WOOL TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 4

WOOL TRADE.

WARTIME CONDITIONS. CONSUMPTION SATISFACTORY. In spite of wartime conditions, a good consumption of wool is proceeding in most of the world's neutral manufacturing centres. The German, Polish and Austrian mills are cut oil from usual supplies of raw material, but coiujunieiw in other countries have the opportunity to purchase requirements in . Argentina, Uruguay, South Africa and some of the smaller producing areas, in addition to quantities which niay be allocated to them by the Brilish Government, states the latest report from Winchcombe, Carson, Limited, Sydney. Sea transport is the only difficulty which may hinder them. That is one great advantage pf the appraisement scheme. Far more wool has been appraised than has been shipped, and growers have secured their proceeds. If an effort were being made to conduct auctions, the volume of sales would be small owing to lack of shipping facilities. The French and Belgian mills are able to work in contrast to idleness in the 1914-18 war, when they were in enemy hands In the United States the mills have been working very busily. In late October it was estimated that unfilled orders for 45,000,000 to 50,000,000 yards of fabrics for men's and women's wear were on hand. These figures were about double the total of a year before. American stocks of apparel class wool at September 24 were reported to be the equivalent of 662.470 bales greasy, a reduction of 408,000 bales, compared with 12 months previously. These figures indicate that America wants wool, but even if an open market prevailed in Australia purchases for the United States would only account for a small proportion of the clip of the Commonwealth. The activity of the mills in the United States and other countries indicates that their consumption shoiVd prevent a large accumulation of stocks. The facilities for consumption during this war are unquestionably greater than they were in 1914-18.