FARM AND STATION NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22718, 2 November 1935, Page 3

FARM AND STATION NEWS

By RUSTICUS.

1935-36 SHOW SEASON FORTHCOMING EVENTS Shows htve been arranged for the following dates during the 1935-36 season:— 1935 November 1 and 2.—Timaru. November 6.—Kelso. November 7,—Ashburton. November B.—Rangiora. November 14 and 15.—Canterbury Metropolitan, at Christcaurch. November 19.—Waimate. November 21 and 22.—North Otago, at Oamaru. j. November 23.—Taien, at Outram. November 28 and 29.—Clutha and Matau, at Balclutha. November 30.—Winton. December 3 and 4.—Gor«. December 6.—Wyndham. December 7. —Tokomairiro Farmers Club, at Milton. „■„'., .. December 10, 11.—Southland, at Invercargill. '„ . , December 14.—Otago Peninsula, at Portobello. !936 January 11.—Blueskin, at Waitati. January 18.—Waikouaiti. January 24.—Palmerston and Wameroo March 14.—Upper Clutha, at Pembroke. March 21.— Tejnuka and Geraldine, at Winchester. _ April 13.—Mackenzie County, at Fairlie. WOOL-SELLING SEASON ROSTER OF SALES The New Zealand Woolbuyers' Association has issued the following list of sales for the 1935-36 season. The first sale •will be held in Auckland on November 26, and the last sale at Wellington on April 5, 1935 Nov. 26—Auckland Pec. 12—Chrlstcnurch. Dec. 2—Napier. Dec. 16—Timaru. D ee . 7—Wellington* Dec. 20—Dunedln. 1936 J*n. 6—Wellington. Mar. 3—Christchurch. Jan. II— Napier. Mar, 6—lnvercargill. Jan. 16—Wanganul. Mar. 11—Dunedln. Jan. 21—Auckland. Mar. 16—Wellington. Jan. 27—Christchurch. Mar. 20—Napier. Jan. 31—Ihvercargill. Mar. 24—Auckland. Feb. s—Dunedin. Mar. 27—Wanganul. Feb. 10—Timaru. Mar. 31—Christchurch. Feb. 15—Wellington. Apr. 4—Dunedln. Feb. 20—Napier. ' Apr. s—Wellington. Feb. 24—Wausanul.

Australian Wool Market Offerings at recenj Sydney wool gales commanded more widely distributed and stronger competition than during any period this season. Orders have been plentiful, and buyers eager to fill them. The auctions have showed a firming tendency, and that movement gathered force as the sales progressed. Values have been 5 per cent, higher. Good to best fleece lines. and the better class brokens felt the rise first, but burry fleece wools and skirtings, unless very faulty and poorly grown, subsequently participated in the improvement. ' On the average, prices have now recovered to the opening basis on September 2, but the " futures ,r market for tops in Antwerp has varied slightly, and is not quite equal to the early September level. The Bradford top market has moved upwards. Yorkshire proved a notable competitor, though gome buyers from that quarter are not yet operating in normal strength. Japanese competition continued strong, being the most consistent factor in the sale of topmaking wools. German buyers were prominent purchasers. France bought in fan volume, Belgium and Italy also supplying appreciable bidding. Australian millmeu were moderate competitors. Bradford Turnover Keturns issued by the Bradford Conditioning House show that the total weight of goods dealt with iu August was 5,039,7261 b. The figures were 901,3721 b higher than in August a year before, but were 701,0701 b less than in 1933. Turnover in tops totalling 4,034,4691 b showed a relatively similar variation compared with the two preceding years. During the eight months ended August 31, the total weight of goods dealt with was 67,792,7281 b, an increase of 16,340,0331 b on the 1934 figure, and an increase of 11.727.6571 bon 1933. The quantity of topa handled was 42,218,5411 b, being 8,109,7021 b more than in 1934 and 2,506,7841 b greater than in 1933. The returns indicate that a healthy consumption of wool was proceeding in the United Kingdom, but business m August did not display the excited gpurt evident in 1933, when values advanced so substantially, reaching their peak in January, 1934. Stocks of wool are not heavy, but fairly bulky quantities of yarns and fabric were

