THE WOOL TRADE

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 65, 18 March 1936, Page 12

THE WOOL TRADE

Flocks of the World. Sheep numbers in Australia showed a slight increase in the 1934-35 scasor but a fall is anticipated in 1936. Ai increase of about 2 per cent, is reported in tho number of sheep and goats in Hu Soviet Union (Russia). In the United States a relatively largo early laml crop is expected, and some increase it wool production in 193 G. Latost rc ports indicate a decrease in Uruguayat production during the current season.

Wool Industry. . In “L ’lndustrie Laincre" M. Despa ture has given us a comprcliensivt study of the industrial organisation o: the wool industry both in France am internationally. It is divided into tlirci main sections. In the first the nutho has reviewed briefly the production o: wool in the chief primary producin' areas in recent years, and its utilisatioi by tho larger consuming countries This summary is a clear and concise re cord of the economic position of the in dustry at the present time, its difiicul ties and problems and tho major do velopments which have led to them The organisation of the industry ii France, and steps loading finally to thi formation of tho “Comito Central d< la Laine" are then outlined, and thi constitution and functions of the com mittee clearly stated. Some account i: also given of the valuable services ir the realms of resear ill, fiscal matter: and information which have been rend ered to the industry by the Committci during, the comparatively short periOt of its existence. Tho author then ex tends his theme to tho formation of th< International Wool Textile Urganisa' tion its functions and its value to tlu industry as a whole. M. Despaturc’j thesis on the value of such industrial organisation and co-operation comes aptly at a time when international problems of finance and trade have led to restrictions of all kinds on tho free conduct of industry. The services of an organisation of this kind in alleviating such restrictions, promoting tariff agreements and providing a means of general formation and co-operation should be widely appreciated, if more ■widely known. The author has also devoted a chapter to the economic relations between the French and E’nglish industries and to the work undertaken, by the Bradford Chamber of Commerce in facilitating an economic understanding between the two countries. Tho volume will be of interest not only to those directly interested in itlie wool trade, but also to all those interested in the evolution of industrial organisation, co-operation and arbitration both ir, Franco and in the world in general.

Carpet Wools. The wools of prime interest in International trade are Merino and crossbred. The so-ealled “carpet” or coarso woods, mainly produced in India, China and North Africa, are dependent fn a greater extent on the price factor. ■ T.n low price years, which permit 11:air substitution by fine qualities of crossbred, they are often not collected or placed on tho market. Reliable statistics of output or stocks arc nonexistent.

Germany’s Wool. Advices from Germany (states the Australian Estate and Mortgage Company, Ltd., in its quarterly review) indicate that, owing to the difficulty which Germany is experiencing in purchasing foreign wool, a serious effort is being made to increase tho home supply by encouraging sheep breeding. The (Concluded at foot of prc\ious column)