WOOL SALES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27513, 6 October 1950, Page 8

WOOL SALES

Sir, —The Dunedin Woolbrokers’ Association’s reply implies that it is satisfied with the wool sales dates allotted to Dunedin. Its members therefore must be prepared to lose a growing percentage of their very lucrative wool business since each year an increasing number of irate farmers will ship their wool to London, and once they ship will continue to do so. Prior to the commandeers, the trading banks shipped on behalf of their customers a large quantity of wool to London. The banks lost this business during the commandeers, but under today’s unsatisfactory selling conditions in New Zealand they are likely not only to regain but to increase it. Many farmers who hitherto made a practice of selling their wool on one particular sale —some on the first, others on the second sale —now find that they have been ousted and thev rightly consider that the restricted December and February sales should be made available for only new season’s wool shorn in Otago since August. Those farmers who neglected the opportunity of selling their crutchings in August should be compelled to hold them till the unrestricted April sale, and no dealers’ wool and no outside wool should be permitted to be sold at Abe restricted December and February sales. Last season it was reported in the Daily Times that Dunedin stock firms actually canvassed the Gore district for wool for the Dunedin December sales, thereby depriving Otago farmers of their legitimate home market. Should this unfair practice be persisted with, then the Dunedin December sales will be flooded with early shorn wool from Southland to the detriment of Otago farmers. Will the Dunedin Woolbrokers’ Association give an assurance that unless there is insufficient main clip wool available to fill the quota, space will not be provided on the restricted December and February sales for crutchings, dags, dead wool, dealers’ wool and outside wool. It is reasonable and fair that zoning and other restrictions enumerated should be imposed when a firm overall restriction is nlaced on the number of bales to be offered for sale. With the world hungry for wool and buyers keen to obtain sunplies which are available, last vear’s allocations for the December and February sales should be increased by 50 per cent., but an unrestricted sale in October would be preferable. It is unreasonable that many Otago farmers should have to meet costly shearing expenses and then be forced to wait five months for payment for their wool.—l am, etc.. Woolgrower.