KEEN DEMAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 6, 4 December 1937, Page 5

KEEN DEMAND.

NAPIER WOOL SALE. PRICES APPPRECIATE SLIGHTLY. Per Press Association. NAPIER, Dee. 3. With a catalogue of 20,000 halos, tho first wool sale of the Napier series opened before a full bench of buyers. Competition was generally from Continental buyers, with Bradford operating to a limited extent and Japan and America out of tho market.. However, the demand was extremely keen within the limits of inquiry from tho Continent and advancing prices up to a half-penny were realised when compared with the Auckland rates. A definitely keener market was the verdict of thoso most coscly associated witli tho industry, while a further pleasing feature was the excellent manner in which the growers were prepared to mot the rates offered. Passings were comparatively few and the sale was a fast one. Tho official range of prices is:

At Napier 12 months ago, 27,109 hales averaged 14.63 d per lb, or £2l 9s 5.34 d per halo. Two years ago the average was Bjd per lb and £l2 per hale. The average price at Auckland last week was about lOd per lb and £l4 a hale. New Zealand seasonal averages since 1925-26 are given below:

The total offering in New Zealand last season was 668,397 bales, and 663,789 bales wero sold, the realisation being £14,903,275. »

- It has been estimated that the average cost of production of crossbreds 44’s, 46’s, is 9d per lb, a conservative figuro, with higher costs for the finer qualities of wool. Below that average and rougher wools cannot he sold, except at a loss. Yet between 1925 and 1935 such crossbred wools as arc usually offered in Wellington have been as low as 3J>d per lb and as high as 20d per lb.

Southdown— d. d. A Ill 12 13 ,,, „ 91, tolOJ Half bred, 56-58 Super 13 to 14 Average lli to 12j Inferior 103 to 111 Fine crossbred, 50-56— Super 12 to 13 Average 11 to 12 Inferior 10 to 10| Medium crossbred, 48-50-Super 11£ to 12i Average 93 to 103 Inferior 82 to 9 Medium crossbred, 46-48-Super to 12i Average 9i to 101 Inferior 8 to 9 Low crossbred, 44-46-—' Super 11 to 12 Average 9i to 10i Inferior 8 to 9 Low crossbred, 40-44— None offered Hoggets— 56-58 lli to Hi-52-54 ll "to ,12i 48-50 10 to 11-i 46-48, 44-46, 40-44, not sufficient offering to quote. Lambs, not sufficient offerin g to quote. Necks — Super 11 to 111 Average 10 to 10i Inferior anc seedy . 9 to 93 Pieces — Supor 91 to 10 Average 81 to 9 Inferior 7 to 73 Bellies — Super 8 to 8i Average 71 to 73 Inferior 6-i to 7 Locks 4i to 53 Cru tellings— Super 9 to 9i Average 73 to 8i Inferior 51 to 61

Per lb Per bale. d. £ s. d. 1925-26 11.93 17 1 8 1926-27 .... 12.66 18 3 1 1927-28 .... 16.89 24 5 0 1928-29 .... 14.99 21 8 0 1929-30 8.59 12 2 2 1930-31 .... 5.66 7 19 8 1931-32 .... 5.27 7 10 9 1932-33 .... 5.18 7 10 6 1933-34 .... 11.32 16 8 8 1934-35 .... 6.52 9 7 2 1935-36 / 9.14 13 6 10 1936-37 .... 15.82 22 9 0