THE WOOL QUESTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9402, 8 January 1894, Page 5

THE WOOL QUESTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

IiIOBSTLIr cablegrams from the United States hare been ; published iia the Herald intimating that there was a likelihood of New'Zealarid and Australian wools being admitted to that country free of duty. From papers to hand by the San Francisco mail the following particulars 1 regarding the matter are gleaned The Wilson Tariff Bill, which is said to be the proposed Democratic substitute for the MoKinley laW, has been introduced into the Amencan " Senate, 5 t and \ since its publication* has met with a greab deal of opposition, especially from the woolgrowers ' of the Western States. While the exponents I 0 the Bill claim thab free i wool will stimu- , late the business of the country to a great extent, its opponents claim that the reverse rail be the effect, and they point out that sinoe the last Presidential election the wool trade has been on the decline. The National Woolgrowers* Association have held several meetings, the outcome of which is that a; circular has been issued, addressed to the , wool-growers of the United States. , The j Association state that it is no apparent that the House of Representatives at Washington will pass a Bill placing wool on the free list, and it asks wool-growers to appoint committees to work with them in protesting against legislation placing wool on the free list or reducing the duties on wool, as provided in the Tariff Act, 1890. The circular concludes with the following:—" Free wool will undoubtedly substantially destroy the American wool industry. But all woolgrowers are earnestly urged nob to reduce their flocks, but keep and increase them as fas as practicable even if nsed be for a time at some loss, for if free wool shall come it cannot endure and will be followed by such improved and increased protective duties as to insure the future prosperity and success of the wool industry." The wool-growers of Western Texas have forwarded a strong protest against the proposed Bill, in which it Is asserted that as a result of the general belief that wool will be placed on the free Hat the price has fallen from 15 cents a pound to 6 cents, and the value of the sheep from 2 dollars SO cents to one dollar a head. Under free trade similar foreign wools can be laid down in i Boston at 30 cents a pound scoured, with 70 per cent shrinkage. Texas wools would be .worth 9 cents a pound in the grease, which, after deducting cost of marketing, etc., woUld net the owner 5 cents a pound, or about one-half of the cost of the most economical production. There are 200,000 persons hi Western Texas alone directly deSondent for their living upon the wool inustry, and with free trade over 100,000 would at onco be forced into other pursuits which are already overstocked with labour. Prom the above it will be seen that when the Tariff Bill comes up for discussion in the House of Representatives there will be a strong effort made to kill that portion of ft relating to wool. But even if it passes the House its opponents hold to the hope that the Senate will throw it out, there being a large number of the members of that chamber from the Western States, all of whom are believed to be strongly in favour of the duties on wool being retained.