WOOL SALES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16866, 1 February 1929, Page 11

WOOL SALES

DATES FOR ENTRIES FARMERS’ UNION PROTEST While speaking at the last meeting of the Wellington provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, -Mr. 1. Willis, of Mart-on, drew attention to the extremely early closing of Hie catalogues for the December, January, and February wool sales. Catalogues, he said, were full over a month before the sales, and apparently the fact that the Dominion’s sheep had increased by 750,000 during the past year had been lost sight of. With the ' small limits fixed for January and February and no limit for March.' lie felt that there was a grave danger of the buyers not being able to deal with the situation, and consequently growers would be faced with having to accept lower prices. His remarks were confined to the Wellington sales. He did not know of Hie position elsewhere, but he certainly thought that in fixing tlie limits, the wool committee had lost sight of increased production. Better handling facilities were clearly necessary and a more generous appreciation of the position. A broker had informed the speaker that it. was the buyers'who were to blame, for they claimed that they could not deal with any larger catalogues. Mr. A. Cnmpgel! pointed out that (here was no limit at the March sale.

Mr. Wills: There's the danger of an overwhelming entry and the risk <>l the wool being sacrificed. Mr. L. Hammond said that at Wanganui the catalogue closed fully a month before the sale, because the wool offering was greater than the limit fixed. The chairman, Mr. K. AY. Dalrvmplc, said that the more one went into the position, the more one appreciated t 1 difficulties. There was the question of shipping, which was ever before the buyers when operating. Mr. Campbell felt that there were too many sales in New Zealand and ,this accounted for the buyers’ difficulties in meeting the wishes of the growers. For instance, they would lie at Wanganui, and then 'have to rush oil to Invercargill, and ho hack again in the North Island within a lew days They could not give the time to the sales that was necessary. He would like to see a reduction in the number of sales. It had to be remembered that buyers regulated their buying on their credits. Mr D. D. McLean: But they regulate their credits on the catalogues. If the catalogues wore larger, then they would arrange for increased credits. Mv"n L Younger felt that the position was due to (he adverse weather conditions experienced m November and December. Very little shearing was possible during those months owing to the rain, and this had caused the large entries for the January and Mininry 'Mr. P. Cray said that he had sent his wool away on January 8, aud it was catalogued for the March sale, being too Into for the February offering. It was agreed to draw the attention 0 f the Dominion executive to the early closing of the January and hebvunrv catalogues. —Post.