THE WOOL CLIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1924, Page 7

THE WOOL CLIP.

AMERICAN EXPERT’S VIEW. ; ZEALAND'S ADVANTAGES. A noteworthy tribute was >paid to New Zealand, the quality of its woo], its capacity for growing: the product, and the character of its people, by Mr. John Wilcocks, of Boston, who .. attended the WeHingbon wool sales on .behalf of hie firm. Mr. Wilcockri is a partner with Lord Barn'by, of a wellknown wool manufacturing firm, of Bradford, and he is the president of the concern in the United States, where he is ia charge of mills which consume 600,090 R>. cf wool every week and employ 1500 liaridh. lie has been about•' fiv.e • weeks in this country and is visiting all the wool sales throughout New Zealand. Mr, Wilcocks was particularly impressed by Hawke s Bay, which, lie informed a representative of the Dominion, he regarded as one of the finest avoo!-growing districts in the world. He spoke, authoritatively, as he is personally familiar with every wool-growing country on the map. Hawke’s Bay, he said, possessed •the finest stock, enjoyed the best conditions, and had feed all fhe year round, which was t great asset to the farmeis, as all they had to .depend on was the natural conditions. He was also much impressed by the farms and their capacity of pioduction. “New Zealand has a competitor in the Argentine,” ho remarked, "but h< re you have the advantages of a clean pasturage and the burrs do. not abound here as is the case in the Argentine, and which are a great drawback to the manufacturer. Wool is also classed better here, and New Zealand#, caters more for t'h® manufacturer and . merchant, wli ch is very muon appreciated.”

Farmers, he felt, should sell products when they are ready, and should not gamble. lie recalled his visit to New Zealand three years ago, when ho bought wool at, sd, compared with 25d which he was paying, to-day.. When questioned as to the disparity, Mr. Wilcocks said it was all a question of supply and demand. The world was producing less wool to-day and consuming more, which naturally explained the enhanced prices. , "The farmers are reaping a great harvest to-day,” commented 1 Mr. WilCGcks, "and they deserve it, in view of the set-hacks they .have sustained.”

When asked for his impressions of New Zeal And he said: "1 think you have the fin,cet country in the world, and xhe finest people in the world, and I have been much impressed by their ■sociability, hospitality,.; and sense of ! understanding.” I Mr. Wilcocks originally bails from England, having been, bbrii at Pudsey, near Leeds, Yorkshire. He l is accompanied by Mr. G. H. Young, of "fiolyoke. Massac-husetts, who represents one of the largest, hianufauturjiig firms in the world which handles New Zealand wool.