light and unfinished, 16/-to £1 4/; stores, up to 16/; slips, 11/ to 13/; good weaners, , 9/ to 11/: smaller, 4/ to 7/ (a total of 437 pigs was sold). j

DALGETY AND CO. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report 011 the weekly Westfield fat stock sale yesterday as follows: — Beef.—Our offering of ox beef was a full one. A better demand existed and a steady sale resulted in values ruling at late rates. Cow and heifer beef also came forward in big numbers, and sold under steady competition at values on a par with late rates. Included in our offering was a line of 30 head of extra firm heifers,! on account of Messrs. Holdsworth Bros., I of Whakatanc, which averaged £4 12/10.1 Extra choice ox sold to 19/ per 100lb;| choice and prime ox, 10/ to 18/; just kill-1 able, 12/ to 15/; prime young cow and' heiler beef, 14/ to 16/; just killable, 8/ o?,- I ,L lca , vv t'l'ime steer* realised i'li J./0 to £,; lighter prime. Co 10/ to .CO: I ugiit prune, £4 2/6 to £5 7/6; small ami I unfinished, £_ to £4; extra heavy prime I

young cows and heifers, £5 2/6 to £5 12/0; heavy prime cows and heifers, £4 to £5; lighter prime cows and heifers, £2 7/6 to £3 17/6; other billable cows, £1 5/ to £2 5/. Slice]). —Sheep were offered in moderate numbers, the quality generally being hardly up to the average. The demand was steady, with values ruling at about late rates. Young maiden ewes brought 12/; heavy prime wethers, 13/9 to 14/3; medium. 12/6 to 13/6; light and unfinished, 11/3 to 12/3; heavy prime ewes, 0/ to 11/; lighter, 7/ to S/9; other ewes, 6/ to G/9. Lambs. —Lambs came forward in average numbers," and sold under steady compctit:on at values equal to late rates. Heavy prime lamb brought 12/ to 13/; medium, 10/0 to 11/9; light, 9/6 to 10/3. Calves.—A shorter yarding of calves met with a brisk sale at improved rates for all classes. Runners made £2 3/ to £3 9/; heavy vealers, £1 16/ to £2 3/; medium, £1 9/ to £1 15/; light, £1 3/ to £18/; rough, 16/ to £1 2/; small, 8/ to £1 2/; bobby calves, 2/ to 6/. Pigs.—An average yarding of pigs sold steadily at late rates. Choppers made £1 13/ to £3 5/; heavy baconers, £2 4/ to £2 10/; medium. £1 16/ to £2 3/; light, £1 12/ to £1 15/; heavy porkers, £17/ to £1 10/; medium, £i 3/ to £1 6/; light, 19/ to £1 2/; small *nd unfinished, 12/ to 18/; slips, 10/ to 12/.

LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and M:i\autilc Agency Company, Limited, report, on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale yesterday as follows:— Beef.—Beef was penned in average numbers. There was a steady demand, with values on a par with last week's sale. Extra chcfice ox sold to 19/ per lOUlb; choice and prime ox, 16/ to 18/; ordinary and plain ox, 13/ to 15/; prime young cow and heifer beef, 15/ to 18/; ordinary cow beef, 12/ to 14/; heavy prime steers, £6 17/6 to £7 15/; lighter prime steers, £5 15/ to £6 15/; light prime steers, £4 12/6 to £5 12/6; unfinished and small, £3 to £4 10/; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 12/6 to £5; heavy prime young cows and heifers, £4 to £4 10/; lighter, £3 5/ to £3 17/6; light cows, £2 i/(> to £3 2/6; other cows, £1 5/ to £2 5/. Sheep.—Sheep were yarded in average numbers, and sold at late quotations. Extra heavy prime wethers made 10/ to 16/9; heavy prime wethers, 14/ to 15/9; medium prime wethers, 12/6 to 13/9; light prime wethers, 11/ to 12/3: small and unfinished wethers, 8/ to 10/9; maiden prime ewes, 10/ to 13/9; heavy prime ewes, S/(i to 9/9; medium prime ewes, 7/3 to 8/3; light prime ewes, 6/ to 7/; interiorly fatted ewes, 4/ to 5/9. Lambs.—Lambs were penned in smaller numbers, and sold at late quotations. Prime lambs made 9/ to 15/; others, 5/ to 8/a. Pigs.—A small yarding of pigs sold at improved values. Choppers sold from £1 to £ 1 17/6; heavy and medium baconers, from £1 18/ to £2 9/; light baconers and heavy porkers, from £1 12/ to £1 17/; medium porkers and light porkers, from £1 5/ to £1 10/; small and unfinished porkers, 15/ to £1 3/. Store pigs sold at improved rates, large stores. 12/ to 15/; slips. 9/ to 11/: weaners, 3/ to 10/. Calves.—Calves were penned in average numbers. There was a keener demand, and values firmed on last week's quotations. Runners made £1 12/6 to £4 8/; heavy vealers, £1 14/ to £2: medium. £1 5/ to £1 12/: light. 18/ to £1 3/: smaller, 12/ to 16/; small and fresh dropped, 3/ to 10/. IN THE WAIKATO.

