WOOL PRICES FIRM.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20205, 16 January 1934, Page 4

WOOL PRICES FIRM.

Splendid Clearance Made at Auckland. NEW ERA OF DOUBLE FIGURES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, January 15. A clear indication of the buoyancy of the wool market was provided at the second Auckland sale. The upward trend of prices, which had characterised recgnt sales, was largely arrested, but the levels, which were generally firm at values established at Wellington a few days before, were from 25 to 30 per cent better than those which ruled at the opening sale at Auckland in November. There was a steady demand from a full bench of buyers, with occasional periods of brisk bidding. The general tone appeared to indicate that the era of double figuie prices ushered in by the first sale at Auckland was firmly founded The catalogue comprised 25,206 bales and there was practically a total clearance. In the case of one of the larger catalogues, passings amounted to only 1 per cent. Buyers spread their demand over all classes of wool, with the result that, while there were minor fluctuations on the latest Wellington rates, there was at no time any quotable alteration. Coarser types of cross bred were inclined to be erratic at times, and, in some instances, prices were a shade easier than the corresponding values at Wellington. Preliminary estimates place the average price per lb at approximately 12dd On this basis the price *per bale would be in the vicinity of £lB ss. Top price was paid for a line from Messrs Zimmerman Bros, Rangiriri four bales of Southdown fleece bring- | ing 243 d a lb. The sensation of the day was the passing in of the Waiti clip and that of Mr G Grnv. Cowe's Bay. Waiheke, at 25d. The line comprised twenty-five

bales of fine half-bred, and was passed to the bid of Murray, Roberts and Co., Ltd., who, it was reported, secured it privately at the figure offered. Germany was the outstanding competitor, and, with Japan, was responsible for most of the inquiry for fleece wools. Bradford operators, however, came into the market much more prominently than they did at previous sales in the Dominion this season, and .secured a fair proportion of the offer* ing. French interests were the quietest, but, as is usual with them, they paid particular attention to lambs’ wool and piece lots. Range of Prices. Following is the range of prices, together with that of the first sale:— Jan. 15. Nov. 27.

First Wanganui Sale. The first Wanganui wool sale of the 1933-34 season will commence at 8 o’clock on Friday morning, January 19, when a catalogue of 30,000 bales will be offered. Sydney Sales. SYDNEY, January 15. At the wool sales to-day 10,909 bales were offered and 10,315 sold, while 800 were sold privately. Discrimination continues to be shown for the best wools, but all other sorts are very firm at full late rates. Japanese competition was particularly keen, with good support from Yorkshire and the Continent. Greasy merino made up to 30Jd, for five bales from Yass and four bales from Uralla. The average price of wool sold in Sydney last week was £25 14s 3d per bale, or 214 d per lb. In the previous week the averages were £23 17s 6d per bale, or 19.3 d per lb.

cl. d. d. d. Superfine half-bred— 56-58 — to 25 192 to 261 Med. half-bred. 50-56— Super — to 21 18£ to 19* Average 191 to 2022 16 to IS Inferior .... 17i to 19 14 to 15 Extra fine crossbred, 4 8-50— Super IS to 201 151 to 162 Average .... 162 to 172 13 to 14J Inferior ... 14 to 16* 10* to 12* Pine cross-bred. 46-48— Super 15 to 16* 12* to 13* Average .... 133 to 15 10* to 124 Inferior .... 11* to 13* 9* to 10* Med. cross-bred. 44-46— Super 13 to 15 81 to 93 Average .... 11* to 12:{ 61 to 7“ Inferior .... S to 11 5 to 6 Coarse cross-bred, 40-41— Super Ill to 12 72 to 9 Average 10 to 11 5* to 7J Inferior .... 61 to 92 4* to 54 Low cross-bred, 36-40— Super 10 to 11 — Average .... 8* to 9* — Inferior .... 61 to 81 — Hoggets— Half-bred-Extra super 20 to 21* 211 to 252 Half-bred . 16* to 20 17 to 18i Fine 14 to 17 143 to 16 Medium .... 11 to 14 11 to 14. Coarse 9* to 12 8 to 10 Lam bs— I'owii 14 to 143 Pine, 46-50 12* to 16:{ 103 to 113 Mod.. 4 4-4 6 11 to 12 — Seedy and inf. 51 to 12 5* to 7* Bellies and pieces— Cross-bred— Good to super 97* to 14 6 to S

Low to med. 6& to 9 4 to 5} Half-bred Crutchings— 15i to 191 10 to 12 Med. to good 62 to 81 Si to Seedy and inf. Locks— 5 to 6* 32 to 42 Cross-bred 6 to 62 Si to 42