THE WOOL YEAR.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19733, 25 September 1929, Page 13

THE WOOL YEAR.

DALGETY AND CO.'S REVIEW. Dalgety and Co.'s annual Wool Review for Australasia is to hand. A summary of the principal features was published some time ago, but other observations provide a general interest. The Canterbury Clip. Discussing the Canterbury clip last season, the Review states, though not quite up to expectations, it was on the whole, a good one. The average quality ranged from 44's to 58's, with a big preponderance of halfbred wools from SO's to 56's. Merinos were in short supply and less than five per cent, of the total Bold was of this class, though some fairly large Merino clips were not offered owing to lack of demand at the later sales. Feed was abundant in: most districts right through the winter, owing to excellent turnip crops and exceptionally mild weather conditions. Hoggets did not do well in the autumn in some localities, and there was a * considerable mortality from scour. Ewe flocks were in good condition in the early spring, and the clip promised to be an exceptional one. A long spell of wet weather during shearing time, however, caused a good deal of discolouration and cottiness, and there was also a fair amount of tenderness and dry yoke in many of the clips. Most of the flocks cut considerably heavier than the previous season, which was an exceptionally light clip. The average weight per bale showed an increase of 61b, while the offering increased by over 4000 bales. Tick-stained wools were very little in evidence, and there was not much trouble with seed in spite of the comparatively. late shearing. There were a few North Canterbury clips affected with the trefoil burr, but this weed only affects a small area. Most of the seedy wool sold in this centre comes from the West Coast and Kaikoura, where the biddy-bid ripens before shearing can be completed. The back country wools opened up fairly well, and were fully up to the average. Total sales and average values for Cbristchurch for the past five years are as under:—

The average weights per bale for the past four years are as under: —1925-6, 318.81b; 1926-7, 327.01b; 1927-8, 314.11b; 1928-9, 320.11b. The average price per lb over the seasoil at the Timarn sales was 15.5, and the average price per bale was £2l 10s 9<L New Zealand Becord Prices. The record prices obtained for wool on the New Zealand market last year were as follows: —

Bales. Average a lb id. 1924-5 .. 65,416 22.42 1925-6 .. 72,891 13.50 1926-7 .. 75,489 14.35 1927-8 .. 73,491 18.67 1928-9 .. 77,989 16.16

Bales. Price. Merino fleece (brand FI) 6 26$ Merino pieces (Leslie 20 i Hills) 18 Merino bellies (Leslie Hills) 5 1H Pine halfbred fleeee (Erookdale) 23 26 (Rydal Downs) .. 11 26 (Wiwaka) .. 5 22i Medium halfbred fleece (Fighting. Hill). 6 22f (TC/Strathclyde) 5 22% Coarse halfbred fleece (Belmont) 6 22* Halfbred pieces (Bullock22 bill) 6 Halfbred bellies (Bakahuri) .. 5 18* Fine crossbred fleece (To22 ropnke/heart) 7 Med. crossbred fleece (Newlands) 5 21i Coarse crossbred fleece (Rakaiatai HH) 41 lSi Low crossbred fleece (Bakaiatai HH) 24 m Crossbred pieces (BB) 5 21 Crossbred bellies (B) 6 15 (KC) 4 Southdown lambs (ASC/ 22* The Ngaios) 4 Crossbred lambs (Morland/spade) 10 23J