WOOL VALUES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 12

WOOL VALUES

, SUPER SORTS DEARER CORRIEDALE TO 16|D STRONG LOCAL DEMAND CHRISTCHURCH OFFERING [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN" correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday As at almost all the New Zealand sales this season and at recent sales overseas, most buyers at the Christchurch wool sale to-day, particularly Bradford and Continental representatives, were tied to very definite limits. On good wools almost invariably after a noisy start bidding on a lot would develop into a battle among local mills, with America coming in strongly on suitable wools. Bradford was obviously strictly limited and took only a moderate amount of wool, as did Germany. Continental buyers operated steadily. Little buying was done on behalf of Japan. Super wools were definitely better than in December, tho advance being up to 2d, but ordinary top-making qualities were a full Jd down. Best hoggets were about Id dearer, crossbreds particularly. Lower counts were down by Id to l§d, tho market being about on a. par with late North Island rates. Locks and crutchings were easier and pieces*~were down by idThe offering consisted preponderantly of good to super halfbreds; with a very small showing of Merino and crossbred wools. Most of the standard North Canterbury ewe clips were represented, but in general the quality was not up to the very high standard usually seen at the second Christchurch sale. Good American Orders Local mills bought little wool at the December sale, where they are generally solidly in the market, and their appearance, in such strength this time had a very satisfactory effect on the t course of prices. They bought mainly the choicest wools, but also took a fair weight of ordinary qualities and, with tho United States, made the market for finer sorts. There were excellent American orders for choice hogget wools and where the quality was right the prices paid were well above those for similar wools at the December fixture. The Continent showed its usual interest in pieces and ordinary fleece, but. limits were rigid and even good competition from local mills nnd American operators could not keep the price of a great deal of the offering from falling when compared with December. Bradford bought very sparingly. The German buying was erratic, but a good weight was lifted for Germany. There was no appreciable Japanese buying. The Top Prices Up to the limits the bidding was keen rfnd widely spread, but there appears to be a most definite point beyond ■which most operators will not go. The top price for the sale was 163 d for two lots of Corriedale ewe, one of six bales and one of five bales, from the Havland clip of Mr. J. D. McCracken, and for four bales of Corriedale ewe from the .Kydal Downs clip of Mr. E. Ensor. The, top Corriedale price at the December sale was 15id. Halfbreds brought to 16Jd« that price being paid for- nine bales of ewe from the Fairfield clip of Mr. Wilfred Hall, Hororata. Halfbreds topped the December sale at 16d. The best Merino price of the,day was lod, which was paid for 17 bales from the Leslie Hills clip of the estate of Mr. Duncan Rutherford. From the Montrose clip of Miss Isabel Rutherford nine bales of ewe and five j bales of hogget equalled the top price. The best 'Merino price in December was 13d. j

The nest sale will be held at Inveron Friday. The limit fixed by the Wool Committee is 24.000 bales.

The Range of Prices The following is the range of prices: Merino, 64-70, 60-64— ' Extra super I. .. — to 15 Super »• .. 11% to 13% Average .. .. 10 to 11% Inferior .. «> 9 to 9% Corrifcdale — » Extra super .. .. — to 16% Super .. 12 to 14 Average .. " 10 to 11% Inferior 8% to 9% Fine half-bred, 53, 66-58, 56— Extra snper .. — to 16% Super .. 12 to 14 Average .. 10% to 11% Inferior ' .. 7% to 9% Medium halfbred, 50-56, 50— Super .. 11 to 12% Average 0% to 10% Inferior 7 to 9 Sxtra fine crossbred, 4860— Super .. •• 10 to 10% Average .. .. 9 to 9% Inferior 7 to 8% Fine crossbred, 40-48— Super .. .. 9% to 10 Average .. .. 8/« to A%' Inferior .. .. 7 to 8% Pieces — Merino: Good to super .. 9% to 11 Low to medium .. 8 to 9 Halfbred: Good to suoer .. 9% to 12% Low to medium 6 to 9 Crossbred: 7% to S% Good to super .. Low to medium .. 6% to 7% Bellies — Merino: Low to medium .. 8 to 7 Good to super .. 7% to 8% Halfbred: Good to super .. 7% to 8% Low to medium .. 6% to 7% Crossbred; Good to super .. 0% to 7% Low to medium .. 5% to 6% Crutchings— Halfbred: Good to super .. 6 to 73/ Low to medium .. 3% to 5% Crossbred: Good to super .. 6% to 8% Low to medium .. 3% to e Locks— Merino .. ., 3% to 5% Halfbred .. .. $V, to 5% Crossbred 2% to 4