FREETRADE IN WOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4601, 3 July 1917, Page 2

FREETRADE IN WOOL.

WHEN WILL IT BE RESTORED ?

A warning to growers

(From Our Own Correspondent.) BRADFORD. April 17. The ordinary course of'market values for wool no doubt has lost a good deal of interest, but yet things are happening in which every colonial pastoralist has more than ordinary concern. Grave fears are still being expressed in the wool circles of Yorkshire and London that the present order of things will last for some time after, tho war finishes, this notwithstanding tlie public statement of the Financial Secretary to the War Office that the present state control is purely and simply a war measure. Everybody hopes that this is so, but we •would like to warn readers not to expect it to be removed for at least six months after peace is declared. It is generally stated that Australasian pastoralists are well satisfied with the deal that they have made with the Government and the writer sincerely hopes that it is so. He is strongly inclined to think, however, that when growers see what wools actually realised when offered by public sale in London, some at least will sing a different t'une. It is well-known in London wool circles that the agents for tlie Mt. Bute clip, which, of course, is of Western Victorian origin, and which sold at 3s 6d per lb. for the top line of grease combing, havo been in correspondence with the officials of the Wool Section of the War Office pointing out that the grower will lose £ls per bale on the prico paid to the owners. The writer is divulging no secret when he states that the G'oono Goono (N.S.W.) clip which sold last series at 3s 7£d for the top line of grease combing, was valued to the growers at 2s 3-£d, and if 4-Jd is reckoned to cover the cost of freight, insurance, war risk and sale expenses, the reader can form some idea of the profit being realised by the Department.

HOW CONTROL IS AFFECTING FREE WOOL AND TOPS.

A matter which has attracted no little attention in the Bradford top market during the past few weeks has been the announced intention of the Government to allow spinners to buy their surplus merino tops. The time promised for delivery was May, and as when this offer was first made there was some enquiry in the market for botany tops for spot delivery, and spinners were also showing interest on forward account, it might have been supposed that the spinners would try to fill out their requirements by making application for the tops which the Government were offering. Ibis was more likely to he the case in view of the fact that the said tops were, being offered on the basis of 5s 8d for average sorts, while in the open market the price for the same quality of tops was ranging round 6s. One circumstance however seemed to prevent spinners from going in largely for these possible purchases, this being that delivery was only promised provisionally on the tops being available when May came. jhe impression lias therefore seemed to prevail that little progress has been made in the sale of these tops, but later events have proved that spinners have been makum applications amounting to a considerable total. Instead of being ©hie to secure all they applied for only a very small proportion have been allocated, and from this one important inference may be drawn, which is that in spite of all that has been done in the way of Government control, prices in the open market <ue no 1 likely to depreciate. If all the tops applied for had been released cn the basis at which they were being ottered, namelv 5s 8d for average 61 s, it would have been certain that we should have seen something line a slump from the 72d level current m the open market.

BIG GOVERNMENT ORDERS PLACED.

It transpired last • week-end that the War Office is again in the market with large contracts, all for army and navv purposes. Fifteen million yams has"been mentioned, and w e are able to sav that the statement has reliable authority behind ' it. Throughout the West Riding, as well as the Avert of England, Scotland and Ireland, manufacturers’ associations have been formed, and the- Army Contracts Department is not now dealing with each individual firm, but is handing to these respective associations say one million yards each, the said associations being responsible ior distributing this order among their members. This certainly has been a move in the right direction, enabling one to obtain standard prices for practically every operation, and no firm can therefore obtain an advantage over a competitor. ' That really is the position to-day. ;So many null costings have been furnished the Department that they now know' to a fraction wliat it is going, to cost to produce any class of article requires bv the military, and so long as mannfacfcurers combine, the work can done more expeditiously and also more satisfactorily to all concerned. It/ can be said with all truthfulness* that there is more Government work in the hands of spinners and manufacturers than at any time since tlio outbreak of war. and those firms.vlio hitherto have been almost exclusively enlaced upon civilian trade are either going to have to come in voluntarily and take a reasonable proportion of the orders, or else tlieir works w ill be commandeered entirely by tlie War Office. It hardly looks fair for some firms to run say. 75 per cent of their plant upon a commission basis for the Government, while others are doing sav 25 per cent and even less, and it is high time that a, spirit of fairness and consideration was manifested by all alike. .

THE' WORST CORNS CURED IN -A WEEK.

Hard corns, are painful enough, hut soft corns between the toes are even worse. If you suffer pain from either hard or soft corns, try Barraclough s Progandra—a sure, quick and permanent cure. Progandra cures by removing the corn entirely—infinitely better than cutting.. Simply apply Progandra to a strip of calico .and wrap it round tlie corn as you w oiilcl round a cut finger. Repeat this tor six nights j soak foot in hot- water and the corn will come out. Get 1 logandra now., and suffer no longer with torture. Ask at any chemist soi store for, a Is box of Barraclough’s Progandra now! ■