AUCKLAND WOOL SALE

Evening Star, Issue 21619, 15 January 1934, Page 6

AUCKLAND WOOL SALE

BIG PROPORTION FROM SMALL FARMS 1 UNGLASSED OR FAULTILY GLASSED GOOD PRICES NEVERTHELESS MAINTAINED [Per United Peess Association.] AUCKLAND, January 15. The second Auckland wool sale of the season opened to-day in the Town Hall, where 25,000 bales were offered. The quality was described by the buyers as not nearly so good as that of the wool offered at Auckland’s prior sale, nor as good as the wool of similar class offered at the _ recent Wellington sale. The chief criticism was of faulty classing. A large proportion of the.offering came from small farms, and_ was submitted unclassed. In addition, the clip as whole is heavier in yoke than in November. The sale appears to he proceeding along much the same lines as at Wellington, although less sensationally, and the brokers who submitted the first catalogue were well pleased with their clearance, only about twelve lots being passed. Amongst the top prices in the first catalogue were Southdown, 23Jd; Corriedale, 24d; fine cross-bred hogget, 20|d. 30 PER CENT. RISE ON FIRST SALE. ■ At noon it was estimated that, compared with the first sale of the season, prices are 25 to 3 Oper cent, higher, and they are three times as high as at this time last year. A leading broker said that the most notable feature to-day was the wonderful demand for coarser and rather rough to, average type of wools. These were virtually unsaleable a year ago, but to-day met with keen and widespread demand at good payable prices. It was noticed also to-day that holdover wools sold satisfactorily. For example, the following prices were realised for a clip several years old:—Fin© crossbred, 15Jd; medium half-bred, 13Jd; coarse cross-bred, 12d; medium B crossbred, 13d; coarse B cross-bred, lOd; medium hogget, 15d; first pieces, lOd; bellies, 9d; first lambs, 16Jd; second lambs, lo§d. “ There is no such thing as old wool when wool is really wanted,” commented one broker.

Amongst- outstanding clips sold was ono of Corriedale and half-breds. Thirteen bales of the former realised 24d, twelve bales of half-bred brought 23d, while bellies and pieces realised 16Jd, It was stated at the luncheon adjournment that the _ buying had been exceptionally well distributed, and in that respect the sale was better than Wellington’s. DELIGHTED GROWERS. Auckland wool growers chuckled with delight to-day as the keen, bidding of excited buyers indicated that for them the depression has been left behind. The imposing bench of sixty buyers was faced by the auctioneer of the first catalogue, who started at 8 o’clock. The first lot offered was seven bales of cross-bred ewe fleece, which a year ago might have brought 4d. To-day it sold for Hid. The sale proceeded just as well as this promising beginning had indicated, and prices rose to levels quite .as high as had been hoped for, although no records were created. In one instance the auctioneer was kept waiting for a starting bid for a line of half-bred bellies and pieces. A start was made at lOd, but - competition ran the price up to 15id. . Presently some good-sized lots of attractive wools were offered, and the bidding became frantic. Such interludes, however, were exceptional. The class of wool offered to-day did not attract such a wide range of buyers as was the case at Wellington. Germany and France were especially prominent, and Japan was in the market for fine wools. The local mills were again competitors for the finest clips. But when the final shipping instructions are received, it will probably be found, as usual, that the biggest proportion will go to Bradford. The opening sale of the season returned the growers £329,694. To-day’s sale may yield over £400,000, so that, with the third sale still to come, the season’s cheque should come fairly close to the total of a boom year.