THE PROSPECTS FOR WOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16480, 4 September 1915, Page 6

THE PROSPECTS FOR WOOL.

The prosperity which the dominion is, despite the war, at present enjoying is mainly attributable to the fact that the value of the exports for the past year amounted ,to as much as £27,000,000, an increase of £4,000,000 over the preceding 12 months. A considerable part of this tremendous increase is due to the high prices that Tuled for ■wool and meat, for the sheep industry of the dominion provided for 59.3 per cent, of the total export as against 45.59 per cent, in Australia. This consideration renders the latest issue of Dalgety's Annual Wool Review a document of distinct interest. "The war," says this authority, "has led to the most unprecedented demands in the world's wool supplies. The ideal wool for the manufacture of khaki is sound medium and coarse crossbred, and New Zealand was fortunate in that almost the whole of her clip came within this specification. Never in the history of the trade had New Zealand wools sold at higher prices per pound than the softer and better spinning Australian wools. What with record prices for their wool and their meat the dominion producers have enjoyed a period of unprecedented prosperity." As compared with the commonwealth, the lot of New Zealand has indeed been a happy one. Owing to the drought which was experienced in Australia her export of wool for the past year showed a decrease both in weight and total return, whilst the dominion recorded an increase in both respects. It is estimated- that the drought of 1914-15 will cost the commonwealth at ! least £75,000,000, and one immediate effect of it will be a further shrinkage of the wool export for the coming season. Here in New Zealand, on the contrary, the prospects are of the brightest. The wool clip should be fully equal to, if it does not exceed, the average, and, for the duration of the war, the prices of the staple, especially the New Zealand variety, may be expected to remain at an exceedingly favourable level. The demand for cloth.ing for the army for the fast approaching winter campaign must verge on the prodigious. There are no large stocks of wool in any country. The compilers of Dalgety's Wool Review are emphatic in their assertion that there will not be enough wool for the world's requirements during the year immediately ahead and that consequently prices must go higher still. "It will thus be seen that matters in connection with wool values are favourable to producers, who should experience particularly satisfactory returns for the clip that will be marketed in the forthcoming season." This is a prospect that will enable the dominion the more readily to meet the extraordinary demands made upon it by the finance of the war—demands which, it is to be observed, have caused no appreciable perturbation on the part of the people.

A meeting of the Ladies' Executive of the Queen of Commerce (Miss Downie Stewart) was held in the committed rooms on Wednesday afternoon. Mrs R. Martin presided. It was proposed to present Miss Stewart with a memento of the carnival, but Miss Stewart, in a characteristic spirit of self-denial, delicately declined a presentation. ■

Tho Otago Queen Carnival Executive's art union will be drawn next Saturday. In opening the conference at Wellington yesterday for the purpose of considering tho feasibility of manufacturing war munitions in New Zealand (says a Press Association telegram) the Hon. Mr Myers said members would be asked to consider the possibility of making any of the following:—2o pr. shells complete or in part, 4.9 in shells complete or in part; Maxim guns, rifle parts, bayonets, and scabbards. He pointed out that this was essentially an enigneer's war—a war of lethal weapons— aad ono in which victory would lie with tho side which would be able to discharge the largest quantity of death-dealing missiles over tho longest range and continued through the longest period of time. All present expressed a desire .to do everything possible to place their skill, advice, and establishments at tho disposal of .th,c Government in any direction if it were found practicable that thy manufacture of shells or guns, or any portions of the military equipment, oould be undertaken in the dominion, The tone of the meeting was most enthusiastic, and showed an earnest desire to do all possible to cope with the present situation so far as tho means at their disposal would permit. 'The question of material required and the necessary tools was discussed at length, and it was ultimately resolved that the following gentlemen be appointed a committee to draw up a report, if possible, in time to submit to a conference of engineers which is taking place in Ohristcliurch on Tuesday Professor Scott (chairman), Christchurch; Mr H. H. Jackson (Chief Mechanical Engineer, New Zealand Railways); Mr W. Price (Messrs A. and G. Price), Thames"; -Mr J. Stevenson, Port Chalmers; Mr J. Keir (P. and D. Duncan), Christchurch; Professor Easterfield (Victoria College), Wellington.

