WOOL MARKET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 97, 7 April 1934, Page 9

WOOL MARKET

UNEXPECTED DEMAND Good Christchurch Sale SLIGHT RISE IN PRICE By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 5. The fourth and final wool sale of the Christchurch season was held this afternoon. Owing to the free disposal of preceding sales, there was a verysmall catalogue of 4262 bales, and the selection was a poor one, comprising mostly back-country, West Coast and held-over wools, which were mainly shabby and heavy in condition. Competition was unexpectedly keen, especially from the Continent, which lifted most of the tine-quality fleece and pieces. Bradford buyers were comparatuvely quiet, confining their attention to lower-grade top-making wools. The clearance was approximate ly 95 per cent. Fleece wools of 48 count and over were better than at the March sale by a farthing to a penny per lb. Fine pieces showed a slightly better appreciation, most averaging from a halfpenny to a full penny more. This estimate makes allowance for the difference in quality at the two sales. Crossbred showed little if any difference, but was up to rates ruling recently at other centres.

The offering was of an unattractive character, representing a “clean up” of the season's wool. Pieces formed the major proportion and crossbred lots were also more numerus. A few clips of good average Corriedale and halfbred were forward, but most of the wool was heavier in condition and car ried more dust than the wool offered at earlier sales.

There was practically a full bench of buyers, all European buying pointe being represented in addition to local mills and fellmongers, the latter of whom competed actively. .

The sale was a pleasant surprise for vendors. The market for all classes of fine pieces and fleece was better than at the sale on March 2. French and Bradford competition was keen throughout, the former for fine pieces and Bradford for all classes of fleece. There was very little wool offered suitable for the German trade, but some of the high-priced lots were secured for Germany. The comparative absence of high-class fleece wools restricted competition from local mills, but fellmongers secured a much heavier proportion of pieces than usual. Considering the quality of the catalogue,' the sale was an excellent one. The top price of the sale wag 20fd for three bales of halfbred. Fifteen bales of halfbred made 20d and seven bwres of halfbred sold at 19Jd. The best Corriedale figure was 20d for five bales. The next Coraiedale price was 19Jd for 15 bales. The best merino price was 19fd for 17 bales. Ewe fine pieces made up to 17Jd and five bales of half bred necks also sold at 17Jd. Following is the range of prices;—

d ■ d Merino, 60/64 — Super 18 to 194 Average 15| to 174 Inferior 12 to 15 Corriedale — Super 18J to 20 Average 16i to 18 Inferior 134 to 154 Cine halfbred, 56/58 — Super isa to 204 Average ... 164 to 184 Inferior 14 to 16 Medium halfbred, 50/56 — Super 164 to 174 ■ Average 14| to 164 Inferior 12| to 14 Extra line crossbred, 48/50 — Average 10 to 124 Inferior 8 to 94 Fine crossbred, 46/48— Super 84 to 94 Average 74 to 84 Inferior 52 to 7 Medium crossbred, 44/46— Average 64 to 74 Inferior 44 to 6 Bellies — Halfbred, good 13 to 134 Half bred, low to med. 104 to 124 Pieces — Halfbred, good loi to 174 Halfbred, low to med. 11 to 15 Bellies and pieces— Crossbred, good 8 to 94 Crossbred, low to med. 44 to 74 Cru tchings— Half bred, med. to good 74 to 104 Halfbred, in. and seedy 54 to 7 Crossbred, med to good 54 to 84 Crossbred, inf. and seedy 3 to 5 Locks— Merino 74 to Halfbred 64 to 84 Crossbred 4 to 6