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Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 276, 22 November 1935, Page 11

Italy and Wool. Unquestionably Italy has been among the leading wool-buying countries, and her -purchases have helped materially to maintain prices in Australia, but that was not the point at issue, says the "Australasian” in supporting a statement that sanctions will not affect the wool trade. There was a fear it is true, that the imposition of sanctions against Italy might have a depressing market effect, although tho fear was soon dispelled. If Italian buyers had been active at recent sales hero or in London, and their competition had to coaso because of sanctions, then there could be sound reason for expecting a fall in values; but buyers for Italy had not been operating for some time. Values were established this season without their competition. Manufacturers in Italy have not been able to import owing to quota and credit difficulties. Those difficulties have been in the way for more than a year, and they were increased to such an extent recently that Italy was not a factor oi importance in any of the raw wool mar kefs of tho world for somo weeks be-' fore tho imposition of sanctions was suggested. So under these conditions, it was not unreasonable to assume that prices would not bo forced down by the sanctions.