FAT STOCK MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20986, 24 September 1931, Page 5

FAT STOCK MARKET.

WEEKLY WESTFIELD SALE. FIRMING OF BEEF VALUES. SHEEP AT LATE QUOTATIONS. Values were firmer for prime beef at the weekly Westfield fat s'ock sale yesterday. Although still scarce, good cows and heifers were offered in larger numbers than the previous week, the demand being keen and values very firm. There was a shortage of extra choice quality beef, as is usual at this time of the year, and ox beef generally was of plain quality. There was a good yarding of calves. All prime vealers sold well at an advanced rate and there was a good demand for runners. The demand was steady for a full yarding of sheep, mostly of prime quality, and, on the whole, late rates ruled. Again there was a keen demand for store pigs. Weaners were in good supply, but there were no large stores. Fat pigs were yarded in larger numbers. Values generally for pigs were firmer. The following is a summary of the prices realised for fat slock for the last two i weeks at the Westfield fat stock sales: — 1 This Week. Last Week BEEF (per 1001b) Extra choice ox 20/- 28/Choice and prime ox . . . . 24/- to 28/- 21/- to 27/Choice ar.d prime cow and heifer 21/- to 28/- 21 /-to 2G/-

Shortage of Beef. The slight rise in values for beef is stated to be due only to the market I shortage. Scarcely average numbers were i penned and there was better competition. Values firmed as the sale advanced and, on quotations, were better, especially for cow and heifer beef. Cattle values were a littlo firmer. The aggregate entry comprised only 400 head, compared with 424 last week and 506 the week before. Some good average prices were realised in many cases, but there were no outstanding individual prices. r lhe top price for the day was for two trucks of extra heavy prime steers from Mr. B. Peed, of Waerenga, which made from £lO to £ll 17s 6d. A draft of 20 extra choice steers from Mr. J. Mclntyre, of Aka Aka, Puni, sold from £9 to £lO 17s 6d. Six heavy prime bullocks from Mr. R. Harkness, of Karaka, realised from £8 7s 6d to £ll, two animals selling at £ll each. Seven steers from the same source sold from £9 2s 6d to £lO 10s. Sixteen steers from Mr. M. A. C'osiar, of Karaka, made from £8 to £lO 2s 6d. A line of 20 extra prime light-weight Polled Angus heifers from Holdsworth Brothers, Bay of Plenty, averaged £6 5s 8(1. A truck of prime young cows and heifers on account of Mr. J. A. Hill, Ohinewai, averaged £6 6s 3d and a truck of prime heavy cows on account of the Paerangi Estate averaged £7 Is 9d. Two trucks of good medium-weight cattle from Mrs. Main. Hautapu, realised from £6 17s 6d to £9 10s. Spring Lambs Improve. The demand and prices for calves were fully equal to last week. Small and rough calves sold at late quotations. There, was a scarcity of good quality calves. Bobby calves are still coming forward in fair numbers and there was no improvement in values. The yarding of sheep was a full one, largely of prime quality, compared with i an average offering of a mixed lot the I previous week. Spring lambs were offered | in smaller numbers and met with a brisk | sale. Store pigs continue to be in demand. ! Values were firmer in all classes, except porkers, for which prices dropped, particularly toward the close of the sale. DETAILS OF SALES. AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS. ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons. Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: Beef. —Our beef pens contained IS4 head. ' as against 103 head at last Wednesday's market, comprising 144 steers and 40 cows ; and heifers The quality generally was firstclass. There was a steady demand and. in I odd cases of choice medium-weight cattle, | values were a trifle firmer. Extra choice j i ox sold to £1 Ss per 1001b; choice and prime, £1 5s to ft 7s; secondary and plain, £1 i Is to £1 3s; prime young cow and heifer ' beef, £1 4s to £1 6s; ordinary cow beef, £1 i to £1 3s. