HIGHEST SINCE 1923

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22240, 28 January 1947, Page 4

HIGHEST SINCE 1923

4l|d FOR_MERINO CHRISTCHURCH SALE SATISFACTORY PRICES (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 28. The prices for extra super fine wools were fully up to the December rates at .the second main Christchurch wool sale yesterday, but coarser half-breds, threequarterbreds, crossbreds and ail hoggets -were lower. Some of the plainer coarse wools were down IJd. The catalogue totalled 34,458 bales, among the largest ever offered in Christchurch. The total was built up by the inclusion of a large quantity of northern Marlborough wool not usuallysold here.

The pre-war standard of extra super fine half-breds was not maintained at this sale, partly because all the wool was lower in quality following the bad weather in the spring and early summer and partly because of the larger admixture or Romney blood to meet the wartime demand for heavier lambs. The catalogue, nevertheless was an attractive offering. Bidding at all times was slow and, in fact, became slacker over the final catalogue of 8000 bales and prices all round showed an easing. The sale of new wool concluded at 11 p.m., leaving 1400 bales of stock wool to sell. The opening was firm for everything except hoggets, but late in the morning the basis of values was against coarser wools by as much as At that level prices were maintained to the end. , ~ _ . Though not as high as at thei first sale, the prices were very satisfatcory and were a substantial advance on the commandeer prices.

Continent Bidding Strongly

Bidding from the Continent was strongly maintained on all classes and a large part of the catalogue was bought for this point. Bradford buyers were fairly quiet, but were bidding steadily up to their limits on types to suit them. The local mills again took a large share of the extra super fine W There was some buying of specialities, the Joint Organisation being left with fewer than 50 bales. The top price was 41 id for a top lot of Marlborough Merino, of which several choice clips were offered. Halfbreds made to 36Jd, and Corriedales The top price is believed to be the highest at a New Zealand auction since 1923-24 and possibly the highest ever obtained for Merino. Of the total offering 1423 bales were of stock scoured wool. Extra super half-breds, Corriedales, made 34d. to 37d: good to super, 29d. to 34d.; average to good, 25d. to 283 d.; and low a 201 d. to 24Jd.