AUCKLAND WOOL SALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20114, 27 November 1928, Page 8

AUCKLAND WOOL SALE.

Prospccts for the first Auckland wool sale could bo considered promising from the record of prices rilling at tho sales already held in other centres. Tho actual realisation last night of rates substantially better than those reached at this time last year was pleasing, if not unexpected. With a large offering, a demand spread over a wide range of buyers, and spirited competition, tho first sale should, indeed, make the sheepfarmer feel that his year of work has not been in vain. The importance of this to tho Auckland Province should not bo missed. It is true that dairying predominates, but Auckland is very far from being exclusively a dairying province. What is classed as the Auckland district in the official return of sheep and owners—it differs from the province by the subtraction of Poverty Baycontains 3578 flocks aggregating 2.380,500 sheep in round numbers. There has been occasion to remark

several time 3 lately that, contrary to the usual belief, the small farmer is far more heavily represented among sheep-owners than the great landholder, whose flock may run to many thousands. The Auckland district is one of tho chief factors in producing the high ratio of small owners. As already said, 3578 farmers liavo among them 2,380,500 sheep; in Hawke's Bay 26-22 owners have together, 4,221,567 sheep, indicating much larger individual flocks on the average. Tho evidence that the good prices at the Auckland sale will bring benefit to a wido community is very sat isfactory. There is only ono reservation. Buyers say the quality of tho offerings is improving, but thcro is still room for better classification and preparation of the wool for marketing. It is the small producer who tends to neglect those points, and so to make bidding more conservative than it might be. Tf all growers take heed of the wellmeant advico their customers continually offer, the result at future sales may be even more gratifying than that shown already this year. Despite the hint of criticism, the fust Auckland sale already promises to usher in a highly-favourable season for the sheep-farmer.