THE WOOL SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 29

THE WOOL SALES.

LONDON, Juue 27. yhe Bradford wool business is practically suspended. Common sixties, 21Jd; super, 22-Jd. Co-operative Trapping and Exporting:. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, I—l1 — I have read "Trapper's" letter in. your issue of the 16th inst. referring to the proposed establishment of a Rabbit-trappers' Go-operativo Freezing and Export Company. I must say that I agrea with every word therein. There is no denying the fact that the trapper is sweated to the utmost under the present system of conducting his business. The various exporters have to keep their separate offices and staffs going in the city, an well as their agents and p'a 31 * 9 * n each rabbit centre, and who has to pay for all this? The trapper, undoubtedly. Does it not stand to reason that if the trappers form their own company to conduct their business, expenses in this direction would be considerably curtailed? We see travellers representing tho different firms engaged in the business (scouring the country from one end to the other at the expense of tho trapper, each striving against the other to secure a share of the trade, but the funny thing is they dare not outbid one another for the rabbits, and why? Because they all belong to a ring, and are consequently bound down to a limit. I notice in your issu-o of the 13th met. that " One "Who iTnows " says that the tiappera about Dunback allow themselves to bo led by the nose and rolled in the mud by the buyers, also that they have not the pluck of a flea. I find the same state of things exists here, and can only attribute it to indifference or ignorance on the part of the trappers. They are continually crying out about their grievances, and accuse exporters, agents, and all others with whom they are compelled to deal of being so many parasites living off their labour, but the last thing they think of doing is to help themselves. Trappers, awake, ye clow, calculating, short-eighted, apathetic mortals, and bestir yourselves to make one grand effort to assist in the formation of a company of your own ! We can do it if we only pull together, and, instead of getting the fag end of the returns from London, after a whole battalion of others have lived out of them, we will get the lion's share, which is our just portion, seeing that we have to do all the '" graft " and dirty work. — I am, etc., Clinton, June 28. Tn.U'PEK No. 2.