WOOL MARKET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1938, Page 3

WOOL MARKET

DUNEDIN SALE.

KEEN COMPETITION FOR CROSSBREDS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN. December 20. The first Dunedin sale of the 1938-39 wool season was held today, when catalogues totalling 24,279 bales were offered. There was a full bench of buyers in attendance representing all the consuming countries. A feature of the sale was the* keen competition for crossbreds. Fine wools did not command the same attention, but readily sold at the limits available. It was noticeable that skirtings were in strong demand, specially from the Continent. The cnly exception was fine crutchings, which were inclined to be neglected. The market can be stated to be firm on Tenaru.

The qualities of the wool on offer were generally not up to the standard of the usual first sale offerings at this centre. The dry conditions prevailing in the autumn, followed by a fairly severe winter, together with a marked shortage of feed, had an adverse effect on the clip of this province. The catalogues contained a fair uevcentage of hogget wool, and a quanuty of ewe wool. The former showed slight tenderness in a number of cases, and the latter was inclined to be short and thin in fibre. North Otago wools were better grown and freer from dust than usual. The Central Otago clips varied in condition, and were not up to last year’s standard. From the outset of the sale to the finish, competition was keen and more spread, but buyers were operating on rigid limits. The Continent was the keenest operator, being well supported by Bradford. Germany and Japan were in the market only to a limited extent. American purchasers were of small compass. Local mills were operating on lots suitable for their trade, but not to the same extent as in previous years, as they are carrying substantial stocks.

Crossbred values were fair', considering the unsettled conditions, but fine wools were disappointing. In a number of cases growers were not inclined .to meet the market, and this resulted in approximately 10 per cent of the total offering being passed at auction. Since the sale a number of passed lots have been disposed of. Top price realised on the sale was 153 d for four bales of extra superfine halfbred ewe and wethers. Other sales were made up to 15d. The following is the official range of prices:—

d. d. Merino— Super to 14} Average 10} to 11} Inferior 94 to 10} Fine Halbred, 56/58— Extra super 14 to 15} Super 12 to 13.7 Average 101 to 11.7 Inferior 9 to 10.1 Medium Halfbred, 50/56 — Extra super to 13} Super 11J to '12:7 Average 101- to 11 Inferior 81 to 10 Fine Crossbred, 48/50— Extra super to 13 Super 11,} to 12 Average 91 to 10.7 Inferior 8 to 91 Medium Crossbreds, 46/48 — Super 11 to 12 Average 9} to 10.7 Inferior 8 to 9 Crossbred, 44/46 — Super 10} to 111 Average 9 to 10 Inferior 8 to 81 Merino Necks and Pieces— Super 91 to 111 Low to medium 71 to g Halfbred Necks and Pieces— Super 10 to 11 Good to super 8 to 9} Low to medium 6 to Crossbred Necks and PiecesSuper 9 to 101 Average 7.1 io 81 Inferior 6 to y Crutchings, Halfbred— Medium to good 61 to 7.7 Inferior 4 to 5 Crutchings, Crossbred— Medium to good 6} to 8.1 Inferior 4 to 6 Locks, Halfbred— Medium to good 41 to 5} Locks, Crossbred— Medium to good 3.7 to 41