Item* of interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, 9»ith ■ view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to Rusticus, Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.

reported to be on hand a few weeks % ago. The situation, however, appears promising for good Yorkshire buying during the season, though no special rush to obtain supplies has eo far been noticeable. United States Turnover

The 'mills in the United States have been much more actively employed thlß year than in 1934. Figures issued by the Imperial Economic Committee show that the weight of wool used, apparel classes only, from January to June last, was 140,200,0001 b, clean scoured, compared with 87,600,0001 b in the first half of At the close of the half-year the stock of wool held by manufacturers and dealers I was 20 per cent, less than a year before. The 1935 clip of the States is estimated to total 426,500,0001 b, compared with 1934, 438,300,0001 b, nad 1933, 450,300,0001 b, It is, therefore, probable that the United States will be a larger importer of wool this season. Better seasons may result in the stock cutting heavier fleeces during 1936, but the number of sheep in the country will not show recovery, as the lamb crop for 1935 was only 27,600,000 head, the smallest total recorded since 1929 and 2,500,000 fewer than the average for the past five years. Exports of wool from Australia to the United States last season totalled 17,030 bales, the quantity a year before being 19,280 bales. Some Americans buying has already been perienced in Sydney this season, and an increased demand for super wools from that quarter is considered likely. The Use of Crossbreds . iThe wool market continues to show an unusual difference between the price of merinos and crossbreds. Fashion trended towards the consumption of the' former during the past year, both in knitted and woven goods, For that reason Yorkshire showed a decided increase in imports of merino this year, and a decrease in crossbred. So far no marked increase in prices for crossbreds has occurred, but mail advices indicate that a tendency exists to substitute the finer crossbreds and comebacks for merinos in Great Britain. It will be most unusual if that development does not extend. The following figures show the prices ruling for tops in Bradford during October of four years:— 1932.1933.1934.1935. d. d. d. d. 70's merino 24* 35 274 33 64's merino 22J 33* 26 31 60's comeback .... 22 314 24 29* 56's fine crossbred ~ 18 22* 19 20J 50's medium cross- , bred 13 15 & 14 15 , 46's coarse crossbred 10* 111 10J 12J The decided rise in merinOs and comebacks, compared with the depression year of-1932, and the small advance in crossbreds, are noticeable. The Australian Clip A substantial reduction in the offerings of Australian wool during the current season is predicted in the monthly review of Messrs H. Byron Moore, Day and Journeaux. In addition to 24,000 bales, representing almost 1 per cent of Australia's total clip, destroyed m the recent fire at Goldsbrough, Mori's Sydney store,

I a reduced production of at least 267,000 ! bales is estimated. Added to these, there is a decrease of 128;000 bales in the carryover from last season compared with that from 1933-34. Very high prices are not desired, states the review. Producers do not want to see values which will encourage substitutes, and sellers do not want sudden lifts and an ultimate reaction which will find them loaded with highpriced stocks. Present levels, however, should hold. The initial improvement did not continue beyond the first gale, but prices, which became variable at subsequent auctions, tended to stabilise at a shade below the opening prices. This has been particularly evident in London. The average price for greasy wool realised over all centres in Australia during September was 12.27 d per lb, compared with 8.79 d in September, 1934. Increased Consumption Japan's wool consumption has trebled in 20 years and nearly doubled in 10 years (the review continues). A Japanese estimate is that 1,250,000 bales will be used 10 years hence. Japan is underquoting England for tops for export to the Continent. United States consumption of wool, under the impetus of returning industrial activity, has increased. This may result in increased buying orders from that country. Certainly it seems probable that Australian millmen will buy nore than the record 300,000 bales taken last season. The fact that military clothng is made chiefly from crossbred wool, rices of which remain relatively cheap, i evidence that there is no shortage of t particular class. The outlook re-i ins full of promise. The statistical ition is satisfactory, with the possiit.v of revised estimates showing an

even greater shrinkage in the total Australian clip—with the fire loss still to be added. World demand is good, and there are no heavy stocks in millmen's hands. Altogether, the continuance of present satisfactory prices seems assured.