VALUES IN WAIKATO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22877, 4 November 1937, Page 7

VALUES IN WAIKATO

MORE RAIN WANTED PASTURES' SLOW GROWTH • MARKETS LACK BUOYANCY When rain fell a week- ago it was hoped the stock markets would their buoyancy, but, unfortunately, this. has'hot happened. Conditions since then " have been such as to nullify the anticipated beneiits. Cold, dry winds, . which are a greater hindrance to growth < than any other adversity, blow continuouslv and until these subside pastures will make little headway. Apart from fat cattle, which fairly well maintain their ground, the markets are weaker, in fact there is apparent a decree of apathy more suggestive of winter's approach than the advent of spring. Due no doubt to the fear of drought that prevails fairly large entries are reaching the salevards. The supply if "boners 1 is much heavier, but for these conditions remain fairly stable, although export buyers have not to contend against the competition of graziers which so stoutly opposed them a year a K°The first shipments of lamb arc being despatched this week. The method' ofpurchase is strange and unusual. Sellers do not know what they are to receive nor do buyers what they intend to pay. The optimism "by which dairymen recently were inflated concerning the guaranteed price seems now actively at work on sheepmen, ilany hope for 10rl. few expect less than 9}d, so it seems likely that, few will escape disappointment. From what can bo gathered it will not exceed 9Jd, which, is id below last year's opening, but all the same a satisfactory figure under the altered wool and pelt conditions. It is the price for the main drafts that will, concern most farmers and it can but be hoped that this year's decline will not be measured on the same scale aslast, when a sudden drop of ljd was i recorded. I • Conditions in the separate sections ! are:— BEEF ! Beef at the moment is the only stable section in the sheep and cattle branches. Following a series of buoyant district sales. Frankton again recorded a similar success; Ox beef in the opening stages was slightly- ; lower, but a firming tone was foon evident and greatly advanced the closing rates. Competition for cow beef was strong ana higher values ruled throughout,. A normal' supply of veal, mostly light-weight, fullymaintained the previous week's rates. Primp light ox made 38s to 395; heavy and ordinary, 33s to 355; prime heifer,. 34s to ,375;, ! vounc: cow, 31s to 335; Jers&y cows, 23s i to 20s; rough, 20s to 225; cows, ISs; bulls, 20s. * .MUTTON i Conditions have not altered and unless sup- | plies are restricted or a wider range of com-' i petition enlisted there seems no prospect | of improvement. It is clear that holders of sheep have become panicky, for much is i being received in an unfinished state and I thus unsuitable to butchers. Were this with*' held it would at least remove the appearance of a clut and (rive the market a chance t$ | recover. At Frankton on Tuesday values I throughout were, a shade under the standards recorded a week ago. Hojrgets only maintained their ground and even showed occa» sional improvement. Best wethers sold' from •_'7s to 20s; medium, 25s to 26s '3d; unfinished, from 235; ctioice ewes, to 225; ordinary heavy ewes, 17s to 10s fid; plain, from los fid; woolly hoggets, to 20s; shorn hoggets, 23s to 2.1s fid; fat lambs, 22s to 2*s (id. STORE CATTLE i The animation that so conspicuously sup'ported this section durinj the winter and : '■ earlv spring has vanished. October has shown ■ the' lightest rainfall fpr years and it is i 1 evident that the majority of farmers' fear a > I continuance. Certainly conditions at the ' moment are against pasture growth and until , ; this makes headway no enthusiasm need be ; expected. Apart from dairy rejects, which. I have been steadily increasing, there tias been u i an absence of cood grazing lots, but the ; i coming week will witness the, arrival of furj' ther consignments from Poverty Bay. These " 1 are invariably well received, but to insure i a repetition a change, in the weather is • ! needed. At Frankton on Tuesday a line of } '< station-bred Polled Angus yearling steers was i 1 submitted. Although a number of buyers comi ! peted values were about £1 a head under the rates current a month ago. Jersey heifers are also lower, but owners of good lots generally refuse to sell . below a reasonable value. From £5 10s to £6 is still available for the best. Medium sorts sell from £3, l.»s ] to £4 los; small, from £2 10s to £3 10s. ,' t STORE SHEEP ! This branch, though much lower, is not so ; depressed as the state of tile mutton branch 'would justify. A fair yarding of wethers and mixed sex hoggets drew a fairly large.gathering of competitors and the whole offering was . ' absorbed without • difficulty. Good shorn 3 , i wethers sold to 245;, small wether hoggets) II I 17s (id to 21s Gd; small ewe hoggets, 24s 6d F j to 30s 3d. "j PIGS : Conditions continue reasonably steadv. A' e I drop in the schedule gave expectation of lower i i values at Frankton on Tuesday, but apart r ! from a decline of about 2s a head in heavy e i baconers little* alteration of the current a : standards was observed. Store pigs are sub- !- ject to fluctuation. bu> as a rule good rates - are obtainable. Frankton prices were:— i Heavy baconers. to £4 is; light, from £3 ? 2s; heavy porkers, to £3; light, from, 40s; , store pigs, 33s to 455; slips, 24s to 30s: ii weancrs, 10s to 20s. y ■ , • SYDNEY WOOL SALES 1 t —: — • MERINO SELLS WELL % t ;■ I SEASON'S HIGHEST PRICE , (Received November 3, 10 p.m.) o SYDNEY, Nov. « • At the Sydney wool sales to-day h 10.949 bales were.? offered and 9420 1- were sold, also 343 bales were sold 0 privately. . . ,° All best descriptions of Merino fleece : s and skirtings were generally firm. 0 Comebacks and orossbreds showed little r change. Continental buyers, with good support from Yorkshire, were the chief operators. _ •• . : Greasy Merino sold to 'JTJd. which is the highest price this season. IMPORTS JTO JAPAN • S RESTRICTED GOODS 1 1 ? TOKIO, Nov. 2 _ ! The Japanese Government has decided . | to add hides, leather, rubber, dye-stuffs' . j and pulp to the imports to be restricted ,! under licence.