LONDON WOOL SALES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 55, 10 March 1910, Page 6

LONDON WOOL SALES.

VALUES WELL MAINTAINED.

FrnOM OUR COBIUSSPONDENT.iI ' LONDON, Jan. 28. The sales generally are proceeding an a very encouraging way, the past week's business being characterised with ©very good feature that could be desired. There continues to be a big contingent of buyers present m Coleman Street, and on the whole trade of a most encouraging nature can be chronicled. The selection has been a very good one, each day s catalogues containing some splendid clips both of a merino and crossbred duality. When we point out that up to Is 7id has been paid for greasy crossbred, 2s 9d for Shaw scoureds, and 'is o*d for Langx Wilh warm water washed lambs, it shows distinctly that buyers are still prepared -to pay long figures for tip-top, parcels of wool. Of course, such prices are the exception and not the rule. When we come down to the rank and iue clips of greasy merino and crossbred combing we see even here some very encouraging prices being paid. A large number of the merino clips catalogued are selling from 12d xo 14d while America is .a ready buyer of 48's to 56's quality wool from Is to Is 3d. Even these figures cannot but satisfy growers, for they mast leave behind handsome profits for their year's work. The writer lias now attended London sales for over 20 years, and in all that time we do not remember a period when Australasia, turned out better wools than are to be seen this season. Here and there one meets with a tender-stapled clip, but that is only occasionally. [When sheep are depastured upon full pastures, they seldom fail to respond in turning off a good fleece, and fewer complaints- a-re being heard today about the quality and character of Australasian. wools than we have ever known. Some buyers say the wools are extra burry, but the cause is not far to seek. At the same time, while vegetable matter is an objectionable element, yet consumers can deal with that far more effectively -than a poorly-grown, tender, mushy clip of wopl. The sales throughout the week have been well attended, competition has ruled keen, .and prices t are [still very steady. ■ ' , . : COMPARISON OF PRICES. One cannot help but notice the little change there is in the course of merinos, these wools, while selling remarkably well, only realising just about the same prices that were current last series. What else could be expected? It is generally agreed that wool prio9S are extraordinarily high, and even the most confirmed "buil" is at last recognising that the raw material is costing quite enough money. Be low we show what leading clips sold for last series and what they hove made this series, the figures illustrating the even tenor of merinos:—

S.WILSON Qy-ER YANKO (N.S.W

WOOL.) Dec. Jan. series series

1909 1910

d. d. Grease super combing E 13? 13$ Grease Ist combing E ... 124 12 Grease 2nd combing E ... 11 114 Grease B combing E ... 104 114 Grease Ist clothing E ... 11 104 Grease 2nd clothing E ... 10 104 Grease broken E 104 104 Grease- necks B 9 11 Grease pieces 9 9 ROOK WOOD (QU. WOOL.) Grease Ist combing ... 11 114 Grease Ist combing 9J 10-9 - Greaso necks 94 94 Grease necks ... ... ... 104 10 Crossbreds are still selling uncommonly well, and making easily opening prices. The home trade is givingsplendid support to every quality, while America is a ready buyer of all light-conditioned, well-grown parcels. An average price for good half-breds is 14d to IGd, although 164 d has been paid for a particularly good line of New Zealand produce. Still, there is aiot th.it extravagance in buying among the American contingent that we have been accustomed to during recent series. Importers from across the Atlantic seem at present to be acting with judicious caution, an element \diKsli has oftentimes been wanting on the part of their buyers. No doubt the fact that supplies are more adequate, and will be, is the reason for their acting as they are doing. However, prices for every quality are well above those. ruling in consuming quarters, the home trade as usual taking the bulk of the offerings. Germany is also buying some nice JAveights, there being seldom a lot taken in.

, Sold by Messrs H. P. Hughes and Sons, January 24.—CW/Lansdowne: Grsy 18 A com. H 13|d; 51 do., do. E lBld; 11 do., do. 13£ d; 7 B do. 13d;-8 E do. H. 13d: 26 do., do. 13d; 7 F:do. 12d; 5 do. R.lO^-d; 29 pcs. Bid; 15 Bdo. Bld.

Richmond Brook: Grsy. 16 sup AA com. :i3id; 5 do. Ist do. 13d: 31 do., do. i.Bd; 85 2nd do. 12d; 9 C lid; 2 B;12d; 23 Ist. pcs. 9£d; 10 bellies Sd; $ Leicester lid. CONDITIONS STILL SOUND. Throughout th© whole of the West Riding business continues to manifest general' sound factors whiclr are inspiring to the majority. Perhaps in Bradford there is not the activity one has been accustomed to see during recent weeks, but all the same there is a fair amount of quiet selling proceeding which is sufficient to see prices .maintained at to-day's level. Merinos continue very firm. Spinners are taking up their contracts m f ' \ erY creditable way, and knowing that for some months to come supplies ai o going to be very adequate, they are feeling comfortable over the tutuj'o course of prices. Some are still hoping that with plenty of wool to coi no to hand prices will slightly recede, but at-present there is nothing to indicate anything of that nature. Generally speaking, the I price today of super 60's and 64's tops jk a. penny more than what most contracts are being delivered at, consequently u.sers are not disposed as yet to pay more. There is as big a consumption as ever, and some large Weights of wool are being ground up. Commission wooleombers are all exceedingly busy, and direct arrivals 'are'being lifted from the ship with all possiblo speed. The course of crossbred wools shows very little change compared with a week ago. Here and there a fraction more is being named for 36's to 46's tops, but it is with difficulty any user will accede the smallest fraction. The argument is that London prices were all discounted before the opening, and with wool being no dearer there is no need' for higher rates to be paid locally. The Continent is still in an inquiringmood for medium wools, and some fair weights of scoured are being shipped abroad. What seems to be I most wanted is a good supply of!

Colonial crossbreds from 36 Js to 50's, medium and fine qualities being very scarce. The Leicester hosiery trade is still absorbing some good weights of wool, and business on the whole with that^centre cannot be grumbled at. Spinners are all well supplied with particulars, and several state that they are at least a good month behindhand with deliveries. This all means that consumption of tops is bound to go on in an undiminished way for some months to come, and so long as this obtains prices cannot vary a great deal. Mohair is easily maintaining its present position, although Cape firsts could do with a fillip.