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £ll to £ll 17s 6d. for steers I from Mr. B. Heed, Waerenga, and bought : by Mr. R. E. Stott. Birkenhead. Heavy 1 { prime steers sold from £lO to £lO 17s Gd; | lighter prime steers, £8 15s to £9 17s Gd: ' ! light prime steers, £7 to £S 12s 6d; small | ! and unfinished steers, £5 10s to £6 17s Gd; ' extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, ■ £6 10s to £7 15s;' lyavy prime cows and heifers, £5 10s to £6 7s Gd; lighter prime cows and heifers, £4 to £5 7s Gd; other killable cows, £3 to £3 17s Gd. Sheep.—Sheep were again penned in full numbers and sold steadily throughout at fully late rates (1543 sheep were sold). Extra heavy prime wethers made from £1 0s Gd to £1 2s, for wethers from Mr. J. P. Kidd, Karaka, and bought by Mr. S. M. Hayden, Onehunga. Heavy prime wethers, 18s to £1; medium to heavy prime wethers, lGs to 17s 9d; light to medium prime wethers, i 14s to 15s 9d; unfinished wethers, lis Gd to 13s 9d; prime hoggets, 14s to ISs Gel: lighter fat hoggets, 12s Gd to 13s 9d; plain and unfinished hoggets. 9s to lis Gd; extra heavy phme young ewes, 17s Gd to 19s, for ewes from Mr. F. A Price, Ranganui, Papatoetoe; heavy prime ewes, lGs to 17s 3d: lighter prime ewes, 14s to 15s 9d: other killable ewes, 12s to 13s 9d; other ewes, Gs 9d to lis Gd. Lambs. —The 11 J. spring lambs which came forward met with a brisk sale. Heavy prime lambs realised from £1 3s Gd to £1 Gs; lighter prime lambs, I'l to £1 3s: light - prime lambs, lGs to 19s; small lambs, lis to los Gd. Calves. —There was a full yarding of calves. Prime runners and well-finished vealers were in demand and sold at fully late rates. Runners made t'2 15s to £G; heavy vealers. £3 12s to £4; medium, £2 18s to £3 8s: light. £2 8s to £2 14s; small vealers, £1 5s to £1 12s; rough calves. 12s to £1; hobby calves. Is to 4s (358 calves were sold). Pigs,—We had an increased offering of fat pigs. Baconers were wanted and values for these were very firm. Prices for porkers suffered a drop, particularly toward the conclusion of the sale. Choppers sold from £2 5s to £3; heavy prime baconers, £3 2s to £3 8s; medium, £2 13s to £2 18s; light. £2 8s to £2 lis; heavy porkers, £1 18s to £2 Is; light and medium, £1 9s to £1 16s: stores. £1 4s to £1 10s; slips. 19s to £1 4s; wenners. lis to ]Bs; sows due to farrow. £2 to £3 5s (tt total of 402 pigs was sold). LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: — B £e f,_Becf was penned in scarcely average numbers. Competition was better and values firmed as the sale advanced, and our quotations are better, especially for cow and heifer beef. Extra choice ox »«old to 29s per 1001b; choice and prime ox. 26s to 28s; ordinary and plain ox, 23s to 255; prime young cow and heifer beef, 26s to 28s; ordinary cow beef, 20s to 255: heavy prime steers, £9 5s to £lO 10s; lighter prime steers, £8 to £9 2s Gd; light prime steers, £7 to £7 17s Gd; unfinished and small, £5. 15s to £6 17s Gd; heavy prime young rows Hud heifers, £7 5s to £8 7s Gd; linhter, £6 to £7 2s Gd; light cows, £5 to £5 17s Gd : other cows, £3 to £4 17s Gd. Sheep.—Sheep were yarded in large numbers. There was a steady demand throughout, with values for prime quality firm at late rattts Plainer and unfinished sheep were inclined to be easier. Heavy prime wethers made from £1 to fl 2s 9d; medium prime wethers, 18s to 19s Pd: light, prime wethers, 15s to 17a 6d: smaller and unfinished welhexs, 12s to lis 9d; heavy piiuie

ewes, 17s to 18s 6d; medium prime ewes, 15s 3d to 16s 9d; light prime ewes, 13s to 15s; inferiorly fatted ewes, 9s to 12s 9d; prime hoggets, 13a to IS3; unfinished hoggets, 9s to 12s 6d. Lambs—Spring lambs were penned in less numbers than last week and sold readily at improved values, selling at from 12s to £1 3s 6d. pjgs. Pigs were penned in average numbers and sold at late quotations. Choppers sold from £2 to £2 15s; heavy and medium baconers, £3 to £3 7s; light baconers jind heavy porkers, £2 8s to £2 18s; medium porkers and light porkers, £2 to £2 6s; small and unfinished porkers, £1 10s to £1 10s. Values for store pigs were easier. Large stores made from £1 Cs to £1 12s; slips, 16s to £1 2s; weaners, 10s to 16s. Calves. —Calves were penned in avera.ge numbers. Good quality calves with a keen demand and values were firmer. •Rougher sorts sold at late quotations. Runners realised from ±'4 to £6 10s; heavy vealers, £3 10s to £4 Is; medium, £2 16s to £3 8s; light, £2 4s to £2 14s; smaller. £1 10s to £2; small and fresh-dropped. 