AUSTRALIAN WOOL YEAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24325, 15 June 1940, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN WOOL YEAR

WAR-TIME OPERATIONS ANOTHER BIG CLIP NEXT SEASON (Byi Trans-Tasman Air Mail) (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, June 5. By June 30, the end of the Australian wool-selling season, approximately 3,400,000 bales of wool will have been disposed of in Australia for an estimated return of £58,500,000. It is estimated that the clip next season will again exceed 3,000,000 bales, returning on current prices approximately £55,000,000. An increase of Id a lb in the average price, which is possible, would increase the wool cheque by about £4,000,000. The cheque for this year probably will c be even more than the estimated £58,500,000. because, under the agreement with the British Government, any profits made on the re-sale of the wool by the British Government will be shared equally with the Australian woolgrowers. There has been, and is, some criticism of the details in the handling here in Australia, which perhaps is not surprising in a £60,000,000 wmol deal for the year. For example, it is alleged 'that too many appraisers are employed. that numbers of them are overpaid, that some have been appraising types of wool which were not part of their peace-time operations, that too many foreigners are members of the “ army of appraisers.” and that, generally costs have been too high. The controlling bodies—the Central Wool Committee and the State Wool Committee —will review the position before the next appraisement season. By June 30, approximately 1,3' 7 '),000 bales will have passed through the Sydney centre this season —an all-time record.