MARKETS.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 25, 3 September 1920, Page 4

MARKETS.

The stock market throughout Southland has been much easier during the past three weeks, principally on account of turnip feed going off, and the spring feed not be. ing sufficiently advanced. Tlxe market had previously been at a high level and reaction has set in. The uncertainty of the ccming season's wool market has also had a tendency to make buyers cautious, although the last few days' r^orts have been more encouraging and we can anticipate that this, with the advance of the spring growth, will soon re-organise the market. It is anticipated that prices will soon be back to the prices ruling this last two months. The Wallacetown sale which is the metropolitan market of Southland, had an abnormally large yarding which exceeded the local butcher's requirements ; but satisfactory prices were obtained for all good quality. This is likely to remain so until well on to the New Year when we must get back to freezing limits again. The prospects for the next season'g meat and lambs are very encouraging and producers 'are assured of very satisfactory returns in this line, provided the Government can take efficient control over our freezing works and rolling stock, and can see their way clear to safely permit Armour and Co., or any other outside capitalist to operate here in the frozen meat indutsry. Armour and Co., are preparad to operate here on a very satisfactory basis for producers. The Government have full power to safeguard the producer's interest and a license can be issued from year to year and cancelled at any time for an infringement. WOOL. Prospects for the coming season look rather uncertain, but if one class of produce is high other lines generally move in sympathy. The stringent shipping regulations, and the enormous quantity of government-owned wool at Home, must tend to ease our prices, The manufacture of articles from the coarser grades of our crossbred wool is practically at a standstill and we must anticipate a reduction in prices for this grade of wool. The finer qualities of good sound wool as is grown in the South Island are at present realising high prices and we must expect that the prices ruling during the past two years wiil he fully maintained during the season. The tendency has been, during the war period, for growers to produce the. stronger classes of wool. Fashions have changed in such a manner as to cause this class of wTool, to be neglected. An alteration in fashion, from the finer grades to the stronger, would automatically create a demand for the stronger grades of wool. DAIRY PRODUCE.

The prices in this line of produce have reached the highest level ever obtained in this country. It seems probable that the dairying industry will be assured remunerative prices for a number of years to come. A number of the dairy factories throughout the province have sold their output to representatives of the Tooley street purchasers. This places them on a sound basis ag regards the high figure paid to suppliers for the butter-fat of the coming season. With cheese at lOfd last year factories were able to pay ls lOd to 2s per lb. for butter-fat, and with the increased value of produce this season, suppliers should be receiving anywhere from 2s 9d to 3s per lb. LAND. Land still continues to change hands, but the demand is slightly quieter. The demand for good land suitable for dairying is still keen. The sarae applies to heavy grass country able to carry two sheep or more to the aere. Stations with a satisfactory tenure, more especially those carrying fine woolled sheep, are also in demand. DAIRY FARMS. Demand for these is very keen. Small places with the necessary outbuildings are readily sold. In many cases in the £40 and £50 per acre land, small deposits have been accepted ; but with the continuance of the high prices for produce, purchasers will probably manage to pull through. The following is the list of prices ruling during the week : — Fat cattle, extra prime, medium weight bullocks up to £31 ; good prime quality £25 to £29; lighter sorts £15 to £20; extra prime cows and heifers £18 to £20; good, £15 to £18; lighter sorts £10 to £13. Store cattle, good forward 3yr old bullocks £12 to £15; 2yr-olds, £9 to £11; yearlings £4 to £6. Good sound dairy cows, £17 to £25, according to appearanoe. Heifers (factory calvers) £10 to £16 according to quality. Empty cows and heifers from £6 to £8. Two-year-old heifers £5 to £6 ; yearlings £2 10s to £4. Fat sheep. — extra prime weithers up to 57s 6d; good, 42s to 46s; lighter sorts 35s to 40s. Prime ewes up to 38s, medium and good, 25s to 30s. Store sheep. — Good forward wethers up to 40s. Medium, suitable for shearing 33s to 35s; small, 29s to 32s ; extra good hog-

gets up to 35s ; good, 27s to 31s ; small and inferior, 16s to 21s Good sound breeding ewes up to 45s, for small lots and extra quality,' 4, 6, 8-tooth ewes from 31s to 35s.