3s to £1 Cs. Sales were held during the past week at Westfield, Papakura, Whitford, Waiuku (cattle and pigs), Pukekohe (bull sale) and one clearing sale. Values for all classes of dairy and store cattle and pigs are on a par with our last report. The demand for bulls at Pukekohe was-steady throughout, and we report a satisfactory sale. We quote:—Registered pedigree yearling Jersey bulls, sgns to lOgns; two-year registered pedigree Jersey bulls, 7gns to 14Jgns; yearling Shorthorn b.ills, 2gns to sgns; oneyear Friesian bulls, ligns to 3gns; twoyear Shorthorn bulls. 4gns to 7igns; twoyear Friesian bulls. 2gris to Ggrns; other | yearling bulls, ljgns to older bulls, , Ign to 4gns; best dairy cows and heifers, | £8 to £ll 10s; other dairy cows and heifers, ! £4 to £7 15s; aged cows and inferior heifers, i£2 to £3 17s (!rl; boner bulls, £1 5s to £4; boner and store cows, £1 10s to £3 17s Cd; poor condition cows, ,-lOs to ±'l ss; yearling heifers, £1 to £3 15s; yearling to 18months steers. £1 5s to £2: two to two and a-half year steers, £2 5s to £2 17s Cd; three to three and a-half year steers, £3 to £3 17s Gd; steers, in forward condition, £4 to £5 63. DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report on the weekly "Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows; — Beef.—Ox beef was penned in full average numbers. A better demand existed and values ruled very firm at late rates. Prime light-weight cattle especially were in good demand. A very firm sale resulted for an average yarding of cow and heifer beef at values firm at late rates. No extra heavy bullocks were yarded. Extra choice ox sold to 28s per 1001b; choice and prime ox, 24s to 275; just killable, 21s to 235; prime young cow and heifer beef, 24s to 2fis; just killable, 20s to 235; heavy prime steers, £9 17s Cd to £11; lighter prime steers, £8 10s to £9 15s; light prime steers, £'7 to £8 7s 6d; small and unfinished steers, £5 10s to £6 17s fid; heavy prime cows and heifers, £6 10s to £7 12s Gd; lighter prime cows and heifers, £5 to £G 7s Oil; other killable cows. £4 10s to £4 17s Gd. Sheep.—Sheep were yarded in full numheis and the quality was better on the whole than last week Competition was steady and late rates were recorded for all classes, j Two trucks of extra heavy prime l wethers. I on account of Mr. A. Faith full, Ohaeawai. realised 18s 9d to 21s 9d, the liije averaging 20s 4d. Prime hoggets made from 15s Gd to 16s 0d; medium hoggets, 14s to las 3d: light hoggets, lis 3d to 133 9d: extra heavy prime wethers, 21s 3d to 22s 3d; heavy prime, 18s 9d to 21s: medium. lGs 9d to 18s Cd; light and unfinished, 15s Gd to 10s Gd; heavy prime ewes, 17s io 18s 9d; lighter, 15s 9d to lGs 9d; other ewes, 12s to 15s Gd. Calves.—Calves were again yarded in average numbers, the bulk of the offering comprising small and bobby calves. Very few good quality vealers were offered and these sold steadily at full late rates. Runners realised from £2 10s to £G; heavy vealers. £3 2s to £4; medium. £2 10s to £3; light. £2 to £2 10s; "rough. 7s to ISs: small and fresh-dropped. Is to £1 10s Pigs.—The offering of pigs was hardly an average one and generally the market ruled at late rates for all classes. Heavy baconers made from £3 to £3 7s; medium, £2 lGs to £2 19s; light, £2 9a to £2 15s; heavy porkers. £2 4s to £2 8s; medium, £2 to £2 3s; light, £1 12s to £1 19s. RATES AT ADDINGTON. LITTLE CHANGE IN VALUES. BETTER DEMAND FOR BEEF. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, .Wednesday. There were average yardings at the Addington stock market to-day and prices showed little change, except that values foi fat cattle improved by about 20s a head. Store Sheep.