WOOL-SELLING SEASON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22832, 17 March 1936, Page 10

WOOL-SELLING SEASON

FOURTH WELLINGTON SALE MARKET GENERALLY FIRM CROSSBREDS IN STRONG DEMAND (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 16. The expectations of growers and brokers were not disappointed at the fourth Wellington wool sale of the season to-day. Taking into account the quality of the offerings the sale was the best held in Wellington this season, the market generally ruling firm on the Dunedin sale last Wednesday. The quantity offered was a large one for a March sale, being 28,484 bales, as against 21,680 bales at the corresponding sale last year, and compared with the average offering of 30,710 bales at the December, January and February sales this season. Passings to-day were relatively few and the clearance at auction was over 95 per cent. Fine wools, which formed a small proportion of the offering, were generally firm, some “ speciality ” linos making advanced rates. Crossbreds, which met with a very keen demand, were firm all round and, compared with the February rates at Wellington, ordinary top-making sorts showed a rise of from id to id. There was a full bench of buyers, representing all sections of the trade. From the outset it was apparent that crossbreds were in strong demand, all classes meeting keen bidding. Frequently the eagerness of buyers to secure lots caused them to run ahead of the auctioneers and the recording clerks, whose energies were fully extended. Bidding was strong and wellsustained and frequently excited when the efforts of eight or ten buyers were concentrated simultaneously and at common levels for much-desired lots. In many cases buyers appeared to have fairly elastic limits. Bradford buyers, who at the earlier sales appeared to be holding off, were well in the market and bought extensively. The sale at times was dominated by them. Continental interests, however, were well in the running and forced the pace at times. There was also considerable buying on behalf of Japan. Local mills were not to be denied when lots suitable to their requirements came under the hammer. Taken all round the sale was probably the keenest held at Wellington this season and it proceeded with great vigour and at a rapid rate from start to finish.

Well over 9000 bales were dealt with during the first two hours, and when the dinner adjournment was made at 6 o’clock some 20,000 bales had been dealt with in slight'y less than four hours. Among the notable realisations were 15id for halfbred ewes and 15d for several lots of halfbreds, 15|d foi merino hogget, 12Id or super crossbreds, 12d for super ewes and up to 10}d for other lines of medium to fine crossbreds, lid to Hid for crossbred hoggets, and 12id to 13d for lambs. The following is the official range of prices, with the February prices given for the purpose of comparison:— Feb., 1036. Mar., 1936. Merino — , , , , d. d. d. a.

Extra super . — — Super .. .. 15i to 16 Average .. .. 13J to 14* 13i to 152 Inferior .. .. 13 to — 12 to 13i Fine halfbred 56/58 — Extra super .. 16 to •— 10 to 10i Super .. • • 15| to — 15i to 15| Average .. .. 122 to 15 122 to 15 Inferior .. .. 10 to 12* 11 to 122 Medium halfbred 50/56 — Extra super — Super .... — 13 to 15 Avcrge .. .. 12i to — Inferior . ■ • • 10i to 10J — to 9 to 12| 10| Extra fine crossbred 48/50 — Super .. •• Hi to 12 11 to 122 Average .. .. 8J to 11 9 to 11 Inferior .. .. 7 to 84 74 to 82 Fine crossbred 46/48 — Super .• • • 9J to 10j 10 to 11 Average .. • ■ 84 to 94 8| to 92 Inferior .. .. 6 to 8i 7| to 84 Medium crossbred 44/46— Super .. .. ' 9 i to 1O3 9* to 104 Average .. •. 72 to 9 82 to 9 Inferior .. • • 0 to 74 7 to 8 Coarse crossbred, 40/44Supcr .. . ■ 0 to 10 94 to 10* Average .. .. 72 to 82 8* to 9 Inferior .. .. 7 to 72 6* to 8 Low crossbred, 36/40 — Super .. .. 82 to 02 9? Average .. .. 8 to 84 8* to 82 Inferior .. ■ • 7 to 72 8 Hoggets— 48/50 8J to Hi 84 to 12 Fine, 46/48 .. 8 to 11 84 to 11* Medium, 44/46 74 to 10 74 to 10 Coarse, 40/44 .. 74 to 94 84 to UA Low, 36/40 .. 74 to 9 8* to 9 Lambs down — 50/56 .... — 10 to 132 Fine, 44/50 .. 9J to 132 94 to 13 Medium, 40/44 — 82 to Hi Seedy and inferior .. 54 to 82 5 to 10 Bellies and pieces, merino Good to super 104 to 14 .94 to 144 Low to medium — 72 to 102 Bellies and pieces, halfbred — Good to super 0 to 102 74 to 10 Low to medium 0 to 64 64 to 7 Bellies and pieces, crossbred— Good to super 62 to 82 6J to 9i Low to medium 5 to 8 42 to 73 Crutchings — Medium to good 62 to 9i 72 to 9 Inferior and seedy .. .. 4| to 7i 5.4 to 74 Locks — Merino . . • • 74 5i to 6 Halfbred .. 54 to 6* 64 Crossbred .. 4J to 64 44 to 64