PRICES FOR WOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 14

PRICES FOR WOOL

CHRiSTCHURCH SALE

STROMGER GENERAL TONE

LOCAL MILLS ACTIVE

TOP PRICE OF Hid PER LB.

GERMANY NOT BUYING

[BY TEJ.EGR.VPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday

The first Christchurcli wool sale of the present season was held to-day. Prices compared .very disappointingly with those of the first local sale last season, but there was a better market than was predicted for super wools, with a free disposal" of average to good fine wools, the tone generally being distinctly better' than that at the preceding sales in the North Island. Coarse •wools, showed no improvement, although there was a wider circle of competition for these. The top price was 14Jd per lb. for haltbred and 14Jd for Corriedale. In view of the present position of '* the wool, market, the sale was quite ' good ami fully up to expectations. The . catalogue comprised 18,410 bales and, for the first of the season, the offering generally was good, with a better representation than usual of good half- ■ breds from nearly all properties. There was a full bench of buyeci, but a number of them scarcely opened their books. Local mills' competition was the main factor in the demand for super wools. Passings totalled 11£ "per cent, but in few cases was a total clip withdrawn. Definite Bradford Limits Bradford representatives operated tinder very definite limits, but they secured a fair share of medium and inferior wools of both fine and coarse grades. However, they appeared unable to join in the competition for the better wools. French and Japanese buyers took a good proportion of the wools of finer description, but there was practically no buying on German account. Local fellmongers secured the larger share of piece lots, and, as this class sold more in relationship with the fleece than- last season, when prices were frequently brought within a penny or two of fleece, they secured an appreciable quantity. Competition was steady, but animated only on a few occasions for coarse wools. This class had a wider circle of buyers, but limits were definite. While competitors were disposed to outbid one'another for choice wools there. was no such feature in the demand for the coarse grades. These showed no improvement, but were firm on North Island values. The uale may be described as slightly better than expected for the super grades of fine wools and better-class pieces and firm at the best of the North Island values for all other classes. The general atmosphere of v the sale, however, was much better than at the earlier auctions. As stated, the locai mills were mainly responsible for the buoyanoy of the demand for super wools. To-day's sale was the first of' the season at which they had an opportunity of filling their Bpocial requirements. gompa*i?Oß With Last Year In view of the adversities which have .beset the wool market in the last six mpnthtf, a comparison of values with the opening sale last December is value-? less, bijt nevertheless illuminating. Today good average halfbred and Corriedale wools made from 9fd to lid per lb, A similar class last year averaged from, lfid to 18d. Best grades to-day ranged from lljd to }4£d and last year from 18d to 21d. The decline therefore iB more than a third, or 35 to nenjlv 40 per cent. Coarse wool to-day averaged from 4Jd to s£d and last December, for a similar wool, 7sd to 9d. The difference was evenly main- ' tained. The tpp price of the sale was 14Jd, secured on two occasions for halfbred. Five bales' of ewe made this figure early in the sale, and later in the day the price was equalled for 13 bales of halfbred ewe. Four bales of Kilsyth halffcred ewe sold at 144 d. The top halfbred price at the first sale last year was 21id. To-day the beat Corriedale price was 13Jd, secured by two clips. The top price of Corriedale last year was 25id. The Range of Prices The following is the range of values compared with those at the December sale in 1933:

SYDNEY MARKET FIRM GOOD GENERAL COMPETITION (Received December 13. 9.35 p.m.) SYDNEY. Dec. 13 At the Sydne.v wool sales to-day 11,606 hales were offered and 10,440 were sold, also 2.347 bales privately. 'I here was strong general competition, the .market closing firm at late rates. Greasy Merino sold to 18d per lb.

Dec., 1933 Dec., 1934 ' d d d d MerinoSuper to 19% 10% to 11% Medium .. 15% to 17% 9% to 10% Inferior 11 to 15 87 4 to 9 Corriedale—. 22 to O0V4 Estra super to 14% Super 19 to 2) 11% to 13 Medium 17 to 18% 9% to 11% 8% to 9 Inferior 7. . 14% to 16% Fine Halfbred— Extra super 2(1 to 21% 13 to 14% Super . / - IS to 19% 11% to 12% Medium 16 to 17% 10% to 11% Inferior 14% to 15% 8% to 10 Medium Halfbred _ - Super to 18 11VI to 12 Meqium 15 to 16 10 to 11 Inferior 11% to 14 6% to 8% Coarse Halfbred — Super 13% to 15 to. 10 Medium 11% to 13% 8 to 9 Inferior 10 to 11 6% to 7% Thre.e-quarterbred- _ Super to 15% to 10% Medium 10 to 13 7 to 8 Inferior • ... _ 6 to 9 4% to 6% Medium Crossbred— biipcr 9% to 10% 5% to 6% 4% to 5% Medium r . 7% to 0 Inferior C to 7% 3% to W. Pieces— e Supei ' to 19 to 10% OOrl 14 In 16 8 to 9 Medium . 1 to 13 6 to 7% 3% to 5 /a Infer, to average 7 to 10 BelliesGood 11 to 14% 8 to 9% Infer, to average 7 to 10 4% to 7% CrutchintfB—'' Medium to good 6% to 9 4% to 7% Inferior 4% to 6 2% to 4% Loc kB - Best 5% to 8% 3% to 4% Infer, to medium to 4% 2% to 3%