CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALE

Chronicle (Levin), 28 January 1947, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALE

OHBISTCHUKt'H, Jan. 27. Prices for extra super liue wools were fully up to December rates at the seeond main Christchurch wool sale- today but eoarsor lialfbrods, threequarterbreds, erossbreds aud all lioggets were lower. fdome of tlie plainer coarse wools were down lid. The cat^logue of 34,458 bales was among tlie largest ever offcred at Christchurch. The total was built up by tlie inclusion of a large quantity of Northern Marlborough wool not usunlly sold here. Tlie prewar standard of extra super fine halfbreds was not maintained at this sale partly because all wool was lower in quality following the bad weather in spring and early summer and partly because of a larger admixture of Romney blood to meet the wartime demand for heavier lambs. The cata logue nevertheless was an attractive offering. Bidding was at all times j slow. The opening was ftrm for everything except hoggets but late in the morning the basis of values was against coarser wools by as much as lld. At that level prices were maintaiued to the end. - Though not as higii as at the first sale, prices were very satisfaclory and were a substantial advance on commandeer prices. Bidding from the Continent was strongly maintained on all classes and a large part of the catalogue was bought, for this point. Bradford buyers were fair]y quiet but were bidding' steadily up to limits on types to suit them. The local mills again took a large share of extra super wool. .There was some bujdng of specialities and J.O. was left rvith fewer than 50 bales. Top price ivas 41id for a.top lot ol: Marlborough Merino jof which several choice clips were offered. Halfbreds made to 301 d and Corriedales 37d. The top price is believed the highest at a New Zealand auction since 1923-24 and possibly the highest ever for Merino. • Of the total offering 1423 bales were of stock scoured wool. Extra super halfbreds and Corriedales made 34d to 37d, good to super 29d to 34d, average to good 25d to 28|d,.(and lower 20{td to 24§d. • , ■ Tlie bidding beeame' slacker over the final catalogue of 8000 bales and prices all round showed an easing. The sale of new wool conclud.ed at iT p.m., leaving 1400 bales of stock wool to sell.