THE WOOL SALE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 858, 9 November 1916, Page 15

THE WOOL SALE.

POSTPONED FOR A WEEK. GOVERNMENT'S ELEVENTH HOUB REQUEST. The first wool sale of tlie season was !to have been held to-daj*, but at the ' Government's request it has been post- ; poneil. Everything was in readiness. ' The catalogue, comprising s.juo bales, had been tabulated by the various firms lof brokers; buyers, in strong ar- • ray from all parts of the Dominion, I had put in a strenuous day of valuing; ■ the clip was in excellent condition, ex- , perts being of opinion that better wool I had not been sent to market for the [ corresponding sale for many j-ears past. Keen competition was expected, and farmers looked forward to the sale with an unusual degree of interest and expectancy. Late yesterday afternoon, just as the weary buyers were completing their valuing tasks, the president of the New Zealand Woolbrokers' | Association (Mr W. S. Bennett) telegraphed that the Government hJRI made I a request that the sale should be postponed. This request was made at the I instance of Mr Massey who, it is stated, is conferring with the Imperial ■ authorities on questions affecting ! control of the whole of the New 7ea- ! land clip. The telegram added that the j Acting-Prime Minister had promised to advise when the sales eould proceed.

A meeting of the brokers and buyers was held this morning, when it was de- ! fided to postpone the sale, tentative!}', ! fcr a week and to await developments.

' Everybody concerned, naturally, is dis- | appointed and somewhat chagrined at the turn events have taken, but tha prevailing sentiment seems to be one of resignation. As one big wool grower expressed it there is universal eonI fidence in the Imperial and New ZeaI land Governments, and pepole can rest | assured that, whatever move is being i made, the needs of Empire call for it.