Values on Parity to Half-Penny Dearer

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 60, 3 December 1937, Page 6

Values on Parity to Half-Penny Dearer

BRADFORD COMPETES WITH CONTINENT L ' From parity to a balf-penny dearer oa the Auckland Gffering was the market for the opening wool sale at Napier today. The market from the outset was more firm, showing a definitely improved tone. The market was well met, with the result that a surprisingly high percentage of clearance was^ affected under the hammer. General satisfaction is felt by those ooncemed in the offering at the greater activity shown, which led at times to keen competition taking place for certain lines. As at Auckland, the Continent predominated in the buying, but Bradford, which remained out of the market last Saturday entered into competition to pick up a percentage of lines. New Zealand tnins were all active, especially in the fine quality lots md secured many of the highest priced lines.

For the first three catalogues the highest price secured was 14d, for two lines of super hoggets,under the brands of Paeroa and .Cheviot, which were purchased by Eoss and Glendining for their New Zealand mills. The same money was made for a line of lambs nnder the brand of Rotoma. Allowing for the differenee in, yield between the Auckland and Hawke's Bay clips, the apparent hardening to-day was due to the better yield, which was brought about largely by seasonal conditions. • Although ■ prices did not show any marked advance on those xuling at Auckland on Saturday, a much healthier tone was displayed from the outset. Several buyers who did not operate at Auckland, to-day had buying orders, and, from the . animated bid- ' ding at times, it was apparent that all the representatives had received instructions to lift consignments. . The bulk of to-day 's offering showed a little more quality than the Auckland sale, while - itg scoured yield was slightly better than that at the first Napier sale last year. Further withdrawals reduced to-day 's offering to slightly under 20,000 bales. Owing to" the total clearance made last season, to-day offering consisted entirely of the new season 's clip. The top super lines from well known Hawke's Bay stations were attractive and lustrous, making very good handling. Pieces, bellies, and necks were totally different from those offered at Auckland, where the values were no criterion for to-day 's prices, which were not apparent on Saturday. Practically the whole of these lines were lifted by the French buyers, who to-day met with much keener opposition for the bulk wools. On Saturday buyers who were content to feel their way were to-day frequently on their f eet displaying an eagerness to purchase. Farmers to-day met the * market quite readily, with the result that 93 per cent was sold under the hammer during the first catalogue. An even greater clearance was affected when only 44 bales were passed out of approximately 3,400. The sale opened with an offering of a line of hoggets, which was greeted' with a chorus of whistles as it was knocked down at 12cL It was quickly apparent that this was not above the market rates. Good hogget wool ranged from llfd to 13d, with a few special lines from coast clips being a shade dearer. Fleece wools ranged from 9^d to 12£d, and.in some'of the clips the C grade actually sold better than either the A or B grade. • Necks made from 9£d to ll^d, the top price being for a good line under the brand of HH conjoined over Rimuroa. Lambs wooL on the basis of quality, sold at satisfactory rates, making from 12£d to 14d. "Wools reclassed in the store frequently met with keener com- , petition than those classed in the station sheds. Binned wools, due to their uniform. standard of quality, provided some of the best selling in the different catalogues. Practically the whole of the hogget wool in these lines was cardihg sorts, the sheep having been shorn as lambs. Bellies made to 7|d, crutchings to 9|d, and locks from 5| to 6d. Very little Southdown wool was offered, and, generally, it represented only. a m'oderate quality, which was not sought after, selling to 114d. The sale coneluded shortly before 2 o'clock, the selling occupying less than five hours. A firm market ruled for the opening catalogue and this wTas well maintained throughout. Japan appeared to take little part in the sale. New Zealand scourers were very active for all good types of bellies, pieces and locks, and assisted in sustaining the competition. Only 1725 bales were passed which represented a clearance of over 92 per cent. under the hammer, as against less than 30 per cent. at Auckland. Following Auckland 's offering, to-day 's sale. exceeded expeetations and is regarded as being quite satisfactory. . Mr. H. N. Galbraith, who occupied the benches for some years, and who to-day sold for the first time on behalf of the Hawke's Bay Farmers' Co-op. Assn., was warmly applauded by the buyers for the splendid manner in which he handled the catalogue.