WELLINGTON AUCTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 13, 17 January 1922, Page 8

WELLINGTON AUCTIONS

SOME INFERENCES FROM THE SALES

'After all, an excellent clearance was effected at the January Wellington sales yesterday. i. Reference was made in The Post last evening to the sales so far as they had reached at the time of writing. They lasted well into the day. The activity of business'and^keenness1 of competition noted at the opening were sustained. Fully 90 per cent, of the catalogues were cleared at prices which in view of market uncertainty were satisfactory. How prices compared with last December sales in Wellington may be seen in ♦he official table hereunder. December prices are givenl in for. purpose of economy in space :—•

.'Following is the range "of prices:— Merino, 64/70, 60/64—Super (17ijd to 19id), 17id to 17jd; average (l'ld to 16id), 15±d to 164 d; inferior. (10id to Hid), 13id to 14* d; average nil. Medium halfbred, 50/56, 50—Super (12id to 13Jd), 12* d to 13|d; average (Bsd -to lid), 9±d to Hid; inferior (nil), 7±d to Bid. Coarser halfbred, • 48/50-^-Average (7d to Bid), 9id to lid; inferior- (5d to 6d), 6d to 8d;. Corriedale—Super (nil), lid to, 12d; average,, (nil), Bid.tO:loJd; inferior,, (nil); to- Bd. .:Fine:.crossbr«d, 46/48—Super (7id to 9d), Bid to IOJd ; average (6d to 7W), 7d to B£d; inferior (4id to sd), 4Jd to 6d, Medium crossbred, 44/46—Super (6id to' Bid), 8d to 10id; average, (4jd to 6id), sid to 7-id; inferior (3}d to 4|d),'4d to sid. coarse crossbred, 40/44—Super (sid to 6j'd) s|d to 7d; average (4id to s}d), 44' dto 6id.; inferior (3id to 4id), 3|d to sd. Low crossbred, 36/40-: -Super 4d to sd), 4id to sid; average (3Jd to 4id), 4d to 5d ;■ inferior (3d to 4Jd), 3d to 4±d ; Hoggets—Fine, 46/48.(6 dto BJd), 8d to IOJd,- medium, 44/46 (5d to 7i.dJ, 6d to 9d; coarse, 40/44 (4d to sdl, 4d to" 5Jd; low, 36/40 (3d to 3|d),4d to sd':"Lambs, fine 44/50"(7d to Bid), 7d to H>id; medium, 40/44,(5d to 6Jd), sid-to- 7id; seedy, and inferior, all grades (Id to lid), Id to 3d. Bellies and piecesmerino; good to super (9d- to Hid), 8d to 9Jd; merino, low to medium (6id to 7d), 6d to 6idj halfbred, good to super (6id.to,7id), 6id to . Bd.; halfbred, low to medium (3id to 4id), 3jd to sid; crossbred good to. super (34d to; sid), 3id to sd; crossbred low to medium (Id to • 24d), 2d,to 3d. ■ Crutchings—Medium to good (2id to 3id), 3d to 3jd; inferior /and seedy (Id to lid), Id to 2d. Locks : (2d to 3d), 2d to.3d. , Market report opinion :—(1), Condition, good average; (2) selection, medium to good; (3) bidding, animated. The sale fully demonstrated the value to both growers and buyers, of Wellington as a selling centre. If there was any doubt as to the advantage of Wellington to the former, and as to the convenience .of the buyer, it was set at rest by yesterday's sale. , ■ All really good and wellskirted clips were in full demand, but there was no particular market for seedy, shabby, and badly-got-up lines. ■ Prices were » decided improvement on last December sales taken all round, and were a reflection of London, in fact a shade better, but, although there was a return of the old-time interest and briskness at the, sale, the prices realised do not, by any means, put th© woolgrower back into the position he occupied before the Imperial Government purchase,- and, besides the cost of growing and producing wool, .taking everything into account—not.forgetting land values —is greater than it was in 1914. Growers who did not hobble their brokers with reserves that the present market would not justify, did well to sell. The return, after all expenses and outgoings, are met, may not be superlatively renjuneratdye to them, but they Have the satisfaction of knowing that there was that much wool disposed of,, so many bales leas to form a menace, with holdings Yon Imperial Government and. Other accounts' to the prospects of a good quittance and a clearer field for wool growers next season. i Of the" selection'and character of the wool brokers' own reports give detailed! descriptions. American competition was a big factor, and no less was that of Bradford and the Continent. Strong support was also given by the New Zealand manufacturers and. feilmongers. Each section of the trade took what it required at strongly competitiv* prices. Undoubtedly the reduced shipping freights helped, the; growers Jto Hie "■fall extent of the lower rate*.-' Som»'-spec-tators, whose opinion carries weight, think that prices paid for wool were well over the advantage ,Jq growers' by the shipping; companies' lower carrying charges' on wool. In any case, the fall in the carrying rates was most acceptable.