WOOL IN AUSTRALIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16209, 6 December 1926, Page 11

WOOL IN AUSTRALIA

■SMALL FARMER HARD HIT DETRIMENTAL LEGISLATION Some enlightening information in respect to the avo.ol position in Australia is,given by Mr. Douglas Carsoft, who is managing director of Winchcombo, Carson and Co., Ltd., the largest firm of woolbrokeys in Sydney,, and who,. recently, reviewed the position of the industry there. The prospects of present values for the coining Australian clip being maintained were very bright, he said. New South Wales should have a rocord clip, but the shortage in Queensland would most likely fully balance the increase in New South Wales. "The low values for fat stock," he went on, "are severely felt by graziers, large and small, as it means a heavy reduction in their capital, and this in the period when shearing rates have been increased from 38s to 40s per hundred and last week in 'New South Wales to 45s per 100, and the. wages of the shed hands ' also raised. Our competitors in the great Argentine get their shearing carried out for 14s to 15s per hundred, and their efficient shed hands at a correspondingly low rate. In South Africa a great deal of the shearing is effected at 8s 4d per hundred, or one penny per head; in the case of some special studs up to 15s per hundred is paid, whilst shed hands aro obtainable at from 30s to 40s per month, and their food costs from 15s to 30s per month. SMALL MAN HIT HARD "The two acts—The Rural Workers' Accommodation Act and the Workmen's Compensation Act —hit the small grazier or farmer very severely, and in many cases he unfortunately, does not earn an income equivalent to the incomes earned by the men lie employs, and the irony of the situation is that, whilst the small grazier or farmer has to insure the men whoso incomo is higher than Ins own, there is no one to insure himself or his family. He has to fall back on the good old custom, 'Do it yourself.' "It is another strong reason for the small grower giving up the struggle, ceasing production, and joining the throng of those who find employment in the cities. '< Whilst Australia is in receipt of loan moneys the true position is often hidden, but her indebtedness is extremely heavy. Taxation is not being reduced as it should be, and remains a heavy burden upon industry. Recent laws framed, especially in New South Wales, aro all the time increasing tho cost of living. The Labor politician and the workmen in Australia have, unfortunately, adopted the wrong democratic religion, in that they want shorter hours for work, do not want to give of their best in output, yet always expect high wages, quite overlooking the fact that such procedeuro, automatically raises the cost of living, thus reducing the value of their high wages. The law is absolute.

"Labor, in America, has long since learnt tho sound economic law that the more effectively and efficiently they work tho higher the wages they can command, and as the work done is more' reasonable in cost, the cost of living is automatically reduced; so t, lle y gain not only in high wages, but in tho greater intrinsic value of the wages earned. In Australia we have many of the best workmen in the world, but until Australian Labor adopts this principle Australia will not forge ahead and progress as she should."