Commercial

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 August 1915, Page 2

Commercial

BANK Oi- NEW ZEALAND'S i'KODI'CE SALES. London, July ihe lilth series ol wool sales commenced hcrc.on 2 ( Jth ult. Since the close of last Sales, trade in the manufacturing districts has shown considerable activity, and this condition nas reflected at the opening, inuring the past month quotations for "top," particularly merinos, nave shown extraordinary advances, as will Lie rscon from our table below, there being a very keen enquiry lor hue and medium Comparatively speaking, the lower qualities are not quili> so dear, but even here a largo enquiry is being met with, and as soon as any large orders are placed, advances commensurate with those made m i higher qualities may be expected. The advance in the price ot "tops" has been due to the difficulty experienced in getting wools combed, owing to the shortage of labor, etc. Coupled with the phenomenal demand which is being experienced, a decreasing output has tj be contended with, and both combers and top makers are unanimously hi the opinion tnat this is likely to bo less rather than more. .Altogether the present position ol affairs is unprecedented, and what the liiial uptshot will be time alone can tell. At the opening sitting there was a full attendance ol buyers, and competition on the whole was good. Good combing merinos, both scoured and grease, met with a good demand, being on average i J per cent, dearer than the close of last sales. v The demand, however, lor faulty caruonisiug wools was only moderate, and prices were practically unchanged. Crossbreds were again a very strong market, and generally real iseu tne expectations formed belore the sales began, these were quoted par to o io '(J per cent dearer, and good hall brcds were in exceptionally keen request, and showed an advance of o to ti per cent. Slipes, in moderate supply, siiowed no ciiaiige ironi last sale-* prices, especially tne combing descriptions, but woois oi a snort clotniug cnajacter. suitaole lor woollen inauulacmre aiiu ulanket purposes were oit„*n iu to Xu. per io. ueticr. vrossbrcu lambs worn in lairly large supply, ami sola readily at very mm prices, kincc tne opening uay buyers nave been lureisiicu wiin much better catalogues, ana tne sales liave gone stionger than-ever Good siialty merinos- may now be jajted 10 to io per cent, and crossbreds o to / J per cent better than the closing quotations oi laot series. Hemp.—ihe tendency oi the Uxaiu"t remains unchanged and quiet. The demand is small, but there is not a great# deal olloriiig in second hands, and veiy little from the dominion. Quotations loi arrival are£32 lor good lair May-July, Oi lor high-point May-July, and Os to 10s lower lor more distant. Spot prices are about the same as May. July, and near at hand. Tow is scarce, and nominally worth Jtl i. Sheepskins.—The iourth sale oi ill's year took place on 23 and 2-1 th imst', belore a good attendance "■ of buyers, and competition was keen loir all fuilwoolled skins, prices lor both meriuob and crossbreds ruling from o to 10 per cent, above last sales' quotation. There was also a good demand lor lw ed skins, prices appreciating fully 0 pe* cent., but short were neglected, and prices were practically unchanged.