U.K. Wool Marketing

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30745, 8 May 1965, Page 8

U.K. Wool Marketing

On these pages recently was printed a statement by Mr Harold Shapland. chairman of the British Wool Marketing Board, in which he compared wool marketing in New Zealand and in Britain.

It has been pointed out this week that the British wool marketing scheme, as far as the grower is concerned, is a compulsory acquisition scheme with a guaranteed price backed by the Government. While the price to the grower is certainly stable during a season, within the framework of the guarantee for that season, the scheme makes no real contribution to world wool price stability, for the growers’ wool is sold by the board through the auction system, and over the years since the scheme has been operating it

is reputed to be in debt to the British taxpayer to the tune of some £llm, on the basis of a clip about a seventh to an eighth the size of New Zealand’s.

The average guarantee for the current year at 55.25 d per lb, it is pointed out, is subject to deductions totalling 5.76 d per lb for matching up, selling, transport and container charges, and clerical charges, so that the net average return to the grower is about 49.49 d, and in relating this to New Zealand, account must be taken of about 3d per lb for freight. It is recognised that the board has done a useful service In making the British wool grower more wool conscious, and a better job is now being made of the preparation of the clip.