THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1945. WOOL SUPPLIES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32630, 5 October 1945, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1945. WOOL SUPPLIES

Disposal of the huge stocks of wool, owned by the British Government, is to be so made as not to affect adversely the market for the current and further clips. If, however, those clips should fall below the'average level then the demand for stored wool naturally may be expected correspondingly to incrase. It is of interest, therefore, to note that there is evidence that production in some countries has fallen substantially. Drought conditions in Australia seriously reduced the clip there and South Africa will suffer this season—and for as long as it may take to build up the flocks to normal —owing to the worst drought recorded for 80 years. These factors must result in a substantial drop in the quantity of wool that would normally come forward for sale, thus increasing the demand for what is in hand. Last month the Central Wool Committee’s report was presented to the Federal Parliament at Canberra. It showed that in 1944-45 the number of bales catalogued fell by near 485,000, when compared with the total for the previous season. Apparently some stored wool was shipped, for exports recorded an increase of 318,00 bales. One interesting item in the report was that commercial buyers in the United States had created a new recording by taking over 9207000 bales. It was stated also that since the cessation of hostilities some European countries had made inquiries, and French orders had been placed. The report also gave some interesting particulars of the statistical position in the United States. It said that last year the reserves of Australian wool held in that country by the Defence Supplies Corporation were reduced by 620,000 bales, and that the balance remaining (134,000 bales) would be disposed of other than by auction. That position might result in further purchases from the Dominions on American account in the coming season, specially if the reports that United States soldiers in Europe have developed a strong preference for woollen underclothing prove to be correct.