RUSH OF WOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 10

RUSH OF WOOL

HAWKE'S BAY CLIPS

GOOD CHEQUE FOR GROWERS £500,000 FROM FIRST SALE NEXT TWO CATALOGUES FULL [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] NAPIER, Monday The rush of wool into the Napier wool stores from Hawke's Bay stations for the next two sales has been such that difficulty is being experienced in handling it. This influx is the result of the satisfactory prices being secured at Dominion sales. Hawke's Bay growers on Friday received cheques totalling well over £500,000, this being tho proceeds of the first Napier sale of the season. In past years there has almost always boon a considerable amount of wool held over from previous seasons, which has assisted in filling tho early catalogues. With virtually a complete clearance last year, however, this year's catalogues have to bo made up of new season's clip. Some delay was caused early in shearing operations, mainly owing to the effects of legislation governing hours to bo worked by shearers—tho restriction has since been removed —and also to a certain extent by unsettled weather, but in spite of these factors, a catalogue of almost 28,000 bales was sold at the first sale in Napier early this month. On the actual day of that sale it was found there was sufficient wool entered for the second sale to complete that catalogue, limited to 30,000 bales. This sale is to bo held on January 16 next. Wool has continued to pour into stores at Port Ahuriri without ceasing during the paat fortnight, clips from all parts of Hawke's Bay and outside districts bringing about activity which is considered by many to bo unprecedented in Hawke's Bay. It is understood tho catalogue for the third to bo held in February, has already been fdled as a result of the extremely largo quantities of wool which have eomo forward. Owing to the fact that Easter intervenes, there will be no wool salo in Napier during March this year, the fourth and final one being held in Aprils when tho catalogue will bo unlimited. In condition, the wool corning forward for disposal at the next sales is quite up to the high standard set at the first auction.

DUNEDIN SALE TO-DAY AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK OFFERING OF 30,446 BALES [BY TELEGRAPH OWN* CORRESPONDENT] DUNEDIN, Monday Tho first Dunedin wool sale of tho season will be held to-morrow, when record catalogues totalling 30,446 bales will be offered on a market which continues to bo definitely in the growers' favour. There is lively anticipation among both growers and brokers. Country visitors were present in Dunedin in hundreds to-day for the purpose of attending the sale and there was a general air of bustle and activity in the brokers' offices and stores. There has been a frantic rush to get wool into the first catalogues, which, as listed to-day, are greatly in excess of expectations. The outlook for the sale is exceptionally good and there is no reason why northern averages and peak values should not be surpassed. Competition for particular descriptions may be increased as a result of specialty orders from Russia and America, which are expected to be filled to-morrow. Russia is expected to be a keen inquirer for fine halfbreds. Japan and Germany appear to have widely varying requirements, which the local clip should be able to satisfy, so that the auction should bo a good one. The sale is to commence at 9 a.m. and it is probable that it will be late in the evening before the catalogue is disposed of. It has been estimated by brokers that tho average rate of sale at auctions to date has been about 350 lots an hour, as against the 450 an hour selling which characterised most sales last year.

SHEARING DELAYED CONTINUOUS WET WEATHER [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] WHAKATANE, Monday Shearing has been seriously delayed in the Galatea and Manawahe districts this season owing to the continuous wet weather. The rain in the hills has been more frequent than on the flats, and large numbers of sheep still remain unshorn. All the maize crops in the district will be late, but the weather has been very favourable for quick growth, and the crops are coming away well. I'ine weather is being experienced at present and farmers are exceptionally busy harvesting ensilage and hay. The shortage of labour is still acute in the district.