OLD WOOL STAGED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17954, 5 December 1932, Page 2

OLD WOOL STAGED

AUCKLAND EXPERIENCE EFFECT ON THE PRICE If old Wool is clean and is baled in a thoroughly dry condition, it should not discolor by keeping for a season or two. While this is the general experience, some of the wool at the Auckland sale last week was apparently in a different category. Reporting on this aspect, the Auckland Herald states:— The extent to which the carry-over oi past seasons’ wools affected prices is a debatable point. One ol‘ the leading buyers said that Auckland wool had a tendency to deteriorate when held for any length of time, owing, may be, to something in the soil. Not all ohl wool was spoiled in this way, however, and, provided it was not badly stained and still preserved its bloom, buyers would as soon purchase old as new Wool. “The mere presence of old wool cannot affect the price,” lie said, “but when it deteriorates it undoubtedly does.”

Another buyer who purchased very extensively said ho was disinclined to look at some of the wool in the stores because it was so badly discolored. While some of the stained wool was new, the hulk of it was old. “The sooner New Zealand gets rid of its old wool the better for her farmers,” he said. In one of the stores several bales of wool, two seasons old, had been opened up. The contents of many of the bales were stained yellow right through. It was stated by an Auckland operator that some of the wool was actually over two years old, and was now being disposed of for lljd when two years ago it would have brought 8d or 9d a pound. That much depends on the conditions under which the wool is shorn and baled may be gauged from the fact that some of last season’s wool was ‘old at higher prices than this season’s clip, the ileece having opened up well, showing no seed and very little stain.