AUCKLAND WOOL SALE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25305, 3 October 1947, Page 8

AUCKLAND WOOL SALE

CRUTCHINGS FIRM ON LATE VALUES

KEEN BENCH OF BUYERS “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, October 2. With crutchings selling at prices fully firm on values realised at the Wanganui sale on Monday, and with fleeces, mainly stock wool, receiving higher bids, the first Auckland wool sale of the 1947-48 season was a good augury. There was a keen bench of 34 buyers,'"all of whom were active.

The offering was of 6653 bales of new season’s fleece and crutchings, and oddments, and £175 bales of greasy wool, on account of the New Zealand Wool Disposal Commission. British, French, Swiss, Australian and New Zealand buyers were on the bench, but, as many were working for varied interests, it is impossible to judge which countries were the keenest competitors, until shipping orders are given. One buyer, who normally represents Continental. American, and Australian interests, dominated the sale, buying 8000 bales. This proportion was not as great as his buying at the Wanganui sale. Very few lots were passed in to th® Wool Disposal Commission. It was the first sale at which brokers were not informed of the reserve prices fixed by the Commission's appraisers. When bidding failed tp leach the secret reserve, the Joint Organisation bid for the wool. Many of the lots passed in may yet be sold, as buyers have the option of taking rhe wool at the appraiser’s reserve within 48 hours of the sale. Crutchings, hogget and wether wool of good quality, were in demand. Local mills took only a small percentage of the offering, but two buyers Keenly sought carpet wools. They met with competition from buyers ior America, who were looking for crutchings which can be imported into the United States at a low duty. Buyers for the Continent, particularly France, bid well for finer shorter wools which realised good prices. No slices or scoured wools were offered arid there was not much lambs’ wool. New season's fleece was received well. A third of the new-wool offering came in during the last, seven days. Top price for the sale was 323 d for a bale of Southdown crossbred nogget wcol. Anotlier higte price was 30Jd for four bales of crossbred hogget wool from the Waikato. Crutchings realised vp. to 22d. The only lambs’ wool offered were oddments from last season, but prices went up to 21d. Fleece wool, most of which was offered by the Joint Organisation, made from 17Jd to 231 d. The oldest wool offered by the Joint Organisation was part of the 1943-44 clip. The sale lasted more than four hours and there was only one brief interval. There were few spectators. Bidding was spirited and energetic. The official range of prices was as follows: Crossbred— d. d. Good to super .. .. 19 to 22 Average .. .. 15 to 18 Inferior and seedy .. 7 to 131