NEW ERA OPENS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18257, 28 November 1933, Page 5

NEW ERA OPENS

THE OUTLOOK FOR WOOL KEEN AUCKLAND SALE RETURNS 150% Mil) HER ALL GRADES IN DEMAND (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. A better era for the woolgrowcr was foreshadowed at the first sale of the 1933-34 season, when expectations .if a substantial increase in prices, based on the trend of recent auctions in Australia and London, were more than realised.

Growers had the great satisfaction of seeing their clips disposed of at rates representing an advance of 100 per cent to 130 per cent on the average compared with the last sale in Auckland.

A crowded gallery of spectators followed the progress of tin* sale with evident satisfaction. The values were the best which have ruled at an Auckland sale since the beginning of tlie 1929-30 season. From the viewpoint of its comparative significance to the producer, the occasion was reminiscent of the memorable' sale of December, 1924, when prices soared lo an average of 23Ad per lb. The offering to-day totalled 23,768 bales. ' ' ABOUT .I*l3 A BALK Better classes of crossbred wools, and also halfbred types, were estimated to have brought an average of from .12(1 to 13d a lb., which was 100 per cent 'better than the prices paid for these descriptions at the sale last March, while the average over the whole sale was considered to be about 10(1 or lid a lb., which is 130 per cent better than for the March sale.

On tiiis basis, the price per bale for the wool sold would be in the vicinity of £l3, although the estimate is necessarily approximate. If this figure is confirmed when brokers come to .work out the actual details of the sale, it will mean that the Auckland province received over £300,000 for wool disposed of yesterday, compared with a return of £341,887 for three sales last season.

The average price a bale at the sale last March, when values reached their lowest level, was £5 3s 2d, the aggregate return being £01,318. At the opening sale last December, £3 12s 3d a bale was received, the income from the fixture being £132,018. On the latter occasion, however, the increased rate of exchange, on London, with its .influence in sellers’ favor, was not in force. A dominant feature in a good section was the strength of Bradford operators, who took the greater proportion of the offering. Continental representatives were keen bidders, while Australia and Japan came into the market whenever better class wools were put forward. France, as usual, paid particular attention to piece descriptions, but even in this section Bradford buyers Hfflde their presence felt, and frequently outbid their competitors. OUTSTANDING QUALITY % Japanese mills were apparently in searth of sound bright crossbred sorts or 48’s/50’s quality, and showed particular interest in well-skirted lines. All sections, however, contributed to the buoyancy of the sale. Not a single lot was neglected, and even old held-ovcr clips sold well. Under the general demand from buyers, levels were strongly maintained throughout, and the percentage of passings was negligible.

Additional distinction attached to the sale by reason of the fact that the wool put forward was of outstanding quality. Brokers and buyers were in agreement that the clip was the best yet offered at Auckland. A larger percentage of line sorts was included, and all kinds were well grown and attractively light in condition, indicating that the flocks had come through the winter well. Early shearing also played its part, in that it was completed before the fleece had become too heavy in condition, and before seed contamination could occur. Messrs. O’Brien Bros.’ top-priced Waiheke clip was referred to by one expert as the most beautiful wool he had seen anywhere in New Zealand, being, he considered, of perfect halfbred quality. The official report states: “There was a full bench of buyers representative ol all the wool-buying countries. Competition was animated, and the prices realised were in excess of anticipations. The bulk of the lines went to Bradford, with the Continent as strong competitors, and local mills securing all super lines of fine halfbreds. The top price realised was 25j|d per lb. for five bales of super half bred hoggets from Waiheke Island. Practically the whole of the offering was sold under the hammer.” THE RANGE OF PRICES The range of prices was as follows, the prices for March, 1933, being shown for purposes of comparison in parentheses ' Corriedale.—Super, 183 d to 23jd (nil); medium, 163 d to (nil). Halfbreds.—Superfine, 56/58. 193 d to 20 id (nil); medium 56’s, super, to 'l9-Id (nil); average, 16d to 18d (8/,il to 9'd); inferior, 14d to 16d (sjd to 6jd). Coarse half bred, 50*s.-Super, 163 d to 18.1 (nil); average, 14pl to 16/d (6jd J,o 7jd); inferior, 12d to 13Jd (3d to sd). Fine Crossbred, 48y50.—Super, 15jd to l6fd (nil); average, 13d to 14,',d (s{d to 6|d) • inferior, 10J,d to (2Jd to 4d.) Medium Crossbred, 46/48. —Super, 12-id to 131,(1 (nil); average, 10J,d to 12Jd (3J,d to 41,(1); inferior, 9jtl to lOpl (lJjd to 2Jd). Coarse Crossbred, 44/46.— Super, Bjd to to 3j-d); inferior, s<l to 6d (l£d to 2d). Low Crossbred, 40/44. —Super, 73d to 9d (nil); average, Sid to (2d to 3d); inferior, 4-id to s|d (lid to 2d). Hoggets.—Extra super halfbred, 21jd to 253 d (nil); halfbred, 17d to 18i<l (7d to 9id); fine, l4Jd to 16d (5d to 7pl); coarse, 8d to lOd (3d to 4<l). Lunbs. —Pine, 46/48, 103 dto 11-Jd (sid to 71,(1); medium, lid to 14d (4d to sd); seedy and inferior, 51,(1 to 7£d (Id to 4(1). Bellies and Pieces.—Crossbred, good to super, 6(1 to 8d to 3id); crossbred, 'low to medium, 4d to halfbred bellies and pieces, 10(1 to 12d (nil). . Crutchings.—Medium to good, si<l to 6id (2d to 23d) ; inferior to seedy, 33d to 4Jd (j)d to lid). Locks.—Crossbred, 3Jjd to 4jj4 (l£d),