LOAN AND MERCANTILE REPORT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 389, 21 October 1933, Page 8

LOAN AND MERCANTILE REPORT

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., reports: Fat Sheep.—Prices remain as last, week, with a weakening tendency for ewe mutton. Considerable activity has been evident in the .lamb section, numlWs having been sold for forward delivery at what must be considered very fair prices. As far as can be seen this forward buying is mainly speculative, and it must be evident that forward buyers have considerable faith in the future.

The fat cattle position here remains unchanged, prices being on a par with last week. Supplies are becoming more plentiful, and butchers are only operating from hand to mouth. Forward buyers of white face lambs as lambed have been active and ituinbe.rs have been sold. Quotes of ewes for forward delivery are very few ,and it looks as though there is likely to be a shortage later. Several large liiujs have been sold at good prices and there are numerous other inquiries.

The demand for all classes of store cattle is very keen, no doubt owing to the plentitude of feed. At the Fordell sale on Thursday 1800 head of station cattle were yarded. Bidding was brisk and the whole yarding was sold at prices that were considerably in advance of previous sales. Buyers wore present, from all over the island, and appeared to be very anxious to fill their requirements. The demand for yearling heifers has eased, particularly for medium class cattle. Tops are still saleable at last, week's rates, but other sorts are rather neglected. For dairy heifers the demand in South Taranaki at least has very nearly petered out. Very few good heifers are left in Iho district, yardings being mostly made up Of from: medium to poor sorts, and prices remain accordingly. , As with dairy heifers, dairy cow sales are nearly finished. Very few good cows are left for sale. An excellent demand is still evident, for pigs, all sorts selling really well and yardings being good. Private sales during the week have been- Yearling heifers to £3 15s, fat heifers £4, white face mixed sex lambs to 15s, woolly fat ewes 1o ISs. in calf heifers to £5 10s, breeding cw r es to IGs. At the Kakaramen sale on Monday a fair yarding came forward, and practically everything was cleared. Store cows "made £1 10s to £2, yearling heifers to £3 ss, dairy heifers to £5.