WELLINGTON WOOL SALE.

Kaikoura Star, Volume LI, Issue 99, 10 December 1931, Page 2

WELLINGTON WOOL SALE.

FINE GRADES IN DEMAND. WELLINGTON, December 8. Of the first Wellington wool sale of the season, held to-day, it must be said that it was a disappointment to those who had expected anything better in the way of prices or clearances than was the case at Auckland or Napier. A total of 23,270 bales had been catalogued, but heavy eleventh hour withdrawals reduced the offering to approximately 21,200 bales, of which it is estimated that 13000 odd were sold. There was a full bench of buyers, representative of all sections of the trade, and a large gallery of onlookers, including many’ fanners, who were frankly disappointed with the sale. Until the sale was fully one-third though bidding was spasmodic and passings monotonously frequent. It was very noticeable that the liner wools were well sought after, with keen bidding especially from the Continent, America, and local mills, but inferior sorts and shabby and discoloured held over wools were neglected. Later the sale improved visibly, competition being well spread. Bradford took most of the coarser wools sold, while France and Germany were keen buyers of pieces and crutchings. Fine wools were in short supply, and the keen competition of local mills and probably Australia helped the market considerably in these lines. It was noted that buyers were working on very rigid limits and were very discriminating in their purchases, old wools being consistently rejected in favour .of new and brighter sorts. During the latter part of the sale there was a slightly better tone, with fewer passings. Interviewed after the sale, Mr A. E. Alabin, chairman of the New Zealand Woolbrokers’ Association said that in view of what had happened at Auckland and Napier to-day’s sale was better than had been expected by the trade. A good quantity of halfbred had been offered, and it. was apparent that Dominion mills had been on short supplies, for in strong competition with Yorkshire, French, and German buyers they had pushed prices up above last December’s Wellington rates to the extent of Iji.l to 2Jd a lb. A considerable amount bad been sold at from 7d to 94d. Unfortunately there was a very small supply of super crossbreds, and these were taken keenly by America and Japan, and possibly also by Australia. They sold at full rates something like 3d to Id better than a year ago. Hogget wools wore in strong de. maud, best sorts being Id better and lower counts £d to -Id better than last December’s rates. Bellies, pieces, and crutchings were bought by France and Germany at comparatively good prices. What little merino was offered was •snapped up by the Dominion mills at an average of 9Ad.

Regarding old wools, Air Alabin remarked that some showed no depreciation in quality and sold at rates almost equal to those obtained for new clips. Other lots, however, looked very unattractive, and buyers naturally were not taking them at anything like the rates for new wools, and they sold at a depreciation of Id to 14d, and sometimes more. The sooner old wools were disposed nf the sooner would crossbreds come into their own again. There might be now, roughly, 100,000 odd bales of old wool still in New Zealand. The range of prices was as follows: Alerino, 64_70, 60_64: Average 74d to 9Ad; inferior, 6d to 7d. Corriedalc: Average 7£d to 8:]d; inferior, 4Jd to 63d. Fine halfbred, 56-58: Average 8d to 9jd; inferior 6d to 7Ad. Medium, half bred, 50.56: Average 7d to BAd; inferior 4Ad to 6Ad. Extra line crossbred, 48-50: Super GJd to 7Ad; average, s]d to 6Ad; inferior 33d to sd. " Fine crossbred, 46-48: Super Gid to7d; average, s|d to Gd; inferior, 3d to 43d. Alodium crossbred, 44-46: Super Gd to 6Ad; average 43d to 5Ad; inferior,’ 23d to 4id. Coarse crossbred, 40-44: Super s£d to Gd; average, . 4d to sd; inferior 2d to 3 |d. Low crossbred, 36-40: Average, 4d to sd; inferior, 2d to 3|d. Hoggets: 48-50, sfd to 83d; fine 46-48, 4{d to 71d; medium 44.46, 3Ad to 54-d; coarse, 40.44, 34d to sd. Lambs: Bellies and piece?—halfbred, good to super, 5d to Gjd; halfbred, low to medium, 3d to 4£d; crossbred, good to super, 4d to 54d; crossbred, low to medium, 2d to 33d. Crutchings: Alodium to good, 3?d to 4 3dLocks: Crossbred, Id to 2d. CHRISTCHURCH SALE. - FRIDAY’S OFFERING. The first sale of this season’s Christchurch series will be held in the Caledonian Hall on Friday, commencing at 2 p.m. The catalogue will comprise slightly over 21,000 bales, the alloca tion for the sale having been 25,000 bales.