AN OFFICIAL DISSERTATION.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 January 1914, Page 2

AN OFFICIAL DISSERTATION.

Apropos of tlie article foregoing, tlie official report oi Messrs Dalgety and Co. Ltd, on tlie Wellington wool sales neld last Wednesday comes with peculiar appropriateness. The report begins with a reference to the presence at the sale of buyers from American, Bradford, and European buying houses, as well as New Zealand woollen mills' and Wellington buyers. From the outset of the sales it was noticeable that buyers were keen--to get . all tlie wool possible and animated bidding was a feature of tlie sale. There were 'more buyers operating than at the December sale, those from Bradford being more in evidence while the Continent were well to the front with higher limits for finer wools. Competition from America was slightly better than at the December sale. The total quantity catalogued by all brokers was approximately 12,400 bales as against 25,855 bales at the January sale of 1913, the difference, being caused mainly owing to the serious delay in shearing operations owing to the excessively wet weather throughout the district, and some wool being shipped to London because of the recent drop in prices. There was very little difference in tlie condition of the wool when compared with December sale, and some was cai'rying a fair amount of seed. The majority of the clips were carefully got up, and some of the Romney wool opened out attractively. The bulk of our catalogue- comprised! good to fair crossbred wool. Hogget wool was in fair condition, and was not so tender as that offered in December sale, although tick stain was noticeable throughout. Since the December sale | growers have prepared themselves to face the drop in the max-ket, and the prices ruling in December have now been considered as satisfactory, and the nett returns have been good. Advices from London continue to prove that the woollen trade in Bradfox'd is dull and dragging, while America seems unlikely to operate to any great extent before probably next season. The Continental demand, however, is good and they are holding up the market. In Wellington this week there was a better tone in the markei, which can be described as firmer, and showing ail advance on December rates of from par io a farthing on coarse, medium and fine crossbreds. Halfbreds were, if any thing, inclined to be in the buvcrs' favour."