Manawatu Daily Times Why Wool is Up

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6538, 21 February 1928, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times Why Wool is Up

A few days ago we pointed out that one reason for the boom in wool at the New Zealand sales was to be found in the shortage on the American market. There are, however, other and what should be more pleasing reasons for the strength of the mar.ket, not the least among them- being improved trade prospects in Gieat Britain. The latest reports from Bradford afford grounds for the belief that after a long period of depression, the wool trade is again becoming active. The figures of the Board of Trade covering the first eleven months of 1927 show that exports of yarns, tops and fabrics were much larger than in the corresponding period of the previous year, and one correspondent stated that “the results disclose the most favourable development seen for over two years.” It is to be hoped that the improvement will be maintaind if only because it would stabi'iisa the market for wool ,and thus assist the growers in the overseas dominions. Some economists attribute the strength of the position to the financial stability apparent on the Continent. Both France and Germany have become important factors in the wool markets and, like Britain, their consumption last year was definitely larger than in 1926. A month ago it was reported that two-thirds of the Australian clip had been sold, and by the end of February the bulk of the wool from both the Commonwealth and the Dominion will have passed into the hands of the buying firms. And, with the manufacturing industry more active, wool should go into consumption steadily, thus preparing the way for a strong market next season. A most welcome development would be to see the export trade in woollen goods at Home expand at the expense of exports of semi-manufactures, for that would mean steady employment for the woollen and worsted mills. The competition for our wool indicates that it is of a quality demanded by the trade but there is need for careful study of the requiremnts overseas, and it is to be hoped that the Dominion will not lag behind the Commonwealth in the matter of research in the wool industry. The present position in regard to wool is most satisfactory, the outlook for the wheat harvest is bright with record crops in the South, and both cur meat and dairy exports should show a distinct advance on the figures of last season notwithstanding the drought. These things combined should give some prospect of early relief from the difficulties under which the country has been labouring.

On Sunday afternoon between 3 and i p.m. a welcome shower of rain again fell over the Tiritca area, the amount registered being .28 of an inch. Though not overflowing, the reservoir is again full to the brim. It was reported to the Palmerston North Borough Council last evening that a driver of a service car from Wanganui wilfully drove over one of the prepared grass plots in Broadway on the evening of February 1 and when' remonstrated with, became abusive. The Council decided to draw the attention of the firm concerned to the objectionable attitude taken up by the driver, and further to say that as the Council has always shown outside motor companies every consideration when visiting Palmerston North and does not charge any of them a plying-for-hire license fee, it, therefore, in return expects their drivers to show every consideration in the matter of protecting the property of the public.

To profess ignorance of terms in colloquial use is, according to long tradition, the prerogative of Judges, states the New Zealand Herald. Perhaps Mr. Justice Reed has this practice in mind when he expressed curiosity in the Auckland Supreme Court on Thursday as to what constituted “kerosene’' language, a term used by a drover in evidence, Tho witness explained the term was used by drovers to denote swearing. A verdict of accidental death was returned at Wellington yesterday at the inquest into the death of Ernest Russel Seller, of Upper Hutt, who died in hospital following injuries received through being knocked down by a train at Woodburn station. Deceased, apparently on hearing tho train whistle stopped from one set of rails to the set on which the train has travelling. The Coroner said that no negligence was attributable to tho Department The accident was caused by some mo incntary thoughtlessness on tho part of deceased a