WOOL VALUES UP

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 72, 18 December 1937, Page 10

WOOL VALUES UP

Timaru Sale Best This

Season GOOD CLEARANCE Keen Competition From Continent By Telegraph—Press Association. Timaru, December 17. At the first wool sale in Timaru for the current season 14,634 bales were catalogued, compared with Ii.SSI bales at the corresponding sale last year. The original allocation for the sale was 20.000 bales, but it was not filled as numbers of growers withheld . their clips in anticipation of better prices at the later sales. The opinion of buyers was that the sale was the best held up to the pi esent. Compared with Christchurch values were a full 4d. in advance for halfbreds and Jd. to Sd. for crossbreds. The wool was in heavier condition than last year and contained a fair percentage of dust, but on the whole it was sound, but not quite as well grown as in previous seasons. Experts considered that the quality was at least a half quality finer than in previous years because of the climatic conditions. As at the previous sales the Continental section dominated the market but Bradford picked up a fair quantity of suitable lots. Japan and America were out of the market. There was a small selection of merino, the better lots of which were purchased by New Zealand mills, which were also active for the best halfbreds. Bellies and pieces were keenly competed for by Continental buyers, and on a clean scoured basis were relatively dearer than fleece wool. Expectations Exceeded.

The official report of the South Canterbury Wool Brokers’ Association states that a feature of the sale was the keen competition from local mills and Continental buyers. Values generally exceeded most sanguine expectations, and, as a result, passings were pratically negligible, an almost complete clearance being effected. The offering of hogget wool was of better quality than usual, better feed conditions during last winter being reflected in the soundness of the wool. Range of Prices. The official range of prices is:— (1 d.

FIRST DUNEDIN SALE

Allocation Not Filled

FARMERS HOLDING WOOL Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, December 17. The first Dunedin wool sale of the 1937-38 season will be held on Tuesdqay, when an offering estimated to be under 25,000 bales will be auctioned. The allocation was 28,000 bales, but Otago farmers are apparently not prepared to meet the market at the values which have ruled up to the present. Otago’s wools are of a superior type, the best on offer in the Dominion, and a good sale is fully anticipated. Tlie sheep came through a severe winter into a mild spring and the wool is in lighter condition than usual. Although feed has not been as prolific this season the wool shows no indications of starving of sheep, which have shorn from 11b. to IMb. lighten The wool is discribed as being well grown and of excellent quality, likely to please buyers. Catalogues contain an unusually big proportion of halfbred wools, this being accounted for by some of the back country stations having shorn earlier than usual. Halfbred wools should command attention. A spell of excellent weather has allowed shearing to proceed without interruption, and the allocation for the first sale could have been more than fißed had ruling prices appealed more to farmers.

Merino — to 17 A to 142 Super Medium ... 131 Fine halfbred — Extra super ... 16 to 182 to 17J ... 14} to 152 .. 121 to 13 Medium half bred— Super ... 144 ... 13 to.151 to 13} Three-quarter-bred— ■ 1 — to 14 Average ■ ... 11* to 12} Medium crossbred — Super Average ... lOi to 124 to 114 Strong crossbred 11 to 12} Hogget merino— Super ... It to 172 to 152 Halfbred — to 172 ... 15 to Kit ... 13 to Hi Throe-quarter-bred— Super .. 12 to 142 to 134 ... 11 to 12 Crossbred — ■ Average ... 11 to 12 ... It to 15} ... 14 to 154 Three-quarter-bred .. 12 to 13 Pieces — ... 12$ to 144 Halfbred ... 114 to 14 Three-quarter-bred .. 9S to 11} Crossbred ... 8J to 10 Bellies-— io to 11* Halfbred ... lot to 12 Three-quarter-brcd .. 9 to 10} Crossbred 8 to Crutchings— Merino .. 82 .. 8* to 104 Three-quarter-bred to pt Crossbred to 102 Locks —; .. 7 to 7} .. G to 7 Three-quarter-bred & crossbred .... to 6*