A curious case of inability to trace. a soldier was mentioned in the House of .'Representatives a few days ago. Mr J. Craigio said that a Timaru man went to the war, and wrote to his wife from Albany, when the Fifth Reinforcemente touched there.. After that she heard nothing more of him, and on inquiry of the Defence Department, she was informed that her husband had not gone with the Fifth Reinforcements, or with the sixth either. The suggestion was made that the man .might have enlisted under a false name. The Minieter of Defence (the Hon. James Allen) asked Mr Craigie for" full particulars of the case, saying that he would make inquiries into it. The output of the new season's butter has rapidly developed under the influence of the highly favourable conditions of the past few weeks. Consignments are. now being forwarded to cool storage in* Auckland from factories throughout the province, and the quantity already accumulated is 6800 boxes, of which 4500 boxes were delivered during last week (says the Herald). On August 31 last year the quantity in store -was 7294 boxes. The prohibition against the export of butter has not yet been removed, but it is presumed that, as the . available supplies are rapidly increasing, there will be no difficulty in the .way of the normal resumption of the export trade. The first shipment will be made to London by the steamer Otaki, aLout the middle of this month. ,

> In the House of Representatives on Wednesday, in reply to a question \by Mr Forbes, who asked when it was the intention of the Government to open for settlement the large pastoral " areas lying at the back of the Oxford township, the Prime Minister stated (says the.. Christchurch Press) that the lands referred to comprised 33,000 acres in Lee's Valley, consisting of pastoral areas,, and certain -freeholds ;that' had been acquired by the Crown from Messrs Rudd and Ensor for subdivision with the pastoral land. The survey of the whole area would be completed in October, but the land could not be opened until certain necessary drainage works had been carried out. It was expected that the land would be placed in the market about the end of February next. The annual report of the General Officer Commanding the Defence Forces, among other information, contains a return 'of the musketry practice for the year, which'shows that under the head of '"completed " the Otago Territorials head the list with a percentage of 77.00, Auckland coming next with 64.90, Canterbury 61.70, and Wellington 40.70. With regard to Senior Cadets Wellington stands first with a percentage of 79.70, Otago second 69.70 per cent., Auckland 66.70 per oent., and Canterbury 57.80 per cent. So far as Otago is concerned there are partially completed:—Territorials, 5 per ccnt., Senior Cadets, 3.10 per cent.; Territorials not exercised, 17.20 per cent.; and Senior Cadets, 27 per cent. An important step in tho Taieri Drainage scheme (writes our Mosgiel correspondent) was made on when the Lee Creek was turned into the contour channel.

Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., warden, held a short sitting of the Warden's Court yesterday to hear an application by the Deep Stream Gold Dredging Company for liberty to work a . portion of its claim held by Mr Butler under a grazing license and used for cultivation purposes. Mr Hay, who appeared for Mr Butler, stated that there was a" possibility of the parties being able to agreo regarding compensation, but if they failed, the matter could bo heard before the warden and two assessors in a fortnight. Mr Callan, who appeared in support of the application, concurred, and the case was adjourned accordingly. In the City Police Court yesterday, Frank Edward Martin Reid, who was arrested by Detective-sergeants Connolly and Kemp on Thursday on a charge -of breaking and entering the dwelling of Jcannie Hutchison on July 17, and stealing therefrom two diamond rings" and £5 in money, of the total value of £85, was remanded until Friday on the application of Chief-dctcctive Bishop. The Rev. W. F. Kennedy has offered his services in connection with the returned wounded soldiers. His offer has been • accepted, and as he expects to be leaving Dunedin next week the Unitarian meetings, which he has conducted here, during the past three years, will be discontinued for the present. . ' The quarterly meeting of the Port Chalmers Licensing Committee was teld yesterday afternoon, Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., presiding over a full attendance of members. The only business was tho hearing of an application by Duncan M'Kenzie for the granting of a license in respect of the Provincial Hotel. Mr Lang appeared on behalf of the applicant. The magistrate stated that the plans \ for tho new building had been approved by tho committee subject to the provision of an additional fire escape and the approval of the Public Health Department. If an under- j taking were given that these things would be done and the contract put in hand at once, tho license would bo granted. Mr Lang acquiesced in the requirements of the committee, and the application was thereupon adjourned till the next quarterly meeting of the committee. ■ '

A deputation representing the master ■butchers and fat (sheep buyers of the dominion last week interviewed the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. D. S. Mao Donald, at Wellington, regarding matters affecting the trade. The resolutions carried at the recent conferenoc at Palmerston North were placed before the Minister, who expressed his sympathy with the trade in tho disabilities under which it was working, and promised that when Parliament again dealt with domcetic legislation tho department would endeavour to meet tho wishes of the deputation.

