SYDNEY SHEEP SHOW

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 11

SYDNEY SHEEP SHOW

OPTIMISTIC SPEECHES VALUE OP WOOL TO AUSTRALIA VHITEU I'RESS ASSOCIATION — BY SLICTRIO TELEGRAPH—COI'YIIIGHT.) Received June 22, 9.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 22. The speeches at the sheep show today v/ere optimistic. The Premier (Mr B. S. B. Stevens) stated that the wool clip in the last 10 years in Australia had been valued at £677,000,000, thus -exceeding by £30,000,000 the value of all the gold ever won in the country. Wool contributed 60 per cent, cf the country's wealth. I The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Hugh Main, declared that this year's exhibition of sheep surpassed any previous exhibition, both in numbers - ond quality. Experts expressed the opinion that woolgrowers* troubles were over for good. Mr Main was applauded when he hinted that because of the Federal Government's improved financial position the land tax would probably be removed.. Senator Guthrie, the leading Corriedale breeder, predicted the progressive development of Corriedale breeding, probably displacing merinos on the coastal belt, where conditions were - more suitable for the former. He added that Corriedale wool commanded a better price in New Zealand than merino. The Awards A magnificent merino ram owned by the estate of the late F. E. Body, of Trangie, was to-day adjudged the grand champion of the show. A. T. Merriman. of Yass, was runner-up. Exhibits of Border Leicesters this year numbered four compared with two in previous years. There would have been five had W. O. Rennie not been held up by the shipping strike in New Zealand. The judge had great difficulty in making the awards because of the presence of splendid types of New Zealand and Australian sheep. Donald Grant found competition this year unusually severe. GENERAL MERCHANDISE GROCERIES Trade the week in the wholesale grocery trade has been steady, but next week should see considerable activity. There is nothing special to report at the moiuent on price movements, except an unexpected rise of 10s a ton in sugar. The hold-up of cargo vessels at San Francisco and other West Coast Pacific ports of America may before long cause shortages here in most Californian lines. Shippers have advised clients in New Zealand that they are experiencing considerable difficulty m getting goods away, and in some cases, after the cargo has been loaded, the ships have been unable to sail through : the strike. This strike in California recently assumed serious proportions,! and if it continues it will affect prices here of such lines as Californian raisins, prunes, asparagus, etc. Muscatels Prices have been received from Lon ~ don for new season's Malaga muscatels due for arrival here in December next. Prices are slightly lower than opening rates last year, but as the line is now subject to duty, the landed cost will come out a trifle dearer than last, Malaga muscatels always sell fairly well here, owing to their good quality, and fair business is expected again in the coming season. Tea Last week's tea auction of Ceylon teas, held in Colombo, brought forth spirited bidding. Quality generally ran parallel to the previous auction, but prices in several directions advanced one to two cents per lb. Prices averaged at this sale as follows: —Broken orange Pekoe, common 61 cents, medium 68 cents, fine 75 cents; broken Pekoe, common 60 cents, medium 65 cents, fine 71 cents; broken; teas, common 59 cents, medium GO cents. The Java tea market was reported last week as very firm, with a slight increase in several grades. Singapore The prices for sago and tapioca in Singapore still continue to weaken, and further drops of from 7s 6d to 10s a ton are noted again this week. Buyers are still shy of operating, and it Is this that has caused the market to drop several times since a substantial advance in prices was named last month. There seems no doubt that the prices ruling for sago and tapioca before the recent heavy advance were fair standard value rates, and the attempt to advance them suddenly has brought about the natural decline in buying orders. This latter movement will continue until values get back again to a fair standard. It is reported that nothing has happened in the Straits Settlements to cause any big advance in sago and tapioca values, and the recent high prices appear to be a combined attempt by sellers to lift prices without cause on buyers. Jain One factory at least packing bulk sam in 501b tins has issued a new price list for this size pack, showing a «d lb reduction. This at the moment is the only jam price alteration. I I Sujrar Syrup Advanced An advance is reported as from yesterday of 10s a ton on all grades of i raw and refined sugar, as well as treacle and golden syrup. This rise !s too small to affect the retail price Per lb, but as far as bag lots go it means an increase of 4d a bag. Tablet sugar is unaltered, and re'nains as before. Jordan Almonds Reports by recent mail state that crop reports concerning Jordan almonds are likely to be unreliable. Some places certainly have suffered through weather, and consequently the crops were badly damaged, but against this other areas report an expected bumper crop. Prices have eased slightly since opening rates were issued, and fair business has been done tor September dispatch. Canary Seed Argentine canary seed shows a slight ?ise of 30s a ton, but this movement is hot of much interest, as it is believed to be only a fluctuation as between different shippers. There is a fair amount of canary ?«ed imported into New Zealand, and jt seems worth while for North Auckland farmers to try for results with an experimental plot, planted with good Argentine or Queensland seed. This 'line may prove itself to be one which fe can be grown in certain parts of New Zsttland*