WOOL MARKET SOUND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 528, 4 December 1928, Page 12

WOOL MARKET SOUND

GOOD COMPETITION SALE IN CHRISTCHURCH Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The catalogue at to-day’s wool sale comprised 16,155 bales. The aa'ool generally came forward in good order and was Avell grown, but a good deal of the Plains wool was seedy on account of the prevalence of northwest winds in the spring. The buyers' bench was fully occupied. In the earlier stages the sale was inclined to drag, a fair proportion of passings contributing to a rather disappointing atmosphere. However, this wore off after about an hour and then free competition marked the sale. The different character of the bulk of the catalogue and the fact that the North Island wool this season is exceptionally light make comparison Avith Northern prices of little value, but generally the satisfactory demand experienced so far this season in the North was fully maintained. The sale was a sound one, with limits sharply defined. Certain buyers Avere very keen and others were little interested. Indeed, some buyers A\'h o usually secure heavy quantities scarcely opened their books. A FEATURE OF THE SALE Compared Avith the November sale of 1927 prices on an average Avere somewhat lower for fleece wools, particularly for superfine wools, but practically on a similar basis for scouring lots. The strength of the latter demand was a striking feature of the sale. Continental buyers competing to an extent for this class that practically kept local fellmongers out of the market. Super halfbreds and Corriedale Avere down on last November rates by Id to l£d per lb and fine crossbred on an average was a halfpenny easier, but allowing for the heavier condition of the wool a proportion of the easing was offset. Prices for pieces were irregular, but except for most attractive lots little different. Continental competition was pronounced for crossbred, fleece and piece lots. The local mills secured a good proportion of the finer wools and a proportion of pieces. Bradford participation was confied to fewer operators than usual, but a satisfactory feature was that American competition was much improved. Less than 8 per cent, of the total catalogue was THE RANGE OF PRICES Top prices Corriedale, 24£d; halfbred, 24d; Merino, 212; fine crossbred, 20d; medium crossbred, 17?*d; fine pieces, 21id; crossbfied pieces, 134 d; bellies, 16£d; crutchings, 16.1 d. The following is the range of prices:

Merino— Super Medium Inferior to 18 J Corriedale— Extra super 241 Super 22% Medium Inferior to 18 Fine Halfbred— Extra super . 24 Super to Medium 20?. Inferior to 194 Medium Halfbred— Super to 20.1 Medium 182 Inferior to 17 Coarse Halfbred— Super . 171 to 19 Medium . lGi to 17 Inferior • 151 to 16 Fine Crossbred— Sup r k . ... to 20 Me | .m to 164 Info. .or to 154 Medium Crossbred— Super to 17 Medium to 15| Inferior to 144 Coarse Crossbred— Super to 154 Medium to 132 Inferior . 12 to 122 Pieces— Merino . 1G to 19 Halfbred (firsts) . . . . . 173 to 211 Halfbred (seconds) . . . 13 to 175 Crossbred (firsts) . 11 to 134 Crossbred (seconds) 8 to 101 Locks— Halfbred to log Crossbred to 12 Bellies— Good . 14 to 161 Low to medium .. .. . 11 to 131 Crutchings— Good to 164 Low to medium .. . . 9 to 11