The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1913. THE WOOL MARKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 80, 4 December 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1913. THE WOOL MARKET.

Statistics make it abundantly plain that the increase in the world’s flocks has not by any means kept pace with the increase of population in woolusing countries apart from the fact that there is everywhere greater demand for pure wool goods in preference to mixtures and shoddy. It is not surprising therefore to learn that the London wool sales opened firmly yesterday with good demand for better sorts—even though a month ago there was at least a lack of energy in the wool market. The figures given in the cable messages from America yesterday are indicative of what business we may expect there. It is stated from an authoritative source that there has probably been a very substantial! increase in the number of sheep in Asia, but even when allowance has been made for the free stocking of Siberian lands it is considered impossible to accept the estimate that the sheep in Asia have increased from; 22,000,000 to 110,000,000 since 1895.1 There has been a very great increase I in the African flocks and an improvement in their wool largely due to the! introduction of Australian stud sheep;! hut fho fitmrns show iho nf 11 !

the other continents to be almost stationary or declining. The sheep of Europe, for instance, are fewer by 18,000,000 than they were fifteen years ago. South America reports an incras of 10,000,000 and North America an increase of 2,000,000, while Australasia has suffered a decline of nearly 3,000,000. It is a certainty that the position will be considerably af-i I fee ted by the change which has just ] come into operation in the fiscal policy of America. During 1912 wools ini-, ported into the United States paid over five millions sterling in duty, equivalent to nearly 57 per cent., yet even this protection was not enough to save the flocks of the United States I declining to the extent of over a million head. Even with a somewhat erratic season for shearing, woolgrow- 1 ers may take heart of grace at the outlook for their products. In these 1 the clips are reported to be heavy and generally speaking in good condition. 1