EASIER PRICES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 926, 20 March 1930, Page 10

EASIER PRICES

N.Z. STOCK MARKETS WESTFIELD REVIEWED f Reviewed by R.W.C.I Heavy offerings and a general easing tendency in respect to prices has been noted in the principal stock-selling centres of the Dominion over the past week or so. Kach year about this time heavy offerings can be looked for in the marts; the bank balance at the end of the month, and the proximity of winter with its general shortness of , feed combine to induce farmers to quit ; surplus stock about this time. Comparatively heavy yardings came forward to "Westfield yesterday in all sections; at Addington, some of the yardings were the heaviest of the j season. The quality of the Westfield : entry was mixed. In the beef section 'light-weight cattle predominated; prices showed a further decline on ; iate rates and exporters were able to ; come in to take quitje an appreciable i percentage of the ox beef entry at up !to 35s a hundred. A few cannef and : boner cows went to exporters at : around 22s to 23s a hundred. There ! was little life in the market for any- ! thing apart from well finished sorts, i Best ox* beef made up to 37s a huni (Ired; best cow to 33s a hundred. ; The market for a fairly heavy entry

|of calves was slightly erratic. Big calves were considerably easier, -but ; choice quality vealers sold readily at I from £3 10s to £ 4 ss; choice quality ! runners made up to £5 ss; there was : rather a large entry of big-framed | heifers, anything from 12 to 24 months j old being entered as “runners”; these ! made up to £ S ss. Big Entry of Sheep

A heavy entry of fat sheep was made up of rather a mixed assortment, in which well-finished wethers predominated; one line of 240 particularly choice butchers’ wethers from the Cambridge district met with keen competition at up to 29s 3d. The market, generally, held steady at late rates, heavy prime wethers making from 27s to 29s 9d; medium, 24s Gd to 2Gs 6d: heavy prime ewes made to 21s; medium, 17s 6d to 19s. A fairy heavy yarding of lambs contained a big percentage of unfinished sorts; prices held around the export schedule rates of up to 7gd a lb on the hooks for best grade under 361 b. Heavy prime lambs made from 21s Gd to 24s Gd. . • One of the heaviest yardings of pigs this season met with a steady demand, but prices fur smaller pigs were inclined to ease toward the close as the smaller butchers’ requirements were filled. Baconers averaged from 6Jcl to 7£d a lb; porkers, from 7id to Sid a lb for extra choice pjrr S> Large stores brought up to 4bs; weaners, 10s to 21s; small and weedy, 5s to 9s. Johnsonville Sale

At the Johnsonville- (.AY eiimgton; sale yesterday there was the usual attendance of buyers. There was a smaller yarding than usual of all classes of stock. The cattle yarding comprised mostly heavy-weight bullocks with a few pens of cows and heifers. Vealers were also yarged in large numbers. Competition for bullocks was good, at last week’s rates, and cows and heifers also met with fair competition, while runners and vealers were in keen demand. The quality of the sheep was not up to the usual standard. A good clearance, however, was effected, but wethers showed a decline of Is to Is Gd a head, and ewes Is on last week’s rates. A. small yarding of lambs sold freely. Prices are;—Heavy bullocks, £ls 35s to £l6 10s; bullocks, £l4 2s 6d to £ls 2s 6d; heavy cows, £lO to £lO It-; cows, £8 to £9 10s; runners, £5 to £7 2s Gd; vealers, 30s; heavy wethers, 26s Cd to 27s Gd; wethers, 24s 3d to 25s Gd: heavy ewes, lGs Id to 18s 3d; lambs, 19r- 3d to 23s Gd.. Addington Market A decline on last week’s values was recorded in all major departments of the weekly market at Addington yesterday. Store sheep have declined sharply during the week, and compared with the market last week they ; were down by up to 5s a head. Fat j sheep were easier in price. The de- ; cline in fat cattle values was the : sharpest this year, all classes being j down by from £1 10s to £2 a head j on last week’s rates. Fat lambs eased j I by about Is a head. ! Store lambs declined by 5s a head, ! land good rape lambs sold at from 13s i Gd to 16s a head. The heaviest yard- | ! ing of store sheep this season was i drawn from all parts of the South - Island, and included several lines from j the North Island. Extra good twoj tooth Romney ewes realised up to 31s ! Gd; good tooth Romney ewes, 25s i Gd to 295; medium two-tooth Romney ] ewes, to 245; good four, six, and eight- ! tooth Romney ewes, to 24s 3d; ordinary four, six, and eigjit-tooth Romney ewes, to 21s Gd; sound-mouthed Romney ewes, 17s to 19s Sd; extra good two-tooth halfbred ewes, to 2Gs Gd; good two-tooth halfbred ewes, 20s to to 23s 9d; backward two-tooth halfbred ewes, 15s to 17s Gd; good four, six, and eight-tooth halfbred ewes, ISs Gd to 20s; ordinary, 15s to 17s Gd. Prime fat lambs made 24s Gd to 27s 6d; medium, 21s to 23s Gd. Prime wethers made 27s to 29s 7d; prime ewes to 225.

Almost a “double” market of cattle saw a decline of from 30s to 40s a head. Best beef made to 43s a hundred: best cow to 34s a hundred. Prices for a large entry of pigs were a shade easier. Porkers averaged Sid to 9id a lb; baconers, Gid to 7id a lb. Large stores made to 455; good weaners, 15s to 20s.