SALE ABANDONED.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1926, Page 3

SALE ABANDONED.

EX ROUT BUYERS .NOT OPERATING CHRISTCHURCH. Jan. S. An experience uni<|iie in the history ol the stock markets in Canterbury is reported from Hawanlen. For the fortnightly market yesterday there was a yarding of 1857 fat shoe]) and lambs, the greater portion of the entry being of prime (pialiy. No sooner were the sheep penned than word went round that, owing to the glut aL tile freezing works and the uiicertainity of (lie attitude likely to lie taken up by the butchers in regard to the refusal of their application for an increase of pay. it was probable Unit the sale of tats would have to he abandoned. Before noon it was generally known that the local export buyers bad received definite instructions from their principals that they were not to operate, and only one buyer put in an appearance from Christchurch. For some time there scorned to lie an indecision as to what was to he done, but eventually the Hag went up at the pen of lambs first to he offered. Mr Bruce, for Messrs I)algely and Co., started the sale, without comment on the situation, with a pen of eighty lambs which, based on the prices ruling at Addington the previous day, should have been worth about 27s lid each. 'Flic highest bid. however, was 24s 3d. which, of course, the owner refused to accept and thereupon Mr Bruce explained the position to the large number of farmers present, confirming the report that tlu> export buyers could not operate. He suggested that it would he wise to cancel the sale of fats, and appealed to Mr .). Fv. Forrester. chairman of tho Saleyards C omaiiv, to decide what was to lie done. Mr Forrester unhesitatingly expressed his concurrence with the suggestion to abandon the sale, and it met uilli 'the approval of all interested. It was then decided to hold the sale on Tuesdav next if conditions were lnvourabe, and it only remained lor the farmers to take their sheep home again, which to some meant a second weaij drive of several miles on a very hot day. Two or three rather than uw.ortaite this sold their lambs privately at the host price offering.