WOOL PRODUCTION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 276, 4 November 1933, Page 4

WOOL PRODUCTION

NEW ZEALAND IN FIFTH PLACE. OUTPUT OF 116,000 TONS. New Zealand’s wool production, in 1932 was double that of the United Kingdom, which receives 80 per cent of her exports. France ■was the next best customer, taking 6 per cent. Wool exports in themselves made up in value more than a quarter of all New Zealand’s export trade, tat had to be added to those of South Africa and Argentine before equalling Austria lia’s output. , New Zealand as a wool producer had third place within the Empire and fifth in the world with an output in 1932 of 116,(XX) tons, although sheep were roared primarily for meat. Like tho United Kingdom, she has tho best crossbreds in the world obtained by scientific breeding, and they have excellent wool as well as meat. These facts appear in a report, recently issued by the Empire Marketing JJoard on “Fibres.’’ The report also reviews the world production and trade in cotton, silk, hemp, jute and flax, of which the importance in the native trade may be gauged by their estimated value of £1,195,000,000. Australia had the largest sheep population in the world, and accounts for nearly one quarter of the estimated total of the world’s supply of wool. Her sheep are mainly of the merino type, and are increasing in numbers. It is noted in tho report that during the slump merino held its price better than the crossbred. World wool is valued at £270,000,000. and of that the Empire’s share is nearly one half. Tho Empire as a whole is an exporter of wool on n very large scale although the United Kingdom in 193? absorbed more wool than any other country She is the best cns toiner not only of New Zealand, but also of South Africa and Argentina, while one-third of Australia’s exports enter her ports. But it must be remembered that Britain carries on an extensive entrepot trade.