COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 21288, 8 January 1931, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

ADDINGTON MARKET. SHARP DECLINE GENERAL. . Christchurch, January 7. There were very heavy entries in all the principal sections of the Addington market to-day and there were sharp declines on late rates in practically all major departments of the auction. Mutton sales were the lowest for over 25 years. The entry of store sheep totalled about 3500 head and included a fairly heavy consignment from Blenheim. The sale was dull and values were easier. The entry of .store lambs was about 2000 head and they also met with a very disputed auction at reduced; rates. Values were:—Halfbred two-tooth wethers 5/5 to 8/10, halfbred best two-tooth ewes to 13/2, best 4, 6 and 8-tooth crossbred ewes to 11/-, backward and aged ewes 3/- to 7/6, best m.s. rape lambs to 8/6, medium m.s. rape lambs 5/3 to 7/3, others to 4/-.

Fat Lambs: An entry of 4100 fat lambs compared with 950 at the last sale? It was easily the largest yarding of the season. Throughout the values were easier by 3/to 3/6 a head and the average price per pound was 5-lcl to 5Jd. The quality of the offering was not first class generally and a number of lambs were showing signs of the hot dry period. Values were: Extra prime lambs to 21/10, prime lambs 17/- to 19/6, medium lambs 15/- to 16/6, light lambs 12/- to 14/6.

Fat Sheep: The entry of fat sheep was 6000 head, the largest entry for some months. There were a number of large lines forward from outside the province. It was a very dull sale and there was a general sharp decline in values for, both classes. In the case of the ewes it amounted to from 5/- to 7/- a head and for wethers 3/- to 4/- a head. Export buyers operated cautiously. The values ruling were the lowest on record at Addington for over 25 years. Values were: Extra prime wethers to 20/7, prime heavy wethers 18/to 19/6, medium weight prime wethers 15/lo 17/6, second quality wethers 10/- to 14/6, light wethers to 9/-, extra prime ewes to 17/1, prime ewes 10/6 to 13/6, medium ewes 8/- to 10/-, light ewes 5/6 to 7/6, aged and inferior ewes 3/- to 5/-. Fat Cattle: The entry of fat cattle was 400 heart—not an exceptionally large entry but more than sufficient to meet the butchers’ requirements for one week. Throughout, the basis of values were lower than at the last sales in 1930, and the easing for all classes was from £1 10/to £2 a head. Best medium weight beef made from 33/- to 38/- per 1001 b, the top figure being secured for only the very primest light weight types of which there were not many yarded. Heavy beef made from 29/- to 32/-, cow beef from 25/- to 30/-, secondary beef from 21/- to 24/-, and rough down to 18/-. Values were:— Extra prime heavy steers to £l9 7/6, prime heavy steers £l3 10/- to £l6 5/-, prime medium weight steers £9 15/- to £l3, medium quality steers £7 to £9 10/-, light steers to £6 15/-, extra prime heifers to £l4 2/6, prime heifers £9 to £ll, medium heifers £6 to £8 10/-, light heifers £4 to £5 10/-, extra prime cows to £l2 10/-, prime cows £8 10/to £lO 10/-, medium cows £5 5/- to £7 15/-, light and aged cows £3 to £5. Vealers showed fair yarding but quality was very mixed. Graziers took a large proportion of harder sorts. Butchers’ calves sold at an advance on the rates ruling at the last sale. Values were: Runners £4 to £7 5/-, best calves 45/- to 65/-, medium calves 27/to 35/-, small and inferior calves 10/- to 25/-.

