WOOL IN KEEN DEMAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17964, 14 December 1921, Page 8

WOOL IN KEEN DEMAND.

THE WELLINGTON SALEAMERICAN COMPETITION. OCTOBER PRICES RESTORED. ' [bi telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The first wool sale in Wellington of the current season was held to-day, when catalogues totalling 15,579 bales were offered. The outstanding Mature was the American demand for superior lines of medium and coarse, and occasionally of low crossbred wools, but only for the best of them. In fact, America was said to be "picking the eyes out of the cata-' logues."' Bradford was a keen but strictly limited buyer in comparison with Araerica. for the best crossbred wools, bright wellskirted Romneys being strongly competed for. As compared with the last Wellington sale in October, the so-called American wools were ljd to 2d lb better. Bradford prices were about th"e same* as those offered from that quarter at the October sales. The Continent was a most useful buying factor. Since the last* Wellington sales the market has been tested by both Napier and Auckland, and it was estimated by those well qualified to express an opinion that the sale in Wellington to-day put values back to those ruling in October, or one-halfpenny a pound generally on to the two northern markets rates. Only the very best lambs' wools weva wanted; anything seedy or inferior was neglected. Best lambs were accepted by France at a price. There was keen competition for good pieces and bellies, halfbreds, and fine crossbreds by the New Zealand mills, and also by France. Good crutchings were.more in request by Japan. It was evident during the course of the sale that many growers had a more sanguine view of the actual state of the market than their brokers, but it was gratifying to find that the prices realised were well over tho Bawra reserves. There was a fuiUcircle of buyers representative of the great Bradford and continental houses, and also of leading American distributors. Competition by New Zealand woollen manufacturers for suitable lines was a welcome factor, and buyers' interest was kept at its old-time temperature. Most of the wool offered was evidently wanted, but at a price. The sale was a trustworthy indication that generally buyers are here to do business. Prices ranged as follows: l —Merino, super, 17fd to average, 14d to 16|d: inferior, 9Jd to Hid. . Medium halfbred, super, to 13Jd; average, &|d to lid; coarser halfbred, average, 7d to BJd; inferior, 5d to 6d. Fine.crossbred, super, 7Jd to 9d; average, 6d to 7Jd; inferior, <tyd to 5Jd. Medium crossbred, super, 6Jd to Bjd; average, 4|d to 6|d; inferior, 3Jd to 4|d. Coarse crossbred, super 5Jd to 6jd; average, 4Jd to 5Jd; inferior, 3Jd to 4Jd. Low crossbred, super, 4d to sd; average, 3j}d to inferior, 3d to 4^d. Hoggets, fine, 6d to 83d; medium, 5d to 7|d; coarse, 4d to sd; low, 3d to 3fd. Lambs', fine, 7d to B|d; medium, 5d to 6|d; seedy and inferior, Id to lid. Bellies and pieces, merino, good to super, 7d to 9d; low to medium, 3Jd to 44d. Crossbred, good to super, 3Jd to s|d;!low to medium, Id to lid. Crutchings;' medium to good, 2id to 3Jd; inferior and seedy, l£d; i