THE WOOL SITUATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 867, 20 November 1916, Page 8

THE WOOL SITUATION.

EFFECT ON LOCAL INDUSTRY. A REASSURING VIEW. A Sun representative made some inquiries this morning concerning the probable effect on local industry and labour of the Imperial Govment's proposed commandeering of the wool supply. A gentleman with considerable knowledge of the woollen manufacturing industry expressed the opinion that the effect of the contract with the Imperial Government, if it were completed, would be merely a commandeering of the surplus of wool in excess of New Zealand requirements. The mills, he assumed, would be authorised by the Government to take what they require, and the only people to be affected would be the speculative buyers who would be unable to buy wool. As far as he understood, the process would be as follows: a number of valuing experts, including a chief expert, would be appointed by the Government. They would determine the value of parcels of wool in accordance with the class thereof, and the price agreed upon between the Imperial Government and the owners. If the owner contested the value set upon his wool, the chief expert could be appealed to. The mills would be told to take what they wanted for local requirements at the price fixed. From the view point of his business the present situation occasioned him "no concern.

Inquiries made from Messrs W. Nicholls and Sons, whose works at Belfast have been closed down because of the stoppage of the wool sales, also elicited reassuring answers. Although a number of men had been thrown idle, by the stoppage of wool supplies, it was anticipated that this was merely temporary, and that as soon as some definite understanding was reached, work would resume its normal course, it being assumed that a great deal of washing and scouring would he done in this country before the wool was shipped home, each firm receiving a scouring commission and getting its share of the work.

Several Trades Hall secretaries who were seen viewed the situation with equanimity, and expressed the opinion that there would be little or no displacement of labour.