GOOD COMPETITION

Southland Times, Issue 19098, 16 November 1923, Page 5

GOOD COMPETITION

AT CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALES SPIRITED BIDDING "BETTER THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED.” (Special to the Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 15. When the wool sale opened this morning, there was the best filled bench of buyers since the sales have been resumed after the commandeer, and it waff early apparent that prices were going to be good. All the Bradford houses were represented, but several large buyers were evidently not prepared for the strength of the opposition. America competed for the special halfbred lines favoured by the Boston trade, and at least two houses in the States had commissions to fill for good bright threequarterbreds. Competition came from all round in a remarkably free manner, lines of wool being raised by 4d and 6d a lb with the result that in almost every case the valuations of brokers were exceeded. New Zealand mills bought with considerable freedom the wool suited for their requirements, and fellmongers were also very active. Easily the most pleasing feature of the sale was the better appraisements buyers placed on three-quarterbred and crossbred lines, and at least one Continental house competed freely with a Bradford for good crossbreds and the quality favoured by some of the Continental firms. ’ There were several new faces among the buyers, the operations of a South Australian house that has recently purchased a North Island wool business being considerable, especially for some of the better class halfbreds. The bidding of the representative of this firm was a strong factor in sending the halfbred prices along. “Better than we anticipated; better than anyone anticipated,” was the comment of the first broker to leave the rostrum. “Of course, the lighter and better condition of the wool this season has to be taken into consideration when making comparisons with the opening sale of last year.” BUYERS’ LIMITS EXCEEDED. BRIGHT COMPETITION ALL ROUND. RANGE OF PRICES. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 15. The first wool sale of the season was

opened to-day. A good sale was expected, but it is doubtful if either brokers or buyers expected such a keen demand. Brokers’ valuations were generally well below the eventual selling price. On the other hand, buyers, who possessed good limits and commissions to fill, did not anticipate being required to exploit them to the last fraction, and frequently without success. There was a particularly strong bench of buyers, most of the wool-consuming countries being represented. Local mills competed spiritedly for the best lines of Corriedale and halfbred, there being very little Merino forward, but the representative of an Australian firm, which has lately acquired a business in Auckland, kept pace with them for medium halfbred. Home and American buyers competed strongly also for three-quarterbred. Crossbred drew attention from all outside buyers, the Continental representatives purchasing heavily. Pieces met with a particularly keen demand, and the vigour of the market is illustrated by the fact that of 5000 odd bales offered only 140 were passed. The wool was in exceptionally good condition, being well-grown and clean, compared with the opening sale of last year Practically all classes advanced from 2d to 24d per lb, and on the January sale up to id on halfbred, Id to lid on threequarterbred, and Id on crossbred. The following is the range of prices:— Merino— Nov., 1922. Nov., 1923. Super .. .. 22d’to25Jd 26]d Medium .. 19idto21Ad -21idto24d Inferior .. 16id to 19d 18d to 20d Corriedale— Super .. .. 20d to 24d 23d to 26d Medium .. 17dtol9Ad 19d to 22Ad Halfbred— Super .. .. 20 Id to 23 Jd 23*}d to 25 3 d Medium .. 17d to 19|d 19$dto25td Inferior .. llAdtol6d 15Ad to 19id Three-quarterbred— Super .. .. 13d (olBAd 17fdto20Ad Medium .. lid to 12|d 15d to 17d Inferior .. BAd to lid to 144 d Medium Crossbred— Super .. .. IOAdtoISM 141dt016-]d Medium .. 9d to lOjd llsdtol4d Inferior . . 8d to 9d 9sd to 11 Ad Coarse Crossbred— Super .. .. Oidtolljd HAdtol3}d Medium .. 8d to 9Jd 16d to Hid Inferior .. 6d to 7Jd BAdto9jd Pieces— Merino firsts .. 21 Ad Halfbred firsts 13d to 18.|d 17Jd to 21 Ad Seconds . . 9d to 12id 13d to 17d Crossbred .. 4£d to 7d 7d to 14jd Locks— Halfbred .. 5d to 6d —to Bid Crossbred .. 4d to 5d 54d to 7]d Bellies— Halfbred firsts lldtol6Jd Crossbred 7dto9|d Crutchings— Medium to good 6Ad to lOd 8d to 12id

HOSPITAL BOARD MEETING OF MEMBERS. The monthly meeting of the Southland Hospital Board was held yesterday afternoon when there were present:—The chairman (Mr J. Matheson), Miss Dryburgh, Messrs C. Robertson, J. Fleming, Rhodes, Miller, W. Clarke, J. A. McDougall, H. E. Niven. E. Bowmar and T. Fraser. Leave of absence was granted to Miss Birss and to Mr Norman. The Director-General of Health advised that from December 1 the concessions of half rates to members of Friendly Societies for the admission of patients to King George V. Hospital at Rotorua and the Queen Mary Hospital at Hanmer Springs would not be further granted by the Department owing to the fact that there had been difficulties with some lodges in the matter. The Invercargill Fire Board wrote asking that arrangements be made for a conference between the Hospital Board and the Invercargill Fire Board regarding arrangements being made for driving the motor ambulance. Messrs Matheson and Fleming were appointed to represent the board at the conference.

The secretary of the Eden dale Progress league wrote advising that the League desired the question of appointing a medical man for the Edendale district be held over in the meantime.

Dr. W. A. Anderson of Queenstown wrote forwarding a cheque for £43 6s 6d, being •the amount raised by voluntary contributions collected by Matron Mcßae towards the purchase of a gramophone and records for the Lake County Hospital. The secretary of the Tauranga Hospital Board forwarded a copy of the following resolution passed by that board and asking the approval of the Southland board to the proposal so that steps might be taken to bring influence to bear on the Government to take action on the lines suggested:— “That in the opinion of the board, in the case of wife desertion or other crimes, the allotment on behalf of the family of wages earned by a prisoner commence immediately instead of as at present, when three months of the sentence has been served.”—Approved.

The application of Frances McGearty of Wallacetown for admission as a nurse to the hospital training school was accepted.