WOOL SALE AT DUNEDIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 21, 21 December 1932, Page 5

WOOL SALE AT DUNEDIN.

KEEN COMPETITION. ' Per Press Association. DUNEDIN. Deo. 20. The first sale of the 1932-1933 wool season was held yesterday. There was a large attendance of farmers and interspectators. The sale opened to a full bench of buyers representing Bradford, the Continent and Japan, as well as the Dominion mills and local speculators. Competition from. the outset was particularly keen, especially for the Continental section. It was evident that the limits from the Continent were above those held by the Bradford representatives, with the result that the sale was dominated by Continental buyers with Bradford picking up odd lots suitablo to their requirements. Bellies and pieces were very keenly competed for and the major portion was secured by French buyers. The Dominion mills when fine super lots came under the hammer would not be denied, and secured most of the lots suitable to their requirements. The wool opened up in heavier condition than the previous year, but was bright, sound and particularly well-grown. Following is tho official range of prices; Merino— d. d.

WOOL CLIP. CORRIEDALE IN DEMAND. CHRISTCHURCH COMMENTS. There waa comment in the city on various phases of Wednesday’s wool sale (says the Christchurch Times). For instance, the question was asked, what was tho reason for Corriedale wool being bought at halfbred prices. It was learned that buyers had received instructions to fulfil orders for this Particular class of wool to supply special lines. In some instances eomo of the buyers were inclined to take Corriedale wool because it is becoming more recognised ns a halfbred product. Another aspect of tho salo was the upward trend of prices for fine wools, and this has, naturally, prompted the question: Would this circumstance affect tho breeding practice of New Zealand growers? The answer given by people in a position to express an opinion was that those sheep farmers having suitable country would be inclined to go in for finer wool production, but there were a large number

of men occupying land that was only suitable for halfbred and, out on the Peninsula, crossbred wool production, and they could not bo expected to produce tho finer article. Several buyons gave their reason for buying tho finer wools. They contended that the public were going in more for finer articles of clothing, and there was, therefore, a. demand for the wool of that class. Another reason was that a very large quantity of crossbred wool hod been carried over from the previous season’s sales at Home, particularly Bradford, and tho Continent. WOOL PRICE RESERVE. australianTuggestion. LONDON, Dec. 19. The Australian Press Association’s Bradford correspondent states that it is probable that both British and Continental importers of wool will co-operato to oppose any proposal to fix a minimum price reserve as suggested in Australia in anticipation of a conference of growers, brokers. shippers and bankers at Canberra on January 7. The International Wool Textile Organisation has communicated with tho leading Bradford import organisation stating that it is watching developments closely. It is suggested hero that the abolition of the Federal land tax is tho soundest way of reducing production costs as it would moan a saving of 3d a pound. MARKETS FIRMER. BUTTER NOW 84s-85s CWT. The slight firming in the butter markot reported from London at the week-end was more pronounced on Monday according to cable messages received yesterday. The price of New Zealand finest grade butter was quoted at 85s to 86s, an advance of 2s to 3s a cwt. since last Friday. Tho cheeso market was also firmer on Monday. Joseph Nathan and Co., Ltd., have received from London, the following cabled advice, dated December 19:—New Zealand butter: Finest, 85s to 86s per cwt. New Zealand cheese : White, 51s to 52s per cwt; coloured, 945. Both markets firm. Mr Thomas Gray (Wellington) has received tho following cable message from London, dated Docomber 19: —Good demand with upward tendency. Cheeso, white, 51s; coloured 545. Finest grade New Zealand butter, 84s to 85s. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. LOW PRICES IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Doc. 20. The local market continues to be oversupplied with potatoes, and, although merchants are quoting as low as 4s 6d per cwt. through store, they are getting only a small share of the general business. Supplies seem to be coming into tho auction marts and shops from everywhere. Pukekohe merchants are quoting 3s 6d to 4s per cwt. on trucks, and even at. these low figures find it difficult to keep their sheds clear. The local market is still supplied with Canadian onions, and, with increasing Sressuro from Pukekohe sellers, holders avo had to cut their price still further in order to quit their stocks. Pukekohe merchants are quoting 7s to 7s 6d por cwt. on tracks. There is a good inquiry for pollard, but bran is still dull of sale. Mill prices are: Pollard, £6 per ton; bran, £5 10s per ton. Not for many a year has there been such a poor demand for oats and chaff as at present. Oats aro selling at 3s 7d por bushel for B Cartons, and chaff at £8 pelton. When the new season’s crop from the south becomes available toward tho end of January,, rates aro likely to go lower. Fowl wheat is in steady demand at about 6s 2d per bushel through storo for Australia. Fair quantities of under-grade wheat from the south aro available at lower rates. Australian barley is still soiling freely at 3s lOd to 4s per bushel for clipped samples. FARMING NEWS. RURAL RAKINGS. Tho initial stops have been taken towards the orootion of a cool store for onions by growers at Pukekohe. A five-year plan to introduce herd-testing, to minimise tho incidonce of disoaso in the dairy herds of Queensland, and gradually to eliminate tho uso of tho scrub bulls, so as to obtain a higher efficiency, was outlined by tho Minister of Agriculturo and Stock, Mr F. W. Bulcock, at a conference of Queensland farmers recently. The conference unanimously approved of the schemo. It was reported at a meeting of the Wairoa County Council that sinco the supervision of relief work was taken over by Mr W. J. Hill, a member of the council, an area of no less than 43,000 acres in the county has been cleared of bush and scrub, exclusive of similar work done under the 4a scheme. It was estimated that an equal area still required attention, and it was pointed out that, although there might not bo any great immediate return, the •farmers, of the Dominion would reap tho benefits for many years to come. Two years ago Mr W. Tiller, of Colville, on tho Coromandol Peninsula, burnt and sowed a small bush clearing, purchasing tho seed from Auckland. Some time later Mr Tiller was surprised to find several. plants of ragwort make their appearance with the new grans. As this weed had previously boen unknown in the district and has never been seen by many people in the district, it is surmised that the ragwort must have been in tho grass seed sown on the burntoff aroa. In many South Island districts it is claimed that the introduction of ragwort has been traced to the use for horse feed of oaten chaff grown in ragwort-infected areas.

Extra super — to 12 i Super 9 to 11 Average 7£ to 83 Inferior 5 to 63 Fine halfbred— Extra super 11 to 12 Super 91 to 10i Average 73 to 91 Inferior 6 to 63 Medium halfbred — Extra super 9A to 11 Super 8j to 91 Average 71 to 8 Inferior 6 to 7 Fine crossbred — Super 6| to 71 Average 51 to 61 Inferior 3A to 5 Medium crossbred — Super 51 to 6 Average 4 to 5 Inferior 21 to 33 Hoggets— Fine ... 6 to 83 Medium 41 to 7 Bellies and pieces. Merino — Good to super 6i to Low to medium 41 to 61 Bellies and pieces, halfbred— Good to super 7 to 91 Low to medium 33 to 61 Bellies and pieces, crossbred — Good to super ' 5 to 7 Low to medium 21 to 41 Crutch in gs— Medium to good 21 to 41 Inferior and seedy A to 2 Locks — Merino 1 to 23 Halfbred 1 to 3 Crossbred ... ... 2 ljjf