WOOL PRICES VERY FIRM

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1933, Page 7

WOOL PRICES VERY FIRM

GOOD CLEARANCE AT TIMARU

CHRISTCHURCH RATES EQUALLED.

PUBLIC SHOWS KEEN INTEREST.*

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Timaru, Last Night.

The opinion of all concerned is; that the first wool sale of the season in South Canterbury was a splendid one from all points of view. Opinion expressed prior to the sale was that prices would be firm on the recent auction at Christchurch, and this ’ proved correct, prices being on a par to a farthing dearer than at Christchurch. Growers had been favoured with a fairly good season and it was expected the wool would open up in fairly good condition. This also proved to be the case, the majority of thed.clips being freer from dust than those offered at the Christchurch sale. The wool "was sound and well grown, but the opinion of some was that it was perhaps a half-quality coarser than that offered here last season. This was accounted for .-by the weather experienced in recent'* months.

The bench of buyers was fully representative of all consuming countries, and competition throughout was most keen, hardly a single lot being neglected. Most competition came from the Continent of Europe, with Japan more in the market than at previous sales at Timaru. Continental buyers went after fleece wools freely, with France taking pieces often at extreme prices. Bradford representatives were fairly quiet, though they made their presence felt when lots suitable to their requirements came under the hammer. Dominion mills also came into the market for suitable offerings. In the first four catalogues passings were remarkably few, and though in the final catalogue prices failed to reach growers’ reserves in a few instances the total passings were practically negligible.

Super Merino brought and the top price for halfbred was 21|d, inferior realising 16d. Three-quarter brought from 13fd to 19Jd, crossbred 6Jd to 15fd, and Corriedale from 15}d to 19Jd. . The official range of prices is:—

Merino— pence lb. Extra super . —— Super to 205 Average . 17 to 20 Inferior . . 15J to 161 Fine Halfbred, 56/58’s— Super . . -to 21f Average . 47 to 19| Inferior ...,Si4J to 161 Medium Halfbred, 50/56’s — Super . 16J to 18 Average . 141 to 161 Inferior — Three-quarterbred, 48/50’s— Super to 172 Average . 131 to 15 Inferior . 105 to 13 Crossbred, 44/48’s— Super , to 121 Average ’ . 81 to 11-1 Inferior . 6 to 8 Pieces— Merino '. . 131 to 18:1 Halfbred, good to super ... . 16 to 201 Low to medium . 121 to 15 Three-quarterbred . .11 to 14J Bellies— Merino . 13 to 15 Halfbred . 13 to 15J Tiiree-quarterbred . 9 to 12 Crossbred . 61 to 8 Crutchings— Medium . 71 to 13 Low . 5 to 7 Locks— Merino . 6 to 9 Half bred . 6 to 81 Crossbred . 4 to 51