CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 108, 20 February 1950, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALE

COMMERCIAL

COMPETITION KEEN (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 19. The Christchurch Woolbrokers’ Association, in conjunction with the New Zealand Woolbuyers’ Association and the New Zealand Wool Disposal Comi mission, reports that the second Christchurch wool sale of the season was held on Saturday, when catalogues totalling nearly 32,000 bales were submitted on growers’ account to a full bench of buyers. The wool opened up' in the usual good condition, but in spite of the dry autumn and open winter with a consequent shortage of feed, most of the good clips were deeply grown and a little long for quality. This sale showed the best of the halfbred wools, which are now In comparatively short supply and competition for these was well spread and very keen. As compared with Christchurch December rates fine halfbred and fine Corriedales were from 3d to 6d per lb dearer. These rates are fully on a par with the last peak of the season, which occurred at Timaru on January 13. Medium halfbred and Corriedale wools, however, although fully firm to a shade firmer than the December Christchurch rates, were fractionally easier than was the case at the peak of the season. Deeply grown hogget halfbred woors were comparatively difficult to dispose of at prices comDaring with adult sheep. Strong halfbred and threequarterbred wools were also very firm on Christchurch preChristmas rates. Stronger crossbred fully reflected the recent price change in an upward direction which was so noticeable on me second day of the ] Wellington double sale. All sorts sold very keenly and finer varieties can be quoted as firm on the highest prices ruling in the Dominion during this season. Taken over all the sale was most satisfactory to vendors and the return to North Canterbury and Marlborough should exceed the average price of £55 per hale which was quoted as the result of the December auction. Bidding was well spread and most of the buyers, who completely filled the rostrum, obtained their selected lines of wool. High Prices

Top price was 843 d paid . for two first classing of five bales of Merino from the estate of J. Stevenson, Flaxton. The second classing of eight bales made 79d, four bales of hogget made 72d, and six bales -of bellies and pieces made 6,1 id. Other notable Merino sales were five bales from the Blackford clip’ of R. C. Todhunter at 793 d, and four bales at 7S3d, three at 76i, and four bales of pieces at 69d from the same clip. Blackford wool topped the second sale last year at 83d. Mr C. G. C. Harper, Alford Forest, secured 71 id for 14 bales of Corriedale while three lots of halfbred offered by Kingsbury Bros., Dorie, made 693 d. A second classing of 1 o bales made 62Jd.