HAMILTON, Wednesday. The spell of cold wintry weather has not improved the condition of stock generally. In the Waikato district, especially amongst dairy farmers, feed is in shorter supply this winter than is usual, and a number of dairy cattle arc beginning to show the effects. The dry spell which was experienced in the early autumn made the dairy farmers commence feeding out ensilage and hay, and although the majority have provided sufficient to carry them" through the winter months the effect of the bad weather is very

noticeable, especially on exposed farms.

Without doubt shelter is a big asset to any dairy farm, and a great many dairy farmers in the Waikato have yet to learn the value of well sheltered paddocks, i Generally speaking the market is quiet, most business at the present time taking place in the dairy section. Clearing Bales are now in full swing, and in the majority of eases have opened better tlyin was I anticipated. There appears a keen demand for good quality young Jersey cows, but older and inferior cattle are hard to quit at any price. Beef and store cattle, although coming forward in fair numi berg, are meeting with a very poor reception, while all classcs of fat sheep are showing a decline in value. Conditions are as follows:— Beef. —A medium yarding was penned at Frankton this week, and with the exception of very prime quality medium weight cattle prices were, if anything, easier. Cow and heifer beef also barely maintained last week's prices. Prime ox beef has been making 10/ to 17/ per 1001b; medium quality, 14/ to 15/; prime young cow and heifer, up to 15/; medium quality cow beef. 8/ to 10/; second quality cow beef, 6/ to 7/; boner cows, 3/6. Fat Sheep.—There was again a heavy yarding of all classes of fat sheep at Frankton, and with the exception of very prime wethers all classes showed a dccline in values. Farmers who held their fat ewes in the hope of getting additional prices for their winter supply have met with a disappointment, as era arc cheaper now than they were in January. The export buyers arc absorbing a fair number, but at the same time there appear to bo good quantities held. A large yarding of fat lambs met with a fair reception, prices remaining steady. Extra prime fat wethers made np to 15/; medium fat wethers, 13/ to 14/; light fat wethers, 11/ to 12/; extra prime heavy fat ewes, np to 7/3; fat ewes, 5/ to 0/; medium ewes, 4/ to 5/: prime fat lambs, np to 13/; medium, 10/ to 11/. Store Cattle.—This section is particularly dull, and practically only boner cows and yearling heifers find their way to the market. Boner ccws still find an outlet, although the price is extremely low. The quality of the Jersey heifers that are offering is not so good, although most of those yarded change hands, even if the money is low. Forward-conditioned grown bullocks arc worth £2 10/ to £3; 18months steers, from £1 to 30/; weaner steers, from 15/ to £1; forward-conditioned empty cows, £1 to 30/; boner cows. 8/ to 18/; weaner Jersey heifer calves. 30/ to £2, for the best; medium quality, £1 to 30/; small mixcd-colourcd calves, 5/ to 10/. Store Sheep.—Although slightly better . yardings have been coming forward, especially to Frankton, the demand is dull. , Store wethers, which have been popular for some time, appear to have gone out of favour also. A line of well-grown sheep from the East Coast, submitted at I Frankton on Tuesday, realised only 7/6. This is very little better than store lamb price, although it would appear that wethers at the price must bo better i buying. Breeding ewes have also lost their i popularity, although any lines that come ' forward are mostly of inferior quality. < Very few store lambs are being offered < for sale. Good four-tooth wethers arc I worth from 8/ to 9/; medium four-tooth < wethers, 7/ to 8/; two-tooth wethers, j 7/6 to 8/6; small wethers, 6/ to 7/; best j woolly lambs, up to 8/; good shorn lambs. 6/ to 7/; medium lambs, 5/ to 6/; small \ lambs, 4/> four-tooth breeding owes, 12/6; two-tooth breeding ewes, 10/ to 11/; fourtooth ewes, up to 12/6; four-year-old ewes, up to 12/; five-year-old ewes, 7/6 to 8/6; aged ewes, 5/ to G/. Dairy Cattle. —There appears to bo a good demand for good young genuine dairy cows, and some quite satisfactory prices have resulted at the various clearing sales, v where good quality cattle have been t offered. Dairy heifers are not quite so i popular, although those tluit have so far r been offering arc showing the effects of the j hard winter, and are not too well grown. So far the majority of heifers this year a appear to have very little bloom. Genuine I'oung Jersey dairy cows at clearing sales bring from £7 to £8; Jersey cross cows. [' from £6 to £7: Kriesian and Shorthorn J, toss, from £5 to £6: bo-t two-year ' Jersey heifers, up to £7; medium quality, c 10/ to £6 10/; backward heifers, £3 i •o £-1. J;l

