Commercial

Levin Daily Chronicle, 24 May 1917, Page 3

Commercial

■ « LONDON MARKETS. BANK OF N.Z. PfiODUCJE REPORT. Under date of London, 23rd (February, 1917, the ißank of Nqw Zealand's London office reports:— Wool.—The first series of public sales for the current year commenced heTe on 4th ult., and terminated on 16th ult., whoa bales totalling 81,157 were brought forward. The first series of ii'l7 will be memorable for many reasons, the chief being that* this was the first occasion on which wool has been sold on Government account, lots being "withdraiwn from the catalogues for . direct consignment to mills' engaged on army contracts. It has been very clear from the whole course of the Auctions that confidence in December values has been disturbed, and viewed from whatever standpoint, the series must be described las disappointing. Trt ifch scarcely an exception new clip wools have eben eliminated from public sales, and consequently the trade fouad it practically impossible to correctly follow the course of values. It was quite apparent, however, that the Government had established two bases of values. While manufacturers engaged on army, contract work were able to satisfy their requirements ' at reasonable prices, buyers operating in connection with civilian and export trades were required to pay full rates for their purchases. Unfortunately the withdrawal by the Government from public sale of so many of our | wop's gave us no opportunity of passing judgment on the condition of the new clip, but the general opinion seems to be that it bears witness of a good season, and is light in condition. Under present restrictions it will therefore 'be impossible ,for us to furnish the customary bulk reports lon the various clips during the period of Government control and we would ask our clients to note this. Chief interests centre round crossbred, in small supply, the majority of the offerings being slipes. The market has been very irregular on the whole, prices for both merinos and crossbreds being distinctly easier. Slipes have probably shown the least decline of any class due, no doubt, to their growing scarcity, the end of the season now having arrived and also to the general utility of these wools for military purposes. Greasy haJfbreds have made 2s 4d, fine crossmreds 2s Id, and other .qualities Is lOd to Is lid. Good aliped half-bred lambs realized 3s, combing 2s 9d, fine cro-sbred lambs 2s 11", combing 2s 9id', with other elnses in proportion. These are the highest, prices reached during the sales, and with the possible exception of aliped crossbreds, it could he said- that the recorded at the previous auctions in December had now completely disappeared. Hemp.—There is no hemp on the market and quotations are quite nominal. Good fair, £65; 'high point fair £64; fair £63. LEVIN STOOK SALE. Messrs Dalgefy and Company Limited report having held their weekly sale at- I jot in on Tuesday, when they offerered a good yarding of sheep and cattle to a large attendance. In spite of the general slackness at. present prevailing, most of the entry changed hands at most satisfactory prices. Quotations: —Fat wethers and ewes 34s ; fat ewes to 33s 6d; forward owes 2oe to 27s 5d ; shorn lambs to 14s 7d ; woolly lambs 15s 7d; cull ewes 10s 8d; fat eow.s £9 15s to £12 to £15 17s

6d; a line of 26fat cows sold oil account of the Drake Estate averaged £13 '10s; forward cows £7 7s to £8 lCs; store cows £6 2s 6d to £6 10s; cows with calves to £8 15s; vealers toi £3 5s 6d; 20-months steers £8 10s; weanei- steers £3 10s.