Heavier Wool Clip In N.Z. Predicted

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30540, 8 September 1964, Page 3

Heavier Wool Clip In N.Z. Predicted

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, September 7. “Favourable growing conditions in most areas of New Zealand will enable the country’s 50m sheep to produce a heavier clip for the 1964-65 wool-selling season,” says a report by Mr W. Pease, chief wool officer in New Zealand for Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Limited.

It is provisionally estimated that the new season’s clip will produce 625 m lb, an increase of about 1J per cent on last season’s production. “After a dry autumn in most districts, stock have come through the mild winter in good condition. Feed has been adequate, except in the dry areas of the eastern districts of the North Island and the northern districts of the South Island.” Coarse Wool The fine-wool composition of the clip will be substantially unchanged, Mr Pease says. However, there will probably be further increases in the production of coarse wool. “Coarse wool production of 46/48 quality and lower has shown a phenomenal increase of 43 per cent in the last three years to reach the present production of 346,000 bales. “Most of the wool coming forward for sale will be of good colour, with the possible exception of the northern areas of the North Island, where some discolouration will be in evidence because of prolonged wet weather. “Generally, the clip will be heavier in condition. Wool from the dry areas will be dusty, and no doubt some tenderness in the staple will result from shortage of feed. “The growing practice of multiple shearing means that wool is being shorn in practically every month Of the y ar, and 30 per cent of the clip now comes into the category of short-staple crossbred wool, suitable mainly for the carpet and woollen industries. The remainder of the new season’s clip will contain good-style speciality types, and a large proportion of

- well-grown combing and 3 carding wool, particularly - from the lower areas of the 1 South Island.” Notwithstanding that wool ’ is moving into an increasingly 3 competitive situation, well- ' sustained rates of growth in ' economic activity and world 1 trade justify an optimistic outlook, particularly since ‘ world wool stocks do not exceed probable world demand, the report says. ( First Main Sale The first main sale of the > New Zealand selling season, - under the new type of sales i roster, which provides for 61 . sales compared with 45 under : the old system, will be held s in Dunedin on September 30. - “It is expected that more ■ frequent sales will assist in ■ reducing short-term fluctua--1 tions in the market,” the report says. “Everything points ; towards a highly satisfactory level of values being established, and growers are looking forward to a season which may be conspicuous because of the absence of wide fluctuations in world wool values.”