WOOL SALES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 11

WOOL SALES

DATES FOR ENTRIES

FARMERS' UNION PROTEST

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON NORTH, This Day

While speaking at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington provincial executive of the Fanners' Union, Mr. T. Willis, of Marton, drew attention to the extremely early closing of the catalogues for the December, January, and February wool sales. Catalogues, lie said, were full over a month before the sales, and apparently the fact, that the Dominion's, sheep had increased by 750,000 during the past year had been lost sight of. With the small limits fixed for January and February and no limit for March, he felt that. there was a grave danger of the buyers not being able to deal with the situation, aiid consequently growers would be faced with having to accept lower prices. His remarks were confined to the Wellington sales. He did not know of the position elsewhere, but lie certainly thought that, in fixing the limits, the wooi committee had lost sight of increased production. Better handling, facilities were clearly necessary and a more generous appreciation, of the position. A broker had informed the speaker that it was the buyers who were to blame, for they claimed that they could not deal with any larger catalogues. Mr. A. Campbell pointed out that there was no limit at the- March sale.

Mr. Willis: There's -the danger of an overwhelming entry and the risk of the wool being sacrificed Mr. L. Hammond said that at Wanganui the catalogue closed fully a month before the sale, because the wool offering was greater than the limit fixed.

The chairman (Mr. K. W. Dalrymple) said that the more one went into the position, the more one appreciated the difficulties. There was the question of shipping, which was ever before the buyers when operating. Mr. Campbell felt that there were too many sales in New Zealand, and this accounted for the buyers' diiliculties in meeting the .wishes 1 of the growers. -For instance, they would be at Wangamii, and then have to rush to Invereargiil, and be back again in the North Island within a few days. They could riot, give the time to tlie sales that was necessary. He would like to see a reduction in the number of sales. It had to be remembered that buyers regulated-their buying on their credits.

Mr. D. D. M'Lean: But they regulate their credits on the catalogue!?. If the catalogues were larger, then they would arrange for increased credits. ; :

Mr. D. L. Younger felt that the position was due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in November and December. Very little shearing was possible during .these months, owing to the rain, and this had caused the large entries for the January and February sales. Mr. R. Gray said that he had sent his wool away on Bth. January, and it was catalogued for the March sale, being too late for the February offering. It was agreed to draw the attention of the Dominion executive to the early closing of the January and February catalogues. . '„