PRICES EASING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 972, 15 May 1930, Page 13

PRICES EASING

N.Z. STOCK MARKETS YESTERDAY’S SALES Reviewed by R.W.C. An all-round tendency to drop to lower price-levels was shown in the principal stock-selling centres of the Dominion yesterday; following the withdrawal of buyers for export, there seems to be a general tendency to move toward lower prices. Movements in the principal stockeelling centres over the past month or so have indicated that the freezing season has closed with a greater surplus of fat stock left over than is usual in a normal ’season, and, with the supply tending to be greater than the demand, prices have only the one course. The factor which saved the Westfield beef market yesterday was the unusual strength of one of the bigger buyers on the cow beef section; although the yarding of approximately 500 cows and heifers was one of the biggest of the season, prices held practically on a par with late rates, one buyer taking the biggest part of the old cow beef. The ox beef entry at Westfield was made up mostly of good quality medium-weight steers, which sold at late rates. Best ox made to 375; ordinary prime ox sold from 32s to 35s 6d a hundred; best young cow and heifer beef made up to 33s a hundred; ordinary cow beef from 25s to 28s a hundred; old cow made from 18s a hundred upward. A heavy entry of calves was made up of an appreciable percentage of well-nourished station sorts, but there was also a noticeable percentage of calves which were only poor stores. There was a heavy yarding and prices, generally, showed a decided decline on last week; big-framed calves were dull of sale, except in a few instances Where buyers were out to fill special orders. Good sorts of well-nourished station calves sold from £3 10s to £4; runners made up to £7 10s for a special pen but, on the general run of the sale, very little made over £5. Rough stores sold at from 10s upward. Heavy Yarding of Sheep There was a heavy yarding of fat sheep, and prices declined from Is to Is 6d a head all round. The average quality was good, several lines of extra choice station wethers coming forward, heavy prime wethers made up to 28s; medium, 23s 6d to 25s 6d; extra choice young maiden ewes made to 23s 9d; heavy prime ewes, 16s to 18s; others, from. 12s. Lambs sold at from par to slightly below late rates; heavy prime made from 21s to 23s 6d. Pigs sold at practically unchanged rates, fats making an average equivalent to 5Jd to 6d a lb; good stores made to 30s. Johnsonvifle Market At the Johnsonville market yesterday there was an average yarding of cattle and a large yarding of sheep. Prices for cattle were slightly easier than last week’s rates. Wethers were in keen demand at prices slightly firmer than late rates, but ewes were dull of sale, showing a decline of 2s to 2s 6d a head as compared with last week’s sale. There was very little demand for lambs. Prices were: Bullocks, heavy; £ls to £ls 17s 6d; bullocks, £l2 to £l4 2s 6d; cows, light, £4 to £5; vealers, light, 10s to 31s; wethers, heavy, 25s 6d to 29s 4d; ewes, heavy, 18s to 22s 9d; ewes, 14s Gd to 16s; lambs, 13s 6d to 26s lOd.

Stortford Lodge Market Easier At the weekly Stortford Lodge (Hastings) sale yesterday, a medium yarding of sheep and cattle came forward. There was a good attendance of buyers. The stock offered was of average quality, but bidding was poor, prices decreasing as the sale progressed. Shorn wether lambs made 7s to 13s 3d; woolly ditto, 9s to 11s; wethers, 17s to 18s 6d; young ewes in lamb’ 15s to 20s; five-year ewes, 8s to 14sempty ewes, 5s to 8s; fat bullocks, £lO 10s to £l2 12s 6d; fat cows and heifers, £5 to £9 ss; mixed-sex P.A. and H. weaners, £3 5s to £3 12s 6ddairy cows, £ 3 to £ll ss. Cattle Cheaper at Addington The feature of the market at Adfemgton today was a further decline in tat cattle values, the drop at today’s sale being £l and up to £1 10s a Head for all classes. Fat sheep values were also a little easier, especially for wethers; The fat lamb sale was good, and fully up to late rates* Adult store sheep sold dully throughout, and values were easier. Store lambs sold satisfactorily. ™? Xtra . Prime fat made to 27s l°d; prime, 22s to 24s 6d; medium lambs, 18s 6d to 2ls 6d; extra prime ’ss M t 10 30 - 10d: Prime, or S to 2Ss medium, 22s 6d to -us, light, lis to 225; extra heavy fr 6 dt e o w 2 e i maae to 23s 7d: prime ' An entry of 546 head of fat cattle beef a 111 sale - Best medium-weight beef made from 35s to 38s a hundredmedium quality made from 2Ss to 31s from Pr ™? h6aVy steers made 10s to £ £ll to £l7, Prime heifers >

Fat pigs sold at late rates. Porkers averaged 7d to Sd a lb; baconers el