THE DOMINION’S WOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1930, Page 15

THE DOMINION’S WOOL

OVERSEAS MARKETS.

FACTORS AFFECTING POSITION. The Massey Agricultural College lias published a booklet by Mr. D. O. Williams, M.A., dealing with some of the factors affecting the markets for New Zealand wool. The booklet states:— “The matter of wool research is now occupying the attention of all the important wool-growing and wool-using countries; and within the British Empire a strong endeavour is being made to secure the co-operation of both groups for a comprehensive programme of investigation into wool problems. Broadly speaking the plan is to make a general survey of wool production, marketing and utilisation. “The class of information required is, first, survey in as great detail as possible of the requiremeents of each branch of the wool textile industry. We are told often enough that we must improve the quality of our wool; but as yet we have not been told for what specific purposes our wool is required, or in what general proportions different classes of wool are normally demanded.

“We need to know this, not only for the United Kingdom, but for Europe and other countries also. For it is evident that Europe particularly is a more important buyer of our wool than formerly. Moreover, in certain branches of the industry there are technical differences between English and Continental manufacturing processes which suggest that wool declared unsuitable by some countries is acceptable by others. .Whatever the reason, Continental criticism of our wool has not been as vocal as that from Bradford

“In the .second place, we require much more detailed information concerning the consumption of our wool by various countries. This would involve an analysis of the re-exports of New Zealand wool from the United Kingdom. So much wool is re-exported; but where it goes, -and in what proportions' we can only guess. Further, it would immensely improve the comparability of figures if they were all reduced to a common basis, on the plan, say, of the Australian export statistics which give the scoured equivalent weights. Figures which conceal significant variations in the proportions of greasy and other wool, either for one country over a period of years, or as between different countries, are rough weapons in an age of highly-developed statistical services.

“Finally, it would be of no little value if some medium could be devised for collecting and circulating data of general interest to wool growers and users. It would, for instance, be helpful if significant changes in the technique of manufacture, iu schedules of demand, in the development of competitive or auxiliary textiles, and in the geographical distribution of trade, were noted.

“The United Kingdom is the most important market for our produce, although in some instances she retains eomiderably less than is generally supposed. From 1860 toJB7O our exports to Australia were more important than those to the United Kingdom; but the two markets together claimed 90 per cent, of the total produce shipped from New Zealand. From the seveneties up to the mid-nineties the share exported direct to the United Kingdom varied round about 75 per cent., and in later years, rose to about 80 per cent. The proportion sent direct to Australia hassteadily declined from the high level of 1860-70, when it was about 58 percent., in the low level of about 5| percent. for the period 1920-7. In the last twenty years or so the most noticeable feature in the trend of our export trade has been the inereeasing share which has gone to countries other than these two. Foreign markets have shown the greatest increases. The annual average amount taken in 1909-13 by non-British countries was 5.6 percent; in 1923-27 it was somewhat over--12 per cent. “Such an account, however, presents a very inaccurate picture of the direction of our export trade. It is concerned only with direct exports to various destinations, and does not take into consideration the produce which is reexported from the United Kingdom. It is probable that such a calculation would very nearly double the percentage proportion attributable to foreign countries; and would diminish that attributable to the United Kingdom by at least 10 per cent. Whatever the precise result a careful investigation might reveal, it is evident that proper allowance for re-exports is of considerable importance in estimating the direction and trend of our foreign trade.” — ®