IS IT A BLUFF?

Evening Star, Issue 22973, 2 June 1938, Page 10

IS IT A BLUFF?

YORKSHIRE'S THREATENED BOYCOTT DRAFT ALLOWANCE OH N.Z. WOOL “ We do not take the threat of a boycott seriously, and all the talk of a boycott because Yorkshire is not being given a present of so many pounds of wool a bale is absurd,” said Mr N. R. Wilson, chairman of the Dunedin Stock and Station Agents and Wool Brokers’ , Association, when commenting on the British Wool circular dealing with the abolition of the draft allowance on New Zealand wool. “ The English trade might boycott us, but it would have to purchase its wool through the back door.” The draft wool allowance, ' as one broker said, “ has been a timehonoured custom since wool was grown.’’ It is an allowance of lib in lewt (or an average of 31b a bale) to counteract the loss of weight through shrinkage, moisture, and the entry of any other foreign matter into a bale in the course of its shipment to Fmgland. In former times there was a fair amount of wastage in wool, but to-day growers feel that, due to the better “ get-up ” of the clips and the high percentage that is now classed to correct grades, etc., in stores, the necessitv for the allowance is not warranted. “ Tliis matter has been considered by the Governments of the various producing countries, and it is understood that the New Zealand Government now has legislation on the statutes in readiness to abolish the draft allowance,” said a local broker. “ This statute will not com© into force until the ether two large Empire wool-producing countries, Australia and South Africa, pass similar legislation. Both of these countries have now agreed to the abolition, it is believed, and it is for this reason that the matter has been taken up by YorkS Although Bradford contends that the draft allowance has not cost the growers the sums alleged, Mr AVilson observed that the average New Zealand clip was 650,000. bales. With an average 31b draft allowance a bale this would amount to approximately 2,000,0001 b weight for which the Dominion’s growers were not being paid. ~ Concerning the warning that the abolition of the draft allowance would mean, greater vigilance on the part of buyers, who would claim full allowances in cases of accidental short weight, Mr AVilson admitted that while bales might lose weight during the voyage Home, some actually would gain. Otago’s clip this season, having been gathered during a dry spell, would probably gain in weight through the absorption of moisture on landing in London. “ Although we hear about those bales that land short-weighted in England.” concluded Mr AVilson, ” we hear nothing about those that are overweight.”