Another of the cerobro-spinat meaingittt "contacts" who have been under observation at the Wakari Hospital was tiis- * charged yesterday. Tho 17 men now remaining there are all enjoying good health. In the Police Court at Port Chalmers ' yesterday morning a man named John Miller appeared before Mr J. Watson, J.P., to answer charges of drunkenness and cast- ; ing offensive matter in Beach street.' He was fined ss, and costs (7s), on .each charge. A national executive of the New Zealand Land Values League has been formed «a. the result of a recent dominion conference in Wellingon. The headquarters of tho: league for tht year 1915-16 will be in Auckland (says the New Zealand Herald), and the officers are as follow: —President, tho" Hon. George Fowlds'; vice-presidents, Mr 0. D. M'Lean (Auckland), Mr P. J. O'Regan- (Wellington), Mr C. H. Nightingale (Christchurch), the Hon. J. T. Paul (Duncdin); editor of official organ, Mr R. A. Hould; treasurer, Mr G. Stevenson; secretary, Mr G. M. Fowlds.. At daybreak to-day at Glenfield there wore to assemble on a certain piece of ground in the district some 40 or 60 builders.

They have freely offered their services (says ■ the New Zealand Herald), and they expect, before the day closes, with tho assistance of : other helpers, to erect oanaplete upon the foundations already laid a commodious and neatly-finished church, 53ft by 24ft, for the use'of the religious bodies which have up to the present been compelled to hold their services in the public school. The trustees have been induced to make this one-day effort by an enthusiastic response in. offers of free labour, as well as of funds, to requests for assistance. A committee has tho catering in hand, and will provide breakfast, as well as later refreshments. During the afternoon there will be an ' interesting break, when the foundation 6tono will be laid by Mr James Trounson. Opening services have been arranged for Sunday. v New Zealanders are lighting with the British forces in ' each \ of England's many campaigns (says the ' Auckland Herald). Among the representatives of the dominion who were on active service in the East African campaign is a former resident of. .: Waihi, who is serving with tho 25th Royal ? Fusiliers, and in tho last letter to his wife, written on May 9, he describes the situation of. the base camp, which was reached after ' 48 hours' journey from Mombassa. "Wo |. aro camped in a beautiful position," ho writes; "on a large rolling plain dotted all over with small hardwood, thorn trees, and grass strewn with wild flowers, and'en- % closed by a semi-circle of high hills on the south-east and south. Kilimanjaro, 19,000 ft ■ high, ie visible every morning aboijit 4p : or . 60 miles away to the south-east, "and I take it that the prevailing - whi<ih ; blow from that direction, help to keep the , plain "temperate, ae'we are only one and ' a-half degrees distant from the Equator. There . • are said to be lions, rhinoceroses, etc., on the plains, but they are much more' numerous ~ a little further down the line, in the thick thorn-scrub district." During his summing up of the workers' oase-in the drapery dispute at the Arbitration'- Court at Wellington Mr M. ; J. Reardon said that tho statement had ' been made by the employers earlier in tho proceedings that, on an average, 84 per cent, of the senior female assistants and 68' per cent, of the junior female assistants were getting more than their respective minimum rates. As against that statement, he would

point out that in the case of one of tho two houses in regard- to which tho union .had had an opportunity of making a critical examination, it wae found thatj. three'' of tho females employed wero getting above the "minimum living wage" of 30s a wefck, and 16 wero getting lese than that he suibmittod on the evidence, lessthanwas ■ sufficient to live upon anid dress respectably. In the other case, taking, as btefore,-juniors, ; and seniors together, out of 46 female assistants. only 19 were on a wage of £1 10b or over, leaving 27 who were-receiving less than a living wage, and were-therefore more or less dependent upon assistance from home. Five women had gone into the box '• and stated that,' although they were receiving the present minimum wage, they had to receive help from home, or they could not carry on. It wae, he contended, a poor trade in Now to-day that would not provide its female workers with'enough ■'/ to live and dress decently on. , , The Auckland city market scheme will. .. be advanced a further stage in the near future. The Mayor (Mr J. H. Gunson) * stated to a Herald reporter that agreements' had been effected with all" the auctioneers at present carrying, on 1 business i at the. old market site., As .soon as the City Empowering Bill had reoeived the.. Governor's assent the ratepayers -would bo asked to vote £50,000 for-the new market buildings. "At a later date," he oontinued, ''I will place, before the ratepayers a statement which will show clearly that the undertaking is in'the interests of the city. ' It ■ is estimated that the erection of the buildings will occupy about nine months. Upon the completion of the work the auctioneers will at once go into 'their new premises, . while the old Buildings will be demolished; and the proposed road • improvements, will ba carried into effect."; ■ ■ . '!'