WOOL MARKET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 August 1938, Page 3

WOOL MARKET

AUCKLAND WINTER SALE DULL AND DISAPPOINTING (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 2. Only about-50 per cent of the catalogue of 1600 bales of wool oddments was sold at the annual winter wool auction held in Auckland today. The sale was dull and disappointing, and occupied only slightly over an hour. General level of prices was only about half those ruling for crutchings at the winter sale last year. Most of the wool-purchasing countries were represented, buyers being present from Bradford, America, the Continent and Australia. The catalogue comprised mostly crutchings, but there were a few bales of fleece wool for which competition was keen. The entry ranged from good crutchings to inferior and the wool was the heaviest seen in Auckland for some considerable time. Although there was little seed present, the wool was full of earth and grease. Colour and condition were heavy because of the unfavourable sea-r son recently experienced. Although prices were lower than those received in the south, this was accounted for by the higher yield of the southern wool. Taken on a clean scoured basis, values were about on a par. Prices for crutchings compare with those of the last two years as follows: Best, 1938, 6d to 7Jd; 1937, 13Jd to 14Jd; 1936, B£d to 91d; medium, 1938, s£d to 6jd; 1937, to 14d; 1936, 7£d to B}d; inferior, 1938, 4d to 5Jd; 1937, 91d to 10|d; 1936, 5Jd to 7d. The main reason for the poor clearance was the high limit set by farmers, who based their values on those in the south. However, the wool offered was too heavy to, reach the same rates.