MANCHURIAN WOOL

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 13 April 1934, Page 7

MANCHURIAN WOOL

NO. SERIOUS COMPETITION. THE AUSTRALIAN VIEWPOINT. SYDNEY, April 3. A suggestion by Air «T. Remer, a member of the British Home of Commons, that Japan might soon establish a wool industry in Manchuria which would seriously affect the wool exports of Australia and New Zealand to Japan, is discounted by those interested in the trade in the Commonwealth. The views of this .section have been well expressed by Air S. L. Officer, secretary of the Graziers’ Association of Victoria, who says the harsh conditions of the Alanchurian winter would be a serious bar to the production of fine wools.

“One should not be dogmatic,” said Air Officer. “A century ago there were people who scoffed at the idea- of growing wool in Australia. Admittedly wool can he grown in some of the colder parts of the South Island of New Zealand. But it is hard to believe that Manchurian wool could adequately supply the huge requirements’ of the. East. There is, 'therefore, no cause for alarm in the export of 3000 Oorr.iedale sheep from Australia, to Japan the other day.

“Wool-growing in Japan itself can never lie on a large scale, because of the limited area and the large population. All the same, Japan should he quite at liberty to expand her home industries if she wants to without any comment from us. Japan has assisted Australia in the wool trade, and the spirit of reciprocity should continue. Nor, indeed, would any complaint be effective. At present Japan imports wool from Australia because it is most convenient, but she could easily get it from New Zealand or America.” The, wool season in Australia has closed on a particularly high note, and oxnerts are already forecasting that prices will hold when the new series of sales commences. It is stated that the statistical position is .still very sound, and that Australia and other wool-growing countries can look to the future with the utmost confidence.