WORLD’S WOOL MARKET

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25272, 26 August 1947, Page 8

WORLD’S WOOL MARKET

PROMISING OUTLOOK BRIGHTEST PROSPECTS FOR SCOURED ” The average price secured lor wool in Australia during last season offers an illustration of the degree to which the world is at present short of plants for the treatment and processing of wool, says Winchcombe, Carson, Ltd.’s latest report. The greasy wool sold in Australia averaged 24.486 d per lb. an advance of 56.2 per cent, on the previous season’s appraisement figure, but the scoured average was 41.484 d per lb, a rise of 74 per cent. Abroad in countries where no price control exists, wool, which is partially treated or processed into tops or yarns, is realising relatively higher figures than the raw material because of the urgent need for goods. For a similar reason good-length wools, free or nearly free from vegetable fault, command relatively higher rates than lines carrying a more dr less large amount of burr. They can be converted into textiles in less time than the faulty lines.

Prospects are healthy, the indications being that raw material supplies overseas are not too plentiful. Combers are constantly having demands made upon them for the delivery of tops ©and spinners of yarns. Australian millmen are finding an equally eager outlet for their products. In Great Britain millowners are making strenuous efforts to increase production. In an endeavour to overcome the labour shortage, arrangements have been completed to utilise hands from eastern Europe. It is estimated that employment could be provided for 15,000 additional operatives, chiefly women, in the United Kingdom establishments. The Bradford employment exchanges at mid-year had received applications from 1000 for prompt employment as trainees. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that the number of sheep in the world. 712,000,000 at January 1, 1947 has continued to decline. It is considered that world flocks are now 9 per cent, below the high figures recorded in 1942 and are 6 per cent, below the average |