CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALE

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 9

CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALE

SUPER SORTS DOWN B MEDIUMS FIRM AT JANUARY RATES [Per United Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, February 25. The third wool sale of the Christchurch scries was held to-day. The * catalogue totalled 24,491 bales, of which about 22,000 bales were sold at auction. There was a full bench of buyers, and tho bulk of the wool was taken by Bradford and the Continent. Japan bought sparingly. Super, wools were down fully Id on the January rate, and shabby wools, particularly cross-breds, were also in weaker demand. All medium and serviceable wools sold at January rates. The slightly weaker demand for high quality wools was doubtless duo to the lessened activity of buyers for tho local millers, who are understood to have almost fulfilled requirements. The catalogue was not up to the standard of the January auction. A substantial proportion represented back country dips, heavy in condition and lacking in the brightness of the wools forwarded at earlier sales. The sale, though erratic, was satisfactory, considering the recent trend of the market. Passings were about 9 per cent, of the offering. .The following is the range of prices:— • MerinoSuper., BJd to 9£d. Medium, GJd to Bd, ; Inferior, 5d to 6Jd. Corriedale— Extra super., to Hid. Super., 94d to 10id. Medium, 8d to 9d. Inferior, sid .to 7id. Fine half-bred—-Extra super., Hid. , Super., Did to 10id. Medium, BJd to 9d. Inferior, 6d to 7id. Medium half-bred— Super., 83d to 9|d. > Medium, 7id to BJd.: Inferior; 5d to 7d. Coarse half-bred— Super., 7jd to Bid. Medium, 6d to 7d. Inferior, 4id to s|d.j Fine cross-bred— Super, 6d to 7id. Medium, 44d to s|d. Inferior, 3|d to 4d. Medium cross-bred—■ Super, 4|d to sid. Medium, 3id to 4Jd. Inferior, 2Jd to 34d. . Pieces— Good, 6|d to 9|d. Inferior, 23d to Gd. Bellies— Good, 43d to 6|d. Inferior, 2Jd to 4Jd, Crutchings— Medium to good, 2d to 4d. : Inferior, Id to lid. Locks— Best, 13d to 2|d. Inferior to medium, Id to lid.

SATISFACTORY OH THE WHOLE WOOL ADVERTISING SUGGESTED [Special to the ‘Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, February 26. The ‘ Press,’ in an editorial, says: The most satisfactory feature of the wool sale yesterday was the fact that 22,000 bales were sold out of the 24,000 offered. It can be said, also, that bidding was brisk up to a point, and that the slight drop on the highest and lowest grades will not greatly affect the gross return. Canterbury’s best wool, with some exceptions, was sold in January, and although the local mills secured most of their requirements then, the bidding for ordinary serviceable grades was as good yesterday as at any sale this season. There was no indication in any direction of a slackening in the demand for wool, though it was interesting to note how far the actual prices realised depend on the demand at our own mill doors. There is, of course, a further question, so far as world demand is concerned, whether the grower himself, with the aid of the manufacturer, could already have influenced the market by more active publicity measures. The wool advertising campaign failed, or was suspended, not because it was useless or hopeless, but because the depression made the farmers think they could not hfford to pay for it. The truth rather is that they cannot afford not to pay for it; and now that the last important sale of the season is over they might do worse than attempt to revive it.