THE ADDINGTON MARKET

PRICES TEND LOWER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CIIRISTCHUItCH, Wednesday. Entries at the Addington market to-day were small, cxccpt in the fat sheep and fat cattle sections. Generally, there was an easing tendency in prices. Store Sheep.—The entry was small and the clearance was not so good as recently. Passings were numerous in all sections. Medium ewe lambs made 7/ to 8/4; ordi- : nary, to 6/3; ordinary mixed sex, 4/ to 6/2; good sound-mouth halfbrcd ewes, to 10/9; ordinary six and eight-tooth halfbrcd, 8/ to 9/8; aged and failing-mouth, 1/9 to 4/6; ordinary sound-mouth three-quarterbrcd, 7/9 to 9/5. Eat Lambs.—A small entry of mediocrc quality met with a steady demand. Values were: Best lambs, to 19/10; prime, 15/ to 17/; ordinary, 12/ to 14/6; light, 8/ to 11/6. Fat Sheep.—There was a heavy entry of 5900 head, including several Southern drafts of good sheep. Bigger sheep were easier by 1/ a head. Extra prime heavy wether-, made to 10/4; prime heavy, 15/6 to 17/: ordinary, 10/G to 15/; light, 8/ to 10/'; extia prime ewes, to 18/'; prime heavy, 10/6 to 13/6; ordinary, 6/ to 10/; light, 4/ to 5/6.

Eat Cattle.—There was an entry of 390 head, which included a fair proportion of good quality. The sale dragged throughout, values being down by 15/ a head. Best beef made to 22/6; good, 18/ to 20/; ordinary, 15/G to 17/6; rough, down to 10/.

I'at Pigs.—There was a good demand at firmer values. Light and unfinished porkers were in over-supply. Choppers made 27/6 to £5 18/6; baconers, £2 8/6 to £2 15/6; heavy, £3 1/6 to £3 12/6; average price per lb, 4d to 4Mid; porkers, 23/6 to 27/6; heavy, 30/ to 36/6; average price per lb, 5d to 5%d.

