WOOL UNCHANGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23226, 21 December 1938, Page 16

WOOL UNCHANGED

DUNEDIN SALE VALUES 90 PER CENT SOLD i HALFBBET) BRINGS TO 15JD CROSSBBEDS IN DEMAND [bt telegraph—press association] DUNEDIN. Tuesday The first Dunedin sale of the 1938 r 39 wool season was held to-day, when catalogues totalling 24,279 bales were offered. There was a full bench of buyers, representing all consuming countries. The quality of the wool on offer was generally not up to the standard of the usual first sale offerings at this centre. The dry conditions prevailing in the autumn, followed by a fairly severe winter, together with a marked shortage of feed, had an adverse effect on the clip of this province. The catalogues contained a fair percentage of hogget wool and a quantity of ewe wool. The former showed a slight tenderness in a number of cases, and the latter was inclined to be short and thin in fibre. North" Otago wools were better grown and freer from dust than usual. Central Otago clips varied in condition and were not up to last year's standard. Competition More Spread From the outset of the sale to the finish competition was keen and more 6pread, but buyers were operating on rigid limits. The Continent was the keenest operator, being well supported by Bradford. Germany and Japan were in the market only to a limited extent. American purchases were of small compass. Local mills were operating on lots suitable for their trade, but not to the name extent as in previous years on account of carrying substantial stocks. A feature of the sale was the keen competition for crossbreds. Fine wools did not command the same attention, but readily sold at the limits-available?. It was noticeable that skirtings were in strong demand, especially from the Continent. The only exception was fine crutchings, which were inclined to be neglected. The market can be stated to be firm on Timaru. Crossbred values were fair, considering the unsettled conditions, but fine wools were disappointing. In a number of cases growers were not inclined to meet the market, and this resulted in approximately 10 per cent of the total offering being passed at auction. Since the sale a number of passed lots have been disposed of. The top price realised at the sale was lojd for four bales of extra super fine half bred ewe and wethers. Other sales were m&de up to lod. Official Range of Prices The following is the official range ©f prices:— d d Merino — . Super .« >• Average .. .. 10% to ll A Inferior .. .. 9% to 10/1 Fine Halfbred,-56-58's — •*.; Extra super .. 14 to 15% Super . .. 12 to 13/* Average .. •. Inferior ... .. 9 tolO/i Medmm Halfbred, 50-56's Extra super . • .. ■ . to 13% • Super .. •• llVitol2/i Average ... •• . 10% to 11 Inferior .. .. BVs to 10 Fine Crossbred. '4B-50's — E*tra supei- . .. to 18 Super .. Average .. •. 07a to 10% Inferior < .. .. 8 to to Medium Crossbred, 46-4S'a Super .. .. 11 to 12., Average .. 1 .. 9% to 10% Inferior .. • • 8 to 9 Crossbred, 44-46'b—■ Super . • »• 10% to 11/ t Average .. 9 to 10 Inferior * .. 8 to 8/ g Keeks and Pieces— Merinos ■ . Super .. 9% to 11/4 Low to medium 7% to 9 Halfbred: , ~ Super . - >• 10 toll Good to super .. .8 to 9% Low to medium *. 6 to <% Crossbred: v ♦ Super . .. ». 9 to 10% Average .. •• <%to 8A Inferior «« ... 6 to 7 Crutchings— Halfbred: ' . •. Medium to . good .. C% to 7% Inferior .. .. 4 to 5 Crossbred: . 0 ,, Medium to good .. 6% to 8% Inferior .. .. 4 to 6 lock*— Halfbred: ... . Medium to good .. 4% to 5/4 Crossbredi _ . ... Medium to good .. 3% to 4% r ' ' • The next sale will be held, at Wellington on January 9. The maximum goffering has been fixed at 24,000 bales. DECEMBER RETURNS CHBISTCHURCH AUCTIONS I MARKED DECLINE IN VALUES _____ <9 i THREE YEARS COMPARED [by telegraph—own corrkspondent] CHBISTCHUBCH, Tuesday The following table gives a comparison of returns from December wool sales in Christchurch this season, last season and in 1936:

1030 1037 1038 Offered (bales) 28,547 23,051 23,887 Sold (bales) 28,060 22,856 23,370 ,Valll6 .. £631,679 £372,827 £312,058 Aver, per lb. 17.271 d 12.502 d 10.087 d Aver, a bale £22/10/2 £l6/16/3 £l3/7/3

The 1936 averages were considerably better than those for the last two years. The sale last December was also rather better than the three that followed it, as the Christchurch average of £l4 10s 5d a bale for the whole season indicates. The Dominion average for last season was £l4 6s 9d a bale.