THE DIVERSION OF WOOL FROM LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1951, 11 April 1889, Page 18

THE DIVERSION OF WOOL FROM LONDON.

I" ( " To the Editor .of the Economist.)

Sir,— My attention has been directed to bhe letters of 1 ' Umbra ' and * Murrumbidgee,* pointing out and giving reasons for the great and increasing quantity of wool sent direct from the colonies to the Continent; and as the subject is a very important one, permit me, as a Continental washer and spinner of wool, to give the following reasons why I imported some 10,000 bales last year direct to France; initead of supplying myself from the London market* at I formerly did. Finding that Borne of my competitors did not attend bhe London Bales,' and that' they were selling tops of like value to- those I produced at a less price than I could, I made inquii ies, and found that they were importing balei direct. I therefore sent out one of my sorters to bny for me in the colonies, and the result has been so satisfactory that it is a matter of regret bo me that I had continued for so many years in the old groove, as I should have been much bebber off had I adopbed the plan earlier, the advantages of which are as follow :— " 1. I receive the bales intact, instead of being cut about, and some of the original wool abstracted and its place often supplied by an inferior article. " 2. Instead of frequently receiving short weight, I found I had, on an average, a gain on the colonial weight of over 101b a bale, which went a long way tow ards paying the freight. " 3. I now attend to my business here instead of wasting my time at the London sales. " 4. l obtftiu my wool cheaper, more quickly, and in better condition. " 5. The colonial account sales do not involve a tenth of the work in checking, and many items of London charge are happily absent. " 6. No doubt there are other incidental advantages attending direct importations, but I think I have given enough to prove that the time should not be far distant when, unless London alters her ways, all Continental and probably English manufacturers will obtain their requirements from the cheapest market. It is self evident bhat someone muat bear the expense incurred in perpetuating the curious, the ridiculous, system still partly in vogue— viz.. that of double carting, sampling, and reahipping th« ureat staple wool. Ib may seem Quixotic in mo, a Frenchman, to give all this information', but, as well as my own, I nave ray country's good at heart.— Your obedient servant; "A Direct Importer, " London, February 3, 1889."