WOOL STORAGE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 5

WOOL STORAGE.

DEPUTATION TO HARBOUR BOARD. VIEWS OF THE BROKERS. A special mooting of tho Wellington Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon to recoivo a deputation from tho Wellington Woolbrokors' Association, who wished tho board to provide, additional accommodation for tho storage and display of wool for tho purposes of the local sales during the coming season. Tho members of the board present were: — Tho chairman (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.), Hon. T. W. Hislop, and Messrs. J. G. Harknoss, F. H. Frasor, C. W. Jones, R. Fletcher, and C. E. Daniell. Tho deputation consisted of Messrs. J. G. Herdman (Dalgoty and Co., Ltd.), F. Barkas (Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co., Ltd.), Brunton (United Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association, Ltd.), Scott (Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association), and H. A. Keeling (Abraham and Williams, Ltd.). To Increase the Trade of the Port. Mr. Herdman Said tho deputation had just come from a meeting of the Woolbrokers' Association, which controlled the whole of the local sales of wool, and they had been instructed to represent to the board the need for more, space for the display of wool at the sales next season. Last year 14,000 bales were shown at hired places outside tho brokers' own stores, and 8000 or 10,000 were shown on the Harbour Board's promises. The Chairman: More than that —12,250. Mr. Herdman said the position appeared likely to be worse during the coming season if, as was understood, the sheds on the king's Wharf would not be available. It might be argued that this was not a matter for the board to go in for, but he would point out that the better the facilities offered the more would bo tho business done at this port instead of at others. In answer to the chairman, Mr. Herdman said he did not think the charge made by the board (2s. 6d. per bale) for showing wool was particularly low. He could not say how many more hales would be shown on the Harbour Board's premises if increased accommodation were provided, but the association was sure there would be a great • increase. At present Wellington shipped more wool than any other port in the Dominion, but a smaller proportion was sold here. The opening of the Main Trunk railway would cause much more wool to be shipped at Wellington. -It would, come as far as' from Hamilton. Two-Story Shed Wanted. Mr. Herdman also said that another reason why the board should take the matter up was that it had sole control of the waterfront, and if the brokers were obliged to provide other storage accommodation it must be away from the water. ' Replying to Mr. Daniell, Mr. Herdman suggested that the need would be met by the provision of a two-story shed, with an upper floor largo enough for displaying 10,000 bales. The ground floor should be used for receiving wool. Railway lines should run into it, and there should be presses so that the wool could be dumped there. It was necessary , that the bales for sale should bo stacked so that every bale could be examined, and the regulations forbade stacking more than three' bales high. Mr. Barkas said he concluded, from inquiries that he had received, that the Wellington sales were such, an attraction ■ that wool would come forward, from far beyond the 200-mile limit. He submitted that the board would 'in any case require to build a receiving and distributing shed, and it would be a comparatively small expense to add an upper story for displaying the wool. Profits and Charges. Mr. Fletcher pointed out that the brokers received an average of 11s. sd. per bale, and paid the Harbour Board 2s. 6d. for storage • and exhibition, leaving a profit to the brokers of Bs. lid. per bale. He wanted to know if they were willing to meet the board by paying higher charges. ■ Members of tho deputation replied in' the negative. ' ■ Mr. Herdman said the shed might be built of corrugated iron, like the sheds. at other ports; ■•'■•• : Mr. Fletcher said it would be in the brick area, arid the board would not build it in anything , but brick. Mr. Brunton pointed out that besides the 2s. Gdj per hale paid to the board, the brokers had to pay 4d. per bale for cartago to the store, and also had to pay for cartage from the store. There were other sources of loss ami expense which the brokers had to take into account. Mr. Herdman, in .reply to Mr. Harkness, said the local sales would undoubtedly continue and develop. Buyers rather preferred Lyttelton and Timaru,. because there were better facilities for the inspection of wool at those ports. Wool could bo handled more cheaply at one central store than at several places, as had been the caso.in the past. He thought higher charges might' keep business away from the port. Aswering a question by Mr.. Fletcher, Mr. Herdman said the saving of expense which was desired would benefit the owners of the wool. Mr. Herdman stated, in reply to the chairman, that there would be about 3000 bales at each of the four principal sales. Tie deputation having withdrawn, it was decided that the matter be referred to the board in committee on April 29.