—There was a free sale , for better sorts without any change in values. Sound and full-mouth ewes with lambs made up to 6s Sd; sound and full-mouthed halfbred ewes, to 7s; six and eight-toothed halfbred ewes, to lis; six and eight-toothed crossbred ewes, to 12s 6d medium twotooth ciossbred ewes, to 14s; medium ewe hoggets 10s to 12s; wether hogget?, to 9s. Spring Lambs.—A total of 62 was entered and sold at about lOd a lb, or from 24s to 31s. Fat Sheep.—Extra prime heavy wethers made up to 22s lOd; prime, 17s 6d to 20s; medium, 14s Cd to 17s; light, to 14s; extra prime heavy ewes, to 21s; prime, 14s 9d to 17s; medium, lis 6d to 14s 6d; light, tolls. Fat Cattle.—A smaller entry, comprising 310 head, and including some fine truck 1 ot3 from the South, also a consignment from the Xorth Island. An improved sale was the result of the shorter entry. Best beef made 29s to 32s per 1001b; ordinary. 25s to 235; heavy, 24s to 27b. Extra prime | heavy steers realised up to £l4 7s 6d: • prime heavy; £ll 10s to £l4; prime mediumweight, £9 to £11: ordinary quality. £7 to £S 15s; light, to £6 15s; extra prime heifers, to £l3 12s 6d; prime, £9 to £11; medium. £G 5s to £8 10s; light, to £6; extra prime COWS, to £l2 17s 6d; prime, £8 5s to £9 15s; medium, £6 to £8; light, to £5 10s. Fat Pigs.—The entry was of medium size and the demand throughout was fair. Choppers made £3 to £6 8s Cd; baconers. 50? to £2 15s 6d; heavy baconers, to £3 3s Gd; extra heavy.-to £3 18s 6d (average price per lb, 5Jd to Cd); porkers, 3?s to 425: heavy porkers, 43s 6d to 48s Cd (average price per lb, (fid to 7-sd). BARTHOLOMEW TIMBER CO. LOSS ON YEAR'S WORKING. DIFFICULT TIME FOR INDUSTRY. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Wednesday. "The directors regret to state that the year's transactions, after making full provision for depreciation, have resulted in a loss of £1428." states the 26th annual report of the directors of the Bartholomew Land and Timber Company, Ltd., for the year ended July 31. After deducting the balance brought forward from last year, £975. there remained £453 at debit of the profit and loss account. The annual meeting of shareholders will be held at Hamilton on October S. The loss is directly attributable to a decrease of over C7COO in sales, the low prices at which timber has been sold and the writing-off bv way of depreciation of £2553 in excess ol last year s requirements, continues the report. 'I his latter action was rendered necessary on account of the Income Tax Department allowing depreciation on the company's tramways anil buildings, provided the depreciation for two veal's was actually written off in the present accounts. The Sawmillers' Timber Trading Company, Ltd.. has been marketing the company's output during the year, but oil account of the present financial and economic conditions the Trading Company lias now ceased operations. A new company has been registered for the purpose of acting as an invoicing and collecting agency and the various sawmillers are now making their s.iles direct. Competition for orders is particularly, keen and in most cases timber is being offered for sale below the cost of production. "The industry is passing through one of the most difficult periods encountered during the last 50 years," states the report. "Building has been most drastically curtailed, but it is hoped there will be a good recovery when the building trado revives. Numerous economies have been effected and the whole of the company's staff, including the directors, have accepted reductions in salaries and wages. Further economies have been put into force at the mill and bush, which will result in,still lower production costs." The retiring'director, Mr. A. L. Tompkins, offers himself for re-election.

SHEEP (per head) — Prime wethers . 20/- to 22/9 19/- to 21/9 Unfin. wethers 11 /6 to 14 M 12/- to 15/Prime ewes . 17/- (o 19/15/6 to 13'6 ! Unfin. ewes . 9/- <o 1*2/9 9/- to 14/9 ! Hoggets . . . 11/3 to 18/11/6 to 16/9 Spring lambs . 11/- to 26/13/- to 29'G CALVES (per head)— ■Runners . . . 55/- to 130/50/- to 110/Vealera . . . '25/- to 81/20/- to 80/PIGS (per head) — Baconers . . . 4 8/- to 68/4fit- to 75/Porkers . . . 29/- to 48/28/- to 45/Stores . . . 10/- to 32/10/- to 32/-