WOOL MARKET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1938, Page 3

WOOL MARKET

SALE AT TIMARU. JAPAN BUYS FREELY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU, December 16. Woolgrowers of South Canterbury have no reason to complain at prices obtained at the opening sale of the season today, because they are very firm on the recent Christchurch auction and a good clearance was effected, passings being under 5 per cent. The winter and spring have been very wet, and as a result, a big percentage of wool was tender and short and not up to the standard of previous years or that offered in Christchurch. In view of this, the maintenance of ruling prices must be considered very satisfactory.

There were few noteworthy features. There was a full bench of buyers, but, as the Timaru sale is always a Continental one, the bulk of the offering was disposed of to these buyers. Bradford was not as active as usual, and Dominion mills came into the market only for types of which they were short. To obtain them it was evident that they were prepared to go beyond the limits of foreign competitors. Japan operated more freely than at any previous auction this season, and a fair quantity also went to the United States of America. The total catalogue was 15,987 bales, but the figure would have been a good deal less than this but for a welcome break in the weather a week ago, causing a last-minute rush with which brokers had some difficulty in coping. Top price for halfbred, 15d, was obtained by Mr Andrew Grant (Fairlie), Mcßae’s Estate (Waimate)l and a lot offered by Dalgety and Co. Very little merino wool was forward, top price being 141 d obtained by Hope Bros and J. W. Grant, Mackenzie Country. The official range of prices is as follow: —

d. d. Merino— Super to 14 Average 11 to 121 Inferior 8 to 10 Fine Halfbred, 56/58 — Extra super to 15 Super 12 to 13J Average 101 to 112 Inferior to 10 Medium Halfbred, 50/56Super to 122 Average 91 to 101 Fine Crossbred, 48/40 — Extra super to 131 Super m to 121 Average 10 to HI Inferior 9 to 91 Medium Crossbred, 46/48 Extra super to 131 Super 11 to 12 Average 10 to 102 Inferior 8 to 9J Crossbred, 44/46 — Super to m Average 91 to 101Inferior 8 to 91 Crossbred, 40/44 — Super to 102 Average 9 to 10 Leicester to 141 Hogget, Merino— Super to 142 Medium 10 to 13 Halfbred — Super to 132 Medium 101 to 12 Inferior 8 to 101 Fine Crossbred — Super to 12J Average 101 to 11J Inferior 9 to 101 Crossbred — Super to 11 Average 9-1 to 101 Necks — Merino 10 to 111 Halfbred 10 to 112 Fine crossbred 9 to 102 Pieces —\ Merino 9 to 102 Halfbred 81 to 102 Fine crossbred 8 to 10 Crossbred 8 to 91 Bellies — Merino 71 to 81 Halfbred 71 to 9 Fine crossbred' 71 to 81 Crossbred 7 to 81 Crutchings— Merino 5 to 71* Halfbred 41 to 9 Crossbred 5 to 81 Locks — Merino 4 to 51 Halfbred 5 to 51 Crossbred 4 to 32