PRICE OF GREASY WOOL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 239, 27 June 1918, Page 6

PRICE OF GREASY WOOL

Sir,—l observe that a committee of wool-growers, is about to meet in Ellington to confer with the Controller about the piuce of greasy wool during war time. When 1 wrote to you last month on this subject, 1 was not aware that the question'of London versus Dominion basic price was pending between tho owners of elipe wool and the Imperial Government, but as the London average-gross price in 1914, less l}d. per ]I>., has now been conceded as the index prico for slipe. wool, I trust tho committee will see that like justice is meted out to the owners of greasy wool. Tile difference between the London and Dominion pre-war value is at least Id. per lb., that being the colonial woolbuyers' profit on the 1913-U clip; and by reason of the adoption of New Zealand value as a basic price for the Jast two seasons' wool instead of London net value, tho Dominion has lost many more millions of money than it can afford to lose in wartime. I have no desire, however, to trouble the Houie Government about tho past, as the.v are treating the producers very fairly in agreeing to return, half the profit on any wool not required for war purposes, but I would like to see a businesslike arrangement, similar to the slipe wool, completed for the future. —I am, etc., AGEICOLA.