A FINE CHRISTMAS GIFT.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17645, 23 December 1922, Page 10

A FINE CHRISTMAS GIFT.

FOR THE SHEEP FARMERS. | The second wool sale of the season was held at Wellington 011 December 7th, election day. and 2 p.m. to-day is "prompt," that is those who bought wool at the sale will to-day pay for same if they have not already done so. The quantity offered at the sale was 15,136 bales, and as about . 95 per cent, of the offerings was sold it may be safely assumed that fully 15,000 bales were cleared. There was not a great deal of fine wools offered, but the average value of the merino wool sold was approximately £33 per bale halfbred average &2i and quarter-bred £ls. Medium and coarse crossbred wool also sold well, and one firm places the average value of the lot at £lO 10s per bale, based on actual sales as shown by their own catalogue. ■ Although this average is that obtained b} one linn of selling brokers, it is belie\ed to be practically the average for the whole sale. However, if we take £ls as the average value per bale realised at the last sale then the buyers will to-day be paying the woolbrokers £ 157,500, and cheques tor this amount less, of course,-the brokerage and charges, will be posted to clients to-day, and the cheques should lie in the possession of the sellers by to-morrow. This i 3 an excellent Christmas box, more especially as it is well distributed (says Thursday's 1 Dominion"). Woolgrowers in the "Wairarapa, Manawatu, liangitikei, and Marlborough districts will participate, and some of the individual cheques will run into four figures. The credit so obtained will not remain idle, but. will be further distributed in settlement of obligations of one kind and another, and one can well imaging the stimulating effect this must have on general trade. Reverting to the average value per bale, the firm whose figures have been quoted above furnishes the following as the average .value per bale obtained at the respective sales held in Wellington: — Average per bale.® £ s d Dec., 1921 . . 718 3 Jan., 1922 .. 9 0 G Feb., 1922 .. 9 2 (> March, 1922 . . 9 (3 9 April, 1922 .. 8. 011 • May, 1922 .. 10 10 2 July, 1922 .. 8-7 8 Sept., 1922 .. 7 5, f> Nov., 1922 .. 13 19 3 Dec., 1922 .. 16 10 0 In September the offerings were_ mostly crutchings and oddments, and in J u Jy also the selection was poor. The market showed improvement of a decided character when the new wool was offered last .month. A GO-OPERATIVE PLAN. making partners of factory WORKERS. 9 A co-operative plan among employees which has attracted widespread interest and favourable comment is that in operation in the automobile factories,of The Studebaker Corporation of America. This plan has many unique features,. all of which tend to increase loyalty among the workers, pride in their efforts, and a sense of partnership in the institution with which they are associated. , . Many of the features of this co-op-erative plan are along pioneering lines, particularly the awarding of vacations with .pay after two years service, an advantage which Studebaker was first among American manufacturers to offer factory employees. Another ,un« usual and noteworthy feature is the distributing of anniversary cneques amounting to 5 per cent, of the year's wages on the first, second, third, and fourth anniversies, and 10 per cent, on the fifth and succeeding anniversaries. Other interesting features include the purchase of shares of stock in the .corporation, the privilege of buying homes at cost, the awarding of pensions to retired employees, _ and the giving of life insurance policies.' A late report shows that 35 per cent, of the employees are owners of shares, which they purchased with the privilege of making payments extending over a ■considerable period bf time. The homes sold to employees on easy payments, it may be added, are erected in model subdivisions and each . building bears a distinctiveindividuality and appearance. The matter of pensions, these are' granted to any employee reaching the age of 60 years who has served 20' years or more with the corporation. Recreation advantages'* are" many. For instance, there is a 50-piece band, as well as an orchestra of the same size,, at the Detroit factory, and an additional 50-piece band at the South Bend Factory. Social and athletic organisations also serve to stimulate the spirit of fellowship among employees. A fully equipped hospital with surgeons and trained nurses isoprovided to' administer to employees who meet with accidents. Cafeterias conyen;ently' located throughout the factories serve wholesome fo.od at low prices, bein w operated upon a non-profit basis. The .main idea of the whole cO-oper-ative plan is to place a premium upon loyalty, by rewarding it in every possible way, and better workmanship is the natural result. Every employee is encouraged to remain with the. corporation and to recognise his sense of partnership in it. The 1,2-50,000 dollars expended annually by the corporation in its co-operative plan is more, than repaid, according to the management. in" the low labour turnover. During 1921, 75.9 per cent, of the employees received anniversary cheques—evidence that they had been fn service a year or more,, and 41 Tier cent, enjoyed vacations with pay—evidence that they had been with the corporation two years or more. TIMARU. (special to "the press.") TIMARU, December 22. j As is usual at this time of the year, there is practically nothing doing on rhe local grain and produce markets, which are pervaded by the holiday spirit. The crops are making good progress, and prospects are very much brighter than they appeared a month or six weeks ago. Sunshine and absence of rain are required now as the soil is sufficiently moist—in fact in some parts complaints are heard of too much rain. Thundershowers and hailstorms are the least desired of any description of weather. So fat as actual business is concerned this week, the position is that no enquiries have been received and there is nothing doing. DAIRY PRODUCE. MessrsoA. H. Turnbull and Co. are in receipt Of the following cablegram from W. Weddel and Co., Ltd., dated 'London, December 20th: —"Danish Gutter 212s "to 214 a (last week 208s to 5212b) ; N.Z. butter, unsalted, ISis to 186s (last week 184s to 186s); N.Z. butter, salted, 182s to 1843 (last Week 180s' to 1845.) . Fair enquiry. New Zealand cheese, white and coloured. Prices unchanged, market firm. Danish has droppsd f.o.b. price 17# <3iiring week."