CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21579, 26 February 1932, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALES

SUPER QUALITIES EASIER (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 25. The third wool sale of the Christchurch series was held to-day. The catalogue totalled 24,491 bales, of which about 22,000 bales sold at auction. There was a full bench of buyers, and the bulk of the wool was taken by Bradford and the Continent. Japan bought sparingly. Super wools were down fully id on the January rate, and shabby wools, particularly crossbreds, were also in weaker demand. All medium and serviceable wools sold at January rates. The following i s the range of prices:— Merino— Super, BJd to 9Jd. Medium, 6fd to Bd. Inferior, 5d to 6jd. Corriedale — Extra super, to 11 Id. Super, 9Jd to 10Jd. Medium, 8d to 9d. Inferior, 54d to 74d. j Fine halfbred — \ Extra super, Hid. Super, 9ld to 10jd. Medium, Bid to 9d. Inferior, 6d to 73d. Medium halfbred — Super, 83d to 93d. Medium, 7id to Bid. _ Inferior, 5d to 7d. Coarse halfbred — Super, 7ld to BJd. Medium, 6d to 7d. Inferior, 4Jd to s.fd. Fine' crossbred — Super, 6d to 7id. Medium, 4Jd to sfd. Inferior, 3id to 4d. Medium crossbred— Super, 4Jd to sJd.' Medium, 3Jd to 4id. Inferior, 2Jd to Sid. pieces— Good, fijd to 93d. Inferior, 2-Jd to fid. Bellies — Good, 4gd to 63d. Inferior, 2jd to 4id. Cm tellings— Medium to good, 2d to 4d. Inferior, Id to lid. Locks— Best, 13d to 23d. Inferior to medium, Id to lid.

MAIN BUYING POINTS THE CONTINENT AND BRADFORD. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 25. The catalogue was not up to the standard of the January auction, A substantial proportion of it was represented by back-country clips, heavy in condition and lacking the brightness of wools forwarded at the earlier sales. Though dominantly a fine wool catalogue, there was a larger proportion of crossbreds, this class being carried over from preceding catalogues to a greater extent, doubtless on account of the weaker demand for it. The sale, though erratic, was a satisfactory one, considering the recent trend of the market, and the quote was up to expectations. Super wools and shabbier grades were both easier, the former by per lb and the latter up to id. Average to good serviceable wools, particularly the finer qualities, sold at the level of the January sale. A big P r PP° rt '?s of better wools ranged about 8M to a lb. Shabby crossbreds met with scant attention, and competition for them was very restricted. Only occasional lots ot the best class reached the 5d mark, and a big proportion sold at 3d to 3>2d. The main buying points were the Continent and Bradford. A heavy bulk of the finer wools went to the French and Bradford representatives, and the Bradford market also purchased a substantial proportion of coarse wools. Germany also bought a fair weight of wool. Local mills secured a small share compared with their January purchases. One mill operated freely, one or two others sparingly, and the balance were practically out of the market. The competition of local mills was the mam factor in the keen market for super wools at the January sale, and their reduced activity no doubt was an influence in the easier prices to-day for super wools. Small quantities were bought on Japanese account. Pieces sold irregularly, but were easier. Local fellmongers secured a fair proportion of erutchings. At the third sale last season, held on March 3, there was a sharp rise of 2d to 3d a lb on the rates ruling in January, at which sale the prices were the lowest of the season. Japanese competition was responsible for the sudden improvement at the March sale last year. The top price of the sale was for five bales of halfbred ewe. The next half bred price was lid for three bales of studs. Seven bales of halfbred ewe sold at 10jcl and nine of hogget at lOd. Six bales of halfbred also sold at IOJd. Corriedale top price was lljd for 22 bales of the same clip that was sold at lid at the January sale. Top Comedale price was 12Jd. The best merino figure was 9i}d for nine bales, and three other station lots brought 9d. Eleven bales of clip described as three-quarter-bred sold at 9d, and crossbred made in one case 71d. this figure being for the second lot of the offerings. The passings totalled 2200 odd bales, or about 9 per cent, of the offering.