Wool Sales.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2283, 5 February 1912, Page 6

Wool Sales.

In a i*. view of the various systems that have been in vosue during the past 100 years for ihe disposal of wool by auction a writer in tlie “ Sydney Mail” makes the following interesting statements : A wool sale in 1811 was in striking contrast to the proceedings at a wool auction in 1011. It is hard to realise that a hundred years ago wool was sold “ hy the candle ” —that is, the bidding on each lot of wool lasted while an inch of candle was burned, and the successful competitor was he whose hid was last before the candle went out. The scene of these remarkable sales was Oarraway s coffee house. Change Alley, Cornbill, London. The' sales lasted for an hour a day, and the lots were nearly all single bales, the whole turn-out being comparatively insignificant. Later on the candle raeth d gave way to ordinary auctions, but they were small and slow compared with the present-day proceedings. The wool sale ot IUII is a frightfully strenuous affair. Buyers repres senting all nationalities shriek, wail and throw their arms about, a wildly gesticulating mass of animated humanity, acting like madmen. All is rush hustle and excitement, and the sale of thousands of pounds’ worth of wool is rushed through just as sheep are rushed through a race. Tim strain mentally and physically on the buyers is great - lew can stand it for many years, and frequently there is a case of break down. But those who are left to shriek themselves hoarse, strain their lungs, and physically wreck themselves. A vast change this to the oldtime sales, but is it a sensible change after all ? Expedition is all very well, but could it not be secured with less strain on buyer and seller. The wool sale of 2011 will probably he a vastly different affair. Long before that time common-sense will have prevailed, and a system of tendering will have taken the place of wool auctions. That the system is possible is already proved, for large quantities of scoured '■ wool are no.v dealt with successfully by tender. The wool will probably still be shown in commodious store'-’, and examined by buyers in the usual careful way, but instead of shouting, shrieking, and gesticulating in the auction-room for two hours be will send in his price for each lot in the catalogue which meets his requirements, and the highest bidder will have the wool, and in the course of the afternoon a printed list could he issued to buyers, showing the successful tenderers.