THE WORLD’S WOOL SUPPLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6177, 8 April 1907, Page 3

THE WORLD’S WOOL SUPPLY

There is no subject more interesting and instructive at the present time than the world’s wool supply. Newspaper correspondents—especially from our great market-place, Bradford—have been diligont in explaining the masons for present high values and conjecturing and prophesying as to the future. But it is the statistician who can throw most light on tho subject, for values aro dependent on supply and demand, and the former, an which 'subject he is our principal guide, is the chief factor to be taken into consideration. The demand—except in tho matter of change of fashions and consequent fluctuation in popularity of different varieties is a steadiiv enlarging element consequent on the increase in population, the raising of tho standard of living and the adoption of Western styles in the East. The ''Statist” has collated some valuable figures in order to give some idea of how present production falls short of the demand, and from a reprint of the “Statist’s” article in “Dalgety’s Review” we quote the snore important points. Taking the ten-year period of 18951005 it is shown that the sheep of. the world had declined during that time by 71,820,199, a truly stupendous falling away. The principal decrease was in Australia, where the flocks declined by 45,970,000 head. The Commonwealth has been rapidly making good her losses during the past year, and the probability is that she will within a few years regain her old position; A territory showing a decreased supply which, however, looks as though it wore all going to make up lost ground is North America. The falling-off here was 4,428,470. The flocks of South America were depleted’ to the extent of 2,848,621, but here, as in Australia, a recovery may bo confidently anticipated. The second largest decline was in Europe (including Asiatic Russia), where there were 11,322,'223 less sheep in 1905 than ten ears earlier. No recovery may be anticipated in Europe itself, but when Russia ia more settled a great development may be expected in its lower Siberian provinces. There was a decline of nearly four million in Africa, and almost three million in Asia. „ Tho decline of nearly 72 millions represents about one-seventh of tho whole clip of the world in 1895. In natural sympathy with the decline in production prices have shown a great corresponding increase, and though the figures in regard to our leading qualities may he fairly well known, we may quote them again. In 1901 New Zealand' halfbred super was worth 8d to 9d, in 1906 l&jd to 17d, medium crossbred 4id to 4Jd and 13d to 15}d, and coarse 4d to 4id and 13)d to 14d. Notwithstanding the present slightly lower values than those of 1906, “wool is wanted everywhere, and no stocks are to bo met with. Although prices may fall a little lower, stall the values ruling for sheep . nd wool aro on an excellent basis. Every year the wants of tho textile world are increasing, and tho outlook is most encouraging for those producing tho raw material.” IMPORTS OF AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE. During tho week ending March 30th there was shipping from Victoria for Now Zealand—2Bo bags of flour, 903 hags of oats, 107 bags of barley, 142 of potatoes, 281 bags of onions. ■ Mora January Ist to March 30th there to landed at Melbourne from New ‘"j’and 2366 bags of oats, against V during tho same period lash year.