Auckland Wool Firmer

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31866, 19 December 1968, Page 30

Auckland Wool Firmer

CA’ew Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 18. Prices for extra fine and fine crossbred at the Auckland wool sale today were firm on those at the recent Invercargill sale.

Coarse crossbred and second shear values firmed during the day to close almost on a par with the Invercargill rates, says the official report. The sale is a two-day fix

ture during which 48,797 bales of new season’s greasy wool will be offered. Full length ewe fleece comprised 35 per cent of this offering, second shear and early shorn 40 per cent, lambs wool 5 per cent, and the balance, oddments. Adverse weather during the growing and shearing periods was reflected in the offering. Full-length wools were inclined to oe tender, and water stain was prevalent. Many lines of second shear also were inclined to be webby and cotty. Problems Seen The larger offering of fulllength fleece revealed breeding faults not evident in the shorter second shear, and this has created problems for buyers and for brokers. Faults found included mixed qualities in individual fleeces for example 50s fleece showing 44s at the tip and crossbreeding errors which produce a wide variation of qualities within any one clip. Prices paid for these wools are invariably the value of the lowest grade in any mixed offering. Keen competition within well defined price limits prevailed throughout the day. Continental houses were again the principal operators with support from Bradford

and from the United States. Japan was relatively' quiet. There were a few passings, but growers generally met the market. It is' unlikely that the sale will attract Wool Commission supplementary payments.