Store Cattle: A full yarding of 130 head met with a very dragging sale, heavy passings being notable from the outset. The falling prices for beef cattle were naturally reflected in this section of the market and prices showed a further easing. Two to two and a-half-year-old steers brought from £7 5/- to £7 10/-, 18 months’ old steers to £3 15/-, fresh cows to £5, yearling heifers to £2, and potting bulls to £5 5/-. Dairy Cattle: The entry totalled 70 head. The quality was good, three attractive lines of first class heifers being included although prices were low. Good cows were well sought after up to a certain limit. Values were: good second and third calvers £9 to £lO, medium second and third calvers £7 to £B, aged and inferior £2 10/- to £6, good heifers to £ll 5/-, medium heifers £7 to £9 5/-, others £5 5/- to £6. Fat Pigs: There was a medium entry of baconers. The pork entry was rather .large for requirements the hot weather having influenced the demand. Values were:— Choppers £3 16/- to £5 18/6, porkers 24/to 44/-, heavy porkers 46/- to 51/6. Average price per lb 6d to 7d, baconers 55/to 65/-, heavy baconers 70/- to 80/-; average price ]>er lb 5d to 6d. Store Pigs: A small entry with weaners in shorter supply than usual. The entry was therefore comprised chiefly of stores. The basis of values remained firm. Values were: Large stores to 36/-, medium stores 29/6 to 32/6, slips 24/- to 29/-, weaners 24/- to 28/-. BURNSIDE MARKET. SALES GENERALLY DRAGGING. Dunedin, January 7. The only bright section of the Burnside stock sales to-day was the fat cattle sale and even this section was not particularly bright. Opening prices were on a par with those realized at the previous sale, but values finned for good quality beef and the closing sales showed a rise of about 10/- a head. There was a poor demand for sheep, lambs, store cattle, and pigs and all these classes sold at reduced rates. The fat cattle entry consisted of 182 head of medium to fair quality with a few extra prime animals. Heavy bullocks sold to £lB 10/-, medium £l6 15/-, heavy heifers £l2, medium £lO 3/-, heavy cows.£ll 15/-, medium £lO 15/-.

There was a yarding of 2100 sheep. It was a fair entry there being a moderate supply of prime wethers.. The balance of the yarding consisted of medium to light ewes and wethers. It was a dragging sale and prices for heavy wethers declined 1/to 1/6, light wethers 3/-, and ewes 2/6 to 4/- a head. Prime shorn wethers sold to 31/-, extra /heavy 32/3, prime woolly wethers sold to 24/-, woolly ewes 13/3. The prices realized for ewes were equivalent to about 3d a lb. In the yarding of 550 lambs there were several consignments of heavy sorts but the bulk of the entry' comprised lambs of medium quality. Heavy lambs sold to 22/3, medium 19/6, light 16/-. The demand was not very’ brisk and prices showed a reduction of 2/- a head. There was only a medium yarding of store cattle, about 100 head being forward. The entry included 25 head of mixed bullocks. Medium three-year-old steers sold to £6 5/-, cows to £lO a head. It was a dragging sale and prices were down about £1 a head. In the pig market 72 fats and 66 stores were offered. Porkers sold at a reduction of 5/-, baconers 3/-, small pigs 5/- a head. The prices realized for prime baconers were equivalent to Gd, and for prime porkers about 7d lb. STUD SHEEP AT FEILDING. The special attention of sheep breeders is directed to the third annual auction sale of stud sheep to be held at the Showgrounds, Feilding, on Tuesday, January 13. The entry comprises high-class sheep from the foremost pedigree sheep breeders in the Dominion and consists of 310 high quality Southdown and Romney rams and ewes, which will be sold in that order, the sale commencing at 10.30 sharp. We can confidently recommend the rams offering to those in want of good stock, representing the pick of the vendors’ flocks. Keep this elate in view and purchase your requirements for the coming season from the Dominion’s premier stud sheep sale. Luncheon and licensed booth on showgrounds. WELLINGTON WOOL SALE. KEEN COMPETITION. Wellington, January 7. The first wool sale in Wellington is being held to-day, the aggregate catalogue being 18,000 bales. There was keen competition which opened slightly under the closing rates in December. .Super crossbred of good quality was fully up to the December level, whilst wools just reaching the average grade were weaker by a farthing. Fully average wools are likely to keep to the December level, wools selling at 4Jd and 4.}d in December not quite reaching those prices to-day. Bellies and pieces were a farthing to a halfpenny cheaper. The wool offered was of good average quality, considering the poor season, but slightly heavier in grease compared with the December offering, yet bright in colour if lacking good growth. Bradford was active, while America was buying moderately suitable wools, and the Continent only fairly keen. There is very little old wool in the catalogue. DAIRY PRODUCE. Mr G. Blaxall has received the following advice from Messrs Lovell and Christmas, Ltd., under date January 6:— Butter: Market steady; 116/- to 118/-; exceptionally 120/-. Cheese. —Market flat and dull. White 60/-, coloured 59/-. Messrs Henderson and Co., Ltd., have received the following cable dated 7th instant from their London principals, Messrs Trengrouse and Nathan, Ltd.:—“Butter firm, but quiet at 118/-.” ( CHICAGO WHEAT. New York, January 6. Chicago Wheat: March 80J, May Sis, July 651 cents per bushel.