Crossbred fleece gains again; halfbred to 165c

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32998, 18 August 1972, Page 2

Crossbred fleece gains again; halfbred to 165c

It was a good day for South Canterbury woolgrowers, when the first sale for the new season in the South Island was held at Timaru yesterday.

As was expected, the market for some wools showed a further lift on the good rates ruling at Auckland last week. But there was ample justification for this, as the wool was described as one of the best selections of crossbred offered at Timaru for some seasons.

Although the market showed a distinct movement in vendors’ favour, the very slow selling rate was at the best of times no faster than 250 lots an hour. However, the sustained competition was at last giving growers the sort of market they had hoped for.

Figures collated by one broker's staff showed that yesterday’s sale was the best since January, 1964. Yesterday’s returns were, in fact, slightly better. A comparison with last year’s corresponding sale gave even more impressive figures. With rises in the order of 50c a kilogram, the market had virtually doubled. Good style crossbred was

selling well if it reached the 65c to 70c range at last year’s sale, but yesterday any amount of fleece was fetching 120 c a kilogram or more. Third of way But it seemed too soon to begin making comparisons with the boom years of the early 19505. While the sale was, in odd cases, approaching the good markets of the late 19505, it was generally only one third of the distance towards the record prices of 1950-51. Yesterday’s sale acted as a drawcard for many growers. When the sale began, 30 persons were in the public gallery but by mid-morning this had risen to about 100, and quite a number watched from the foyer of the hall. About 80 per cent of the 11,308 bales of new season’s greasy wool comprised fleece, most of it crossbred. The market remained particularly strong over the first two catalogues. Crutchings steady Where a comparison could be made with Auckland wools last week, fleece wools and skirtings were as much as 6c a kilogram—or 5 per cent—stronger. The limited quantity of second-shear crossbred was put at 3c stronger, and crutchings were unchanged. Fleece wools appeared to shed 2c or so in the later part of the sale, but there was still a considerable amount changing hands in the 115 c to 120 c range. Top price The sale reached a high point with the offering of a line of 21 bales of halfbred wool from A. W. Hedley, of Waimate. The first lot of four bales, described as super extra fine, reached 165|c. Ten bales of super fine fetched 155ic, and the balance, described as super medium, I42jc. These prices remained well out on their own for the rest of the sale.

Apart rrom tnis specialty line, the best of the halfbred and Corriedale fleece ranged mainly from 128 c to 137 c, average from 118 c to 125 c, and plainer from 100 c to 115 c. The limited quantity of finewool pieces sold mainly from 100 c to 114 c, fine-wool necks to 124 c, and fine-wool bellies mainly from 90c to 100 c with odd sales to about 105 c. Fine-wool crutchings had a fairly modest sale—the best from 80c to 87c, averagestyle from 72c to 78c, and plainer crutchings from 65c to 70c. Margin paid Best crossbred fleece sold regularly at 123 c to 128 c, with a few top lots to 134 c, average from 116 c to 122 c, and plainer wools from 109 c to 115 c.

Crossbred pieces sold steadily at 95c to 105 c, with some sales to 109 c, and second pieces from 83c to 92c. Crossbred necks sold to 113 c, and bellies generally from 90c to 100 c with odd sales to 105 c.

Crossbred crutchings sold at quite a margin over finewool crutchings. The best price of the day here was llljc. Much of this class of wool sold from 90c to 98c, the plainer end of the offering ranging mainly from 76c to 86c. A dozen lots of Perendale wool sold from 113 c to 128Jc, a few lots of three-quarter-bred from 122 c to 130 c, and a handful of Merino to 135 c. The only one representative line of Merino offered was from a Mid-Canterbury plains vendor; it ranged from 124.50 c to 131 c. Merino crutchings sold from 65c to 75Jc. No support The four selling brokers at yesterday’s sale had an excellent clearance. Of the 1407 lots offered, including scoured, only three were passed. And for the Wool Commission staff, it was almost an

idle day: at no stage were any supporting bids needed. The official report said that the main competition came from the Continent, with some support from Australia and New Zealand carpet mills.

Leading Prices Mr Hedley’s top prices In the fine wool selection were never threatened. Other top prices of halfbred included three bales of super extra fine ewe wool from F. G Morrison (Westerfield), at 146 c, and another nine bales of super fine halfbred at 143 c.

Two bales of extra fine woolly hogget in the bins of Wright-son-NMA, Ltd. led the crossbred section at 134 c. W. J McCone (Waimate), had 10 bales of medium wool at 1321 c. another 10 of strong wool at 131Jc, and six bales of fine wool at 1281 c.

L. Newton (Geraldine), received 132 c for 21 bales, 1. R. Campbell (Cave), 131 c for 10 bales of two-tooth wool, and the same price for another 25 bales of ewe wool.

Growers to reach 130 c a kilogram included I. F. Dowling (St Andrews), with six bales, H. Lyon (Kakahu), with 12 bales, and C. D. Beattie (Bluecliffs), with 11 bales.

K. S. Mattrass (Geraldine) received 129jc for 28 bales while the same price went to E W Kerr (Cave) with 12 bales, and to W. J. Nelson (Geraldine) with five bales. Sales at 129 c were made by p. C. Gregan (Hunter), S. R. Garland (Maungati), A. R. Mansfield (Waimate), A. G. Davis !3 r ? J ?. a ? rung^> -- G - A - Crampton (Fairlie), and Mahoe Farm, Ltd (Cannington). R- Trotter (Fairlie) received 130 c for seven bales of fine three-quarterbred hogget. Details of catalogues in order of sale were:— Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd 2844 Dalgety N.Z.. Ltd . .. 2474 Wrightson-NMA, Ltd .. 3215 Canterbury Farmers’ Cooperative Association 2775 Total 11,308 In addition, there were 80 bales of scoured wool, the best of which reached 139 c.