THE WOOL SALE

Wairarapa Age, 22 February 1924, Page 8

THE WOOL SALE

BROKERS’ REPORTS. LEVIN & CO. Lovin and Co., whose prices we published yesterday, report:—The total offering was 34,500 bales, our catalogue representing 8105 bales. There was not such a large offering of supercrossbreds as usual at this sale, most of the showy wools having been sold in the earlier sales. There were, however,- a fair number of nice parcels in evidence. The quantity of merino and halfbred was limited. The bulk of the offering consisted of crossbred of good average quality suitable for Bradford and the Continent. Lambs wool was in good supply, and we had many nice lots. There was a good offering of bellies, pieces and locks, small lots which had been held over from the earlier sales and interlotted now. For all wools there was a good general demand at the best prices of the season, and we cleared 98j per cent of our catalogue at satisfactory prices. America was bidding freely for any super crossbreds, and we sold one line of 16 bales super 48’s classed by ourselves at 24d, and other lines at 20£d. Bradford. Italy, Belgium, France and Germany were taking all other crossbreds. Germany and Italy were particularly strong competitors for shabby and carding wools, which realised relatively the highest prices of the sale. Our bin wools (Kaiwarra brand) sold extremely well all through, and those growers who have adopted our system must be pleased at the results. Good lambs wool of fine staple and good length and free of seed was keenly competed for, and some high prices realised, but medium sorts lacking quality were irregular and not so easy to ■ sell. Bradford, France and Dominion mills were the buyers, but French operators were quieter than usual. Bellies, pieces and locks were wanted all round, and local scourers at last secured a fair proportion, but at an advance of 2d on previous sale. Crutchings rose to the high level of 15d for a special lot, but the average price was nearer 13d. The small supplies of merino and halfbred were taken principally by oversea operators. The Dominion mills were generally outbid. The small offering of merino makes comparison with last sale difficult. Several lines of Southdown touched 28jd. MURRAY ROBERTS.

Our catalogue was 4359 bales. Bidding was extremely free and on all good wools very keen, each lot being contested to the last fraction. Bradford buyers, took a large proportion of good length wools, but on short staple sorts were generally outbid by the Continent, especially in lots of fine quality or dingy and poor coloured wools. French competition was not nearly so keen on lambs’ wool as at last sale, and in many cases was lacking altogether, medium lambs being rather easier in consequence. Fine quality lambs sold up to last sale’s prices, and in some really good lots show advanced prices. Compared with last sale a general advance in prices of fleece wools was apparent, coarse showing fully Id per lb advance and finer sorts from Id to lid, and often more. We sold: J.P./Te Whiti M xbd W 16d, coarse do. 14Jd; TAPUI, Rom 17id; TOTARAS, Down lambs 22d; REWA REWA, A 19Ad, B 17d, lbs 22d.

N.Z. LOAN & MERCANTILE AGENCY CO.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report:—Catalogues totalling 34,500 bales were submitted, and approximately 95 per cent of the offering was sold under the hammer at prices which can be looked upon as representing the peak of the present selling season. The selection of woo] was well up to the average. A noticeable feature was the absence of seed, which was largely responsible for the high level of values. Australia purchased the bulk of the short stapled wools. Southdown and halfbred merino were in very good demand, and halfbreds, which were in small supply, ruled at the highest level of the season. Romney and low quality wools met with exceptionally strong competition, and the price realised show a slight advance on the values established at Napier. Crutchings were in exceedingly keen demand, and showed an advance on last sale of 3d to 4d per lb. Lambs wool was not of such good quality and last sale’s rates were barely maintained. We had a very satisfactory sale, disposing of 95 per cent of our catalogue. Clips classed by us in store on owners’ account were eagerly competed for by buyers and realised some very high averages. A very pleasing feature of the sale was the strong and general competition for our binned wools* of which we offered about 900 bales.