Woolbuyers to change name

Press, 27 September 1983, Page 2

Woolbuyers to change name

A steadily changing pattern of activities had made a change of name, to the New Zealand Council of Wool Exporters, appropriate for the Woolbuyers’ Association, said the president, Mr Michael Moss, in Christchurch yesterday. “The decision to change our name has not been taken lightly,” said Mr Moss.

“Since 1865 wool buyers have been attending public wool auctions in New Zealand, but we believe that our pattern of activity has changed so much over the years that we should emphasise more strongly the positive role played by wool exporters in marketing New Zealand’s wool production.” After a meeting of the council in Christchurch yesterday, Mr Moss said he thought there were misconceptions of the role

of buyers and exporters. Reports of wool sales might give the impression that the buyers were doing no more than acting on the instructions of overseas principals.

In fact, wool was often sold at a fixed price to clients in overseas countries some days, weeks, or even months before its being bought at auction. In disposing of New Zealand’s wool on more than 50 overseas markets, wool exporters combined the traditional purchasing and valuing skills with expertise in marshalling finance, scouring, and shipping arrangements, he said.

The New Zealand Woolbuyers’ Association was formed in the early 1890 s to regulate, in conjunction with wool brokers, the public auctions of wool in various centres.