WAIKATO VALUES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23029, 5 May 1938, Page 11

WAIKATO VALUES

FEW SHEEP PENNED PREVALENCE OF ECZEMA SHORT SUPPLIES OF BEEF Good growing conditions hare prevailed in the Waikato, and, while frosts would be welcomed, in the hope that they might alleviate the epidemic of facial eczema, so far none has been experienced. At the Morrinsville yards on Friday last no sheep of any description were penned. An innovation at the Frankton yards 011 Tuesday was that all client# selling fat sheep were requested to guarantee their offerings free from facial eczema. After tlifr sheep had been penned they were examined by the stock inspector and any showing any of the known signs of the complaint were taken out and penned separately. Guaranteed cezema-frce sheep were tagged for identification purposes in case any should be rejected when killed. All these sheep wcro despatched to Horotiu for immediate killing. At tho Morrinsville yards on Friday last, a herd of dairy cows, sold on account of a vendor who had disposed of his property, realised very satisfactory prices. Dairy heifers also are maintaining late quotations. No quotable lines of store cattle have been offered during the past week. BEEF Entries of beef still continue small and In most cases are of only 'fair quality. At the Central Yards oa Tueiday very few really prime ox were penned. In spite of this, prices ; showed a decided increase, this being probably due to the fact that at the present ■time the public seem to prefer beef to mut- [ ton. Extra choice ox was quoted at 37s to ! 30s per 1001b; prime ox, 32s to 36«; plain j and unfinished, 27s to 31s; choice young cow and heifer, 32s to 365; prime cows, 26s | to 31s; second quality, 19s to 245. MUTTON As a result of the guarantee given with sheep, mutton showed a marked rise, prices advancing 3s to 6s a head. Extra prime | wethers realised 33s 3d to 375; good fat wethers, 30s to 32s 6d; unfinished, 27s to 2Ss ltd; prime ewes, 20s 6d to 235; iat ewes., 16s 9d to 10s 2d; light fat lambs, to j 15s 6d. PIGS At all the main centres smaller ,entries Of lat pigs are coming forward and it appears that this section of the market is drawing rapidly to a close. The yarding* comprise mainly porkers and at Morrinsville and \ Frankton sales both baconers and porkers were a shade firmer. As a result of the 1 short supply of milk, stores and weanerg are i in most cases hard to dispose of at profitable , prices. Best baconers are making up to £4 7s; good baconers, £3 18s to £4 2s; medium baconers, £3 12s to £3 17s; light baconers, £3 3s to £3 10s; heavy porkers and unfinished baconers, £2 6s to £3; medium porkers, £2 2s to £2 ss; light, 36s to £2; unfinished, 20s to 30s. . , - | . - PAPAKURA VALUES The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports that a j moderate yarding at Papakura met with ! Rood competition. The following prices were realised:—Best dairy cows, £lO ss; dairy heifers, to £l2; good dairy cows and heifers, £.i to £9 10S; others, £5 10s to £7 10s; killable steers, to £ll 2s 6d; fat cows and heifers, to £9 10s; cows with calves at foot, to £6 17s 6d; weaner steers, to £3 ss; weaner heifers, to £3.

THE WOOL MARKET NEXT LONDON SALES FIRM TONE EXPECTED-; , LONDON, May 3 The third series of the 1938 London wool sales will commence on May 10 and conclude on May 20. The catalogue totals 90,800 bales, including 35,000 bales of Australian and 40,750 bales of New Zealand wool. - Dalgety and Company, Limited, has received the following cablegram, dated May 4, from its London office:—List .of arrivals closed May 2. The following vessels in which we are interested have arrived for the wool sales: —Matakana, Surrey, Rangitiki, Cornwall, Dunedin Star, Waiwera, Akaroa, Zealandic, Port Auckland, Durham. Wo will sell on May 10, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Expect firm markets. If any change in price takes place it will be in favour? of sellers.

COMPETITION IN SYDNEY / BEST AUCTION OF WEEK (Received May 4, §.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 4 At the Sydney wool sales to-day, 11,491 bales were offered, of which 10,020 were sold. A further 2116 bales were sold privately. There was strong general competition, a strengthening demand for spinners' wools, and the market was at its best point for the week. All other descriptions were very firm. Greasy Merino made up to 2ijd. BREAD AT 8D A LOAF POSITION IN JOHANNESBURG WHEAT SHORTAGE FEARED [from our own correspondent] JOHANNESBURG, March 21 The rise in the cost of living has been greatly occupying the minds of the Government and people of South Africa, and an outstanding example of the higher costs is reflected in the price of bread. The Union of South Africa already claims the distinction of having the dearest bread in the Empire, although it grows its own wheat requirements, imports being actually prevented. Fears of a shortage this year have led to several advances iu the price of bread, although the official view is that there could be no shortage until next September. Eventually the rising price for flour led the bakers, to increase the price of bread, however, and in Johannesburg this staple foodstuff went up from 7d to Sd.per 21b. loaf. Women's associations made very strong protests. The Government also was perturbed and called a conference of millers, bakers and producers to endeavour to find means of avoiding this advance.

Ihe conference hammered out a scheme for "stabilising" the price of bread, the Government viewing the deliberations most. sympathetically, although it is understood that the proposals will involve a considerable sacrifice in railway revenue on the Stateowned system by a reduction of freights to facilitate the movement of wheat in the country. The price of bread in Johannesburg promptly came down to 7d.