WOOL DRAFT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7047, 8 February 1910, Page 9

WOOL DRAFT

HOW BONG WILL THE TRADE IMPOSITION RULE? A MATTER FOR PRODUCERS. The cabled statement from London that the Homo wool soiling community has failed to bring about abolition of the draft allowance to the wool trade of a pound per bale does not como as a surprise. It has long been regarded in Australia os a reform impossible , of accomplishment at the London end. The Home broker is not in sufficient touch with the grower to bring the necessary weight to bear on the trade. It is in Australia and New Zealand where the fight must take place. There are indications that Australia will move in the matter. It will probably move with success, for there tne grower _■ is properly aroused to the glaring injustice of the charge. In the old days, when the crude, scales employed could not be depended upon, some small allowance might have been justified; today, with scales weighing to the fraction of an ounce and operated by sworn weighers, the necessity of such an allowance has ceased to exist, and its continuance can only be regarded as an act of dishonesty. The buyer has little to complain of, as in addition to the draft imposition the packs are given in by the grower; but the trade does not cast these aside —it resells them. Thus, instead of the grower being asked to make a present of lib of wool on each bale to the buyer, the boot should be on the other foot—the buyer should pay something to the grower for the pack. While the trade is refusing to forego its unwarranted draft charge it is now contending that the grower should use better quality packs. This would mean that instead of the grower giving the buyer a 2s 6d pack (which can bo subsequently sold for, say, half its value), he would have to give him one worth ss. It is time producers took a hand in defending their position. Local brokers are as keen as the grower himself in fighting the draft fraud, but they are powerless unless they have the growers solidly behind them. If all New Zealand wool were sold on local markets and growers were thoroughly in earnest in demanding abollton of the draft al-

lowance, the matter, with Australia a assistance, could be settled ■at once. As far as New Zealand -is concerned the time is not ripe for making a stand. Australia, however, is in a strong position, her growers having long recognised the value of local selling, and should a determined stand be there taken the trad© must assuredly give way.