IMPROVEMENT MAINTAINED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 26

IMPROVEMENT MAINTAINED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, July 5,

I The improved prices of last week were well maintained, with an occasional hardening. of prices, at the iXddington stock sale held today. The , better tone evident in' the store sheep market during the last few sales continued, and the demand, particularly for wethers, was the best for some time. A truck lot of four, six, and eight-tooth half bred ewes made 16s 4d; and a small lot of five-year three-quarter-bred ewes made 13s 3d. A small line of two-tooth wethers made 13s 6d. The best lambs in a small fatlamb section sold at 7d to 7£d a lh. Light lambs had a dull sale, with little change in values. About 5500 fat sheep were again entered. The sale began firmly, wethers showing an advance of Is and upward. In the latter part of the sale prices had advanced fully 2s. Better-class ewes also. sold a little better. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 39s Id, prime -heavy 27s to 365, prime medium 24s to 265, light to 19s; extra prime heavy ewes to 27s lOd, prime heavy 22s to 245, prime medium 17s to 21s, light to 13s. The fat cattle sale was the best of the season for prime quality animals. Several pens of good cows and heifers also made higher prices than for some time, though medium cattle showed little change on those of last week. Extra prime heavy steers made to £18 7s 6d, prime heavy £14 15s to £16 ss, prime medium £13 to £14 10s, light to £10; extra prime heifers to £12 17s 6d. prime £10 10s to £11 10s, medium £8 to £9 15s, light to £7 ss; extra prime cows to £13 7s 6d, prime £8 10s to £10 ss, medium £6 10s to £7 15s, light to,£6 ss. Though there was a larger entry of porkers the sale was good, prices from the outset being a shade dearer than those of last week. The better values were maintained till the last race, when there was a relapse of 3s to 4s a head. Choppers were in medium supply, and the sale was satisfactory. Baconers were, forward in smaller numbers, prices showing little change. Porkers made 37s 6d to 59s 6d, an average price a lb of'6|d to 7^d; and baconers made. 59s 6d to £5 ss, an average price a lb of 6|d to 7d.