Woolstore aims for 25,000 bales

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 24

Woolstore aims for 25,000 bales

Elders Pastoral has opened a new woolbrok-' ing operation in Christchurch, the first such operation to open in the Canterbury area for many years. The wool manager, Mr Ritchie Smith, who has been in the wool industry since 1969, starting in Timaru and more recently working in Wanganui, says the wool store is a brand new building with an initial area of 31505 q m and with good vehicular access, situated conveniently for clients on the outskirts of the city on Halswell Junction Road. This gives Elders Pastoral a wool operation in all major wool growing areas, which will provide a complete service to the farmer. “We have up-to-date wool sampling and mechanical handling equipment, backed up by an advanced computerised accounting system,” Mr Smith says. It is expected that Elders Pastoral will draw wool from the West Coast, Blenheim, Nelson, North Canterbury, Mid-Canter-bury, Ashburton and Timaru areas. From these areas, about 347,000 bales of wool are produced, of which Elders expects to handle 25,000 bales in the first season. The over-all aim is to obtain 30 per cent of the market, or well in excess of 100,000 bales of wool in future years. The wool store is staffed by a team with substantial experience in. the wool industry. Mr Rob Cunningham, the office manager, started in the industry 25 years ago in Christchurch and more

recently worked in the Gisborne area. He is responsible for catalogue and account sale production as well as the general office running. Mr John Coles, the store supervisor, also started in Christchurch and has subsequently worked in Auckland where he gained experience at the Wiri Wool Complex. The technical supervisor, responsible for correct sampling methods and typing of wool, is Mr Peter Stewart. He began work in Invercargill before moving to Christchurch, gaining experience in the wool testing side of the industry prior to joining Elders.

“All of the above team have been to Lincoln College to obtain technical knowledge and achieved passes in the Wool Certificate Course. With this background, we will be providing a professional service to the wool producers," says Mr Smith. Backing up the store operation, Elders Pastoral is also introducing a new computerised administration system which will provide excellent information for growers. This is seen as a major advancement on previously accepted account sales data, and is seen as a positive move by Elders to provide the best service possible to growers. The wool store operation in Christchurch is supported by other wool operations of Elders in Oamaru and Invercargill, with another new facllitiy about to commence in Dunedin, which combined will provide a full service to all wool producers in the South Island.