PEDIGREE JERSEYS. SOME GOOD SALES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WIT AX GA REI, this day. I.lie fourth annual pedigree female sale, held under the auspices of the Whangarei Jersey Club (Inc.), opened at Kensington Showgrounds this morning. Tho auctioneers were Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, Ltd., the North Auckland Farmers' Co-op., Ltd., and Dalgety and Co., Ltd. Breeders from Awanui, Ivaitnia and Whangarei districts did most of tho operating, although there were some Southern men present. The best price during the morning was realised by Mr. A. E. Phillips' heifer, Some View Sunray, for which 63 guineas was paid by Dr. Cr. Walker, of Maunu. This purchaser also gave 40 guineas for Mr. G. Hodgson's heifer, Silverdale Rosamund. Sir. H. Armstrong, of Mauuu. gave 51 guineas for Mr. J. G. Hodfevon's Miss Valma.

HAWKE'S BAY VALUES. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") HASTINGS, this day. At Stortford Lodge sale to-day there was a medium yarding all round. Beef showed a slight improvement on last week's sale. Prime bullocks, to £6 10/; prime heifers, to £4 17/6; prime cows, to £3 17/6. Few store cattle were offering. Mixed sex weaners, £1 1/; 20 months "tcers, £1 10/, and heifers 18/. Fat ewes showed an improvement of about 1/ a head on last week, wethers and lambs at late rates. Prime ewes, to 8/6; prime wethers, to 12/6; lambs, to 15/. Store sheep showed a further decline. Best store wethers to 10/2; store wether lambs good, 8/; ewes in lamb to Southdown rams, 12/6.

KILLING TRADE.

CUSTOMS ASSESSMENTS. VIEWS OF LOCAL CHAMBER. His willingness to fix the rates of exchange for Customs purposes for monthly periods lias been communicated to the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand by the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart). The importers section of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce has considered this

suggestion, and has decided that it should not be supported, for the reason that it would neither offer relief to importers nor augment Customs revenue. The viewpoint of thu local chamber is embodied in the following finding of the importers' section committee, which was adopted by the council:—"This committee is of the opinion that the present method adopted by the Customs Department in assessing goods from countries with currencies appreciated in terms of sterling at the home consumption value converted at the rate of exchange ruling at date of shipment instead of at par of exchange is: (a) Wrong in principle; (b) inequitable in operation; and (c) in effect disastrous to trade and suicidal to Customs revenue.

I'or these reasons we urge that the practice should bo discontinued, and goods assessed for duty purposes at parities of exchange." After quoting instances to demonstrate the inequitable cffect of existing Customs practice, the report proceeds thus:— "It is respectfully suggested to the Customs Department that the increased cost of goods from countries remaining on the gold standard is in itself acting almost as a total restriction on importations from these countries. If the policy adopted by the Custonis Department has as its object the securing of high duty revenue from countries with relatively appreciated currencies. the result will be disappointing. "Jf the policy of the Department is to effectually kill all trade between this country and those countries with relatively appreciated currencies, persistence in its present policy will most surely have that result.

"The importers' section committee urges the chamber to hold fast to the principle that goods from countries with relatively appreciated currencies should be converted at par for duty purposes, thus maintaining the duty relationship between the British preferential and the general tariff as expressly set out in the tariff. The present haphazard method of assessing duties on violently fluctuating exchanges is extremely unsatisfactory and disturbing to trade, and inasmuch as it has brought about an almost complete cessation of trade with countries still on the gold standard is suicidal to duty revenue."

CUSTOMS EXCHANGE RATES

Rates of exchange ruling at the announced date ot' departure of the vessels named are shown in tlie following table. Tliey are subject to confirmation by the Customs Department when the exact time of departure is learned on the arrival of the vessels in New Zealand, finally declared rates being marked*:— Aorangi, Canada, dollars 4.22 Monterey, U.S.A.. dollars 3.(!!>1 Ashhurton, U.S.A., dollars 3.<i(i Wnikawa, U.S.A., dollars 3.07$ Waikawa, Canada, dollars 4.14 Armadale, U.S.A., dollars 3.68