WOOL PRICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 1 February 1936, Page 11

WOOL PRICES

BRISK SALE ALL CONSUMING COUNTRIES REPRESENTED [By Telegraph—Press Association] INVERCARGILL, 31st January. High expectations were held of the first Invercargill wool sale, and they were fully realised. Anticipations of an improvement in sympathy with that of the London sales were justified, but values for all better classes wools gave every reason for the fullest satisfaction. The sale was brisk from the first offering to the last, and limits were elastic for fine wools, although well defined for crossbred lines. Fine wools were higher than at the first Invercargill sale last year by 2d to 4d a pound, coarse wools which, of course, make up much the greatest proportion of the Southland catalogues by lid to 3d, bellies by Id to 2d, fine pieces by as much as 4d to fid, crutchings by an average of 3d, and locks by 2d. Passings could be discounted, comprising at most three or four per cent, of the catalogue. The top price for the sale, 17-Jd, was paid for a line of nine bales of Corriedalc hogget wool bearing the well-known Sterndale brand from the property of Messrs Andrews and Daricott, Eyre Creek. The same growers topped the market at the first sale last year, a line of their fine Corriedalc ewe wool brinwin" 14id.

The bench of buyers was a full one, every ‘wool-consuming country being represented. Probably the keenest competition came from the Continent and Japan, the Continent particularly. France showed great interest, in fine wools and good pieces, and Japan operated consistently throughout the sale, although bidding from this quarter did not exceed definite limits. Bradford came in heavily, its representatives operating steadily for suitable types.' These benches were not prominent at the earlier sales this year, but have taken very active interest at the more recent fixtures. Presumably, their early comparative inactivity was due to the expectation that prices would go back to their former levels. America was well represented, her buyers going in for stylish 48-50 lines, and German firms, too, bought fairly steadily.

Generally it was noticeable that Continental and Japanese buyers were very keen in their bidding for fine wools, and that Bradford was just as "keen for coarser wools. It was a buoyant market right through, bidding

being very bright indeed. Penny rises were not infrequent, putting in an encouraging appearance after an absence of some years. The official range of prices is as fol-

lows: — d. d. Merino — Medium 14 to 151 Inferior 12 to 131 "Corriedale — Super 1GJ to 17-J Medium 13 to 152 Inferior Hi to 13 Line halfbred— Medium m to 102 Inferior 12 to 15 Medium lmlfbred — Super 132 to 141 Medium 12 to 131 Inferior 10 to 12 Line crossbred— Super 11 to 13 Medium 10 to 11 Inferior 9 to 10 Medium crossbred — Super 9 to 101 Medium 81 to 91 Inferior 7 to 8 Pieces— Super 13i to 14J Good L 9:1 to 10f, Medium 6 to 71 Inferior Gi to 0| Bellies — Good 8 to 9 Inferior to average .... 0 to 7 Crutchings— .... Medium to good 7 to 9 Inferior r> to 51 Locks — Best r> to 5 J Inferior to medium 4 to 5