THE WOOL INDUSTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20781, 29 July 1929, Page 7

THE WOOL INDUSTRY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, In yesterday’s issue of your paper it is stated that during the 12 months ended June 30 last 575,632 bale s of -wool were sold in Xew Zealand, and of this ■ amount 21,000-bales, 4 representing 3.83 P, er cent, of this total, were purchased by the New Zealand Woollen Manufacturers. , n >‘ ou inform me through vour columns: 1. What is the total annua! import duty paid on woollen goods brought into this country? ,2. What, percentage of the total woollen goods, retailed in this country; is manufcctured bvXew Zealand manufacturers? ” ‘"'hat average percentage is the' retailers selling price of woollen goods increased owing to the import duty? _ Answers to the above questions would give the public some Idea as to the amount each purchaser of woollen goods contributes towards keeping in. business the New Zealand woollen manufacturers who, after all, purchase only 3.63 per cent, of our total clip, which clip you state returns over 25 per cent, of the cou ntt’ys export revenue. Without a tariff, retailers prices would naturally be lower. Consequently more woollen goods would be used, tniis creating a greater demand for our raw material. ’ ihe question arises, taking the country as a whole: Are the Xew Zealand woollen manufacturers worth protecting at the , expense of the grower whese interests are so scr.ously menaced by the universal use of artificial silk?-—I am, etc., T , P ASTOBiLIST. Lawrence, July 27. [.The statistics relative to the duties collected on imports are not sufficiently detailed to admit of a precise answer to the first of the three questions put in the above letter, and the answers the other questions could be supplied only by the business people engaged in the trade. —Ed. O.D.T.]