AUSTRALIAN WOOL EXPORTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13741, 24 May 1910, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN WOOL EXPORTS.

I The marvellous recuperative powers of Australia are well illustrated by the ] figure-: showing the exports ol wool during-the- past < "cd't years. At the close of the drought- period the export was less than LOGO.OOO bales, and this i'oason tho total will bo close on 2.000.000 hales, representing a money value of over £25,000.000. The outlook for another splendid season is esceedin<ilv satisfactory, in view of the heavy rains in nil the States. Xotoni.v wool"production, but in all branches oi rural resources has the advance been pronounced. It is also satisfactory to note that the greater the production of wool the more it is in demand by manufacturers, and values have been sustained this season on a solid basis. With the breaking up of large estates, and the advance of closer settlement it is being shown that the carrying capacity of the land is increased, and thoso who forecasted ft falling off of the wool yield are now finding that the combined tillage and sheep breeding operations aro h.iving an opposite fffect. The type* of w/iol which is resulting from the breeding of the iarnier'.s f-heop is of a coarecr character than that from the big station flock*;, whore the merino is so much in evidence, but laehion is now favouring a stronger wool. Tho following figure.-, rvbow how the < xport of woo] has expanded since the dry cycle of years ended 1902. an iner<'*i-«n of 100 percent.;, taking place in that time:— Year ended Ist July — Hales. 190-*. ... ... 9**3.'303 190-1 ... ... 979,501 1905 ... ... 1.201.780 . !9(Ki ... ... 1.1-i:i,(;2(i 1907 ... ... 1.(W0.32i' I9OS ... ... I.(i'-1.497 1909 ... ... 1.793.811 1910 .. ... I,9«L00O Tho closing three months of the last year are noceKSarily estimated, but will i l>c found to be on a conservative basis. I The question that.these figures must j naturally givo rise to is, what did the I world do for wool before this quantity became available from Australia? With values for -tuple at their present high level, the answer, if indeed one is available, should have a great bearing on the course of prices in the near future. Against the fact that for economic reasons Europe, with the exception of tho United Kingdom, is producing less wool than formerly, must be placed the increase both in the South American and .South African clips. The figures shown above do not take tho New Zealand clip into consideration, amounting to over 400,000 bales, malcing the total for Australasia almost 2,500,000. The "Melbourne Leader," which _ivcs this information, warns Australian wool growers that dry cycles must again be faced in. the future, but better methods of husbanding resources, cheaper and Quicker communication, .and the more general use of/artesian water must all tend to minimise future shrinkage.