WOOLBUYERS' LOSS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23358, 29 May 1939, Page 5

WOOLBUYERS' LOSS

HEAVY BRANDING PAINTS COMPLAINT BY TOPMAKERS SUGGESTION TO THE GROWERS Of It OWN "OItItKSI'ONDKNT 1 LONDON, May 1 Complaints about paint marks in wool have 1)001) made to Mr. K. S. Arthur, Now Zealand representative on the International Wool Secretariat, I)y Bradford topinykors and spinners. "It is a |)erennial coniplaint among wool buyers," -Air. Arthur said oil his return to London from a visit to the Midlands. "It is not directed only at New Zealand. J was presented with samples of two lines of Wanganui wools bought this year by a well-known topmaker. Tliey were plastered with red branding paint which had solidified into a hard nutss on the lleeee. '•Practically every fleece in these two lines was affected, and a substantial handful from each had to be removed by the sorters before the remainder could be used for manufacturing. I was told that the mass of branded wool removed was worth not more than a penny a pound, which, of course, represents a substantial loss in a big consignment." Mr. Arthur added that in South Africa wool growers are required by law to flip all brands from fleeces before they are offered for sale. It was a somewhat drastic regulation, but it saved the buyer a great deal of additional expense which could be avoided by a reputable brand of paint being used and care being taken in the application of the brand. "A pack of fleeces, with a great mass of red sediment, such as that shown me. is not a good advertisement for New Zealand wool." said Mr. Arthur. "It should certainly receive the careful attention of every grower concerned with efficient .preparation and the successful marketing of his clip."

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET IN CANTERBURY POTATO PRICES HIGHER [MY TKI.WiIIAPII I'ItKSS ASSOCIATION] CH HI STCHUnCH, Saturday There has been a slight finning in the potato market this week, which has been ascribed lo oversellers coming on to the market to complete their May commitments. The improvement was finite substantial, representing about los a ton in the week. Quotations to-day were £6 los to £7 a ton on trucks. The dearth of Auckland inquiry continues. Reports from Auckland are that supplies are plentiful, the W uipiata having arrived early this week with a fairly heavy shipment. It is expected, however, that there may lie a firming next month. There is still a good deal of complaint about the non-arrival from the Department of Agriculture of potato certification lists, ♦ Many growers who have potatoes entered are afraid that if there is further delay, certification will he of little use to them. The small seeds market is very dull, any business transacted being in small quantities. SHEEPSKIN PRICES FIRMER VALUES AT WELLINGTON All grades of sheepskins were keenly competed for at the sale held by Wellington brokers on Friday. Prices showed an improvement on the previous sale's values of 1 (I per lb for most descriptions. Light ox hides were par to lid per lb dearer, and other ox and cow, kip and calfskins were unchanged. The range of prices was as follows: — Dry Sheepskins.— Ilalfbred, o'jd to per lb; fine crossbred, B'id to sid; medium crossbred. 7d to tid; course crossbred, .V 3 d lo N'jd; half-wools, -I'id to quarterwools, 3'/id to 7Lci; pelts, 2 :, <d to -I'/ad. Hides.—Ox. 3,' lib In IJ lb. 5 3 ,£ dto ,V/ 4 d per lb; Islb to 521b. I'Jd to (l'4d; 531b to s!tlb, 5%d lo O' id; (iOlb to (Kill),* 5Ld to (!' >d; 70lb and over, to 7d; cow. :t3lb to .'litlb, •IVod to •iiilii and over. 5d to (id; kip. 251b to 321b, •IVjd to <i'/«d; I Tib to 21 lb. 5d lo 7'4d: yearling. I lib to l'ilb, .Vid to S'<d; calf, (ilb to Sill, B'jd to I) 1 id; 111) to slb, fi 1 B d to 10% d. LIVERPOOL WHEAT MARKET LONDON, May 27 The Liverpool wheat market was closed to-day.