N.Z. WOOL EXPORTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 276, 22 November 1945, Page 3

N.Z. WOOL EXPORTS

GOOD NEWS FOR GROWERS PRODUCT FINDING ITS WAY INTO CONTINENTAL MARKETS (Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) London, Nov. 19 As European commerce in wool gradually resumes, New Zealand growers will be glad to learn that their product is finding its way to an ever-increasing number of Continental countries from which it was debarred during the war. Statistics are not available, as much of this trade is between Governments and quantities are not published, but it is known that France, Holland, and Belgium have

sent Government missions here to negotiate urgently needed purchases from the United Kingdom of spot stocks of Dominion wool.

Official information points to a much wider range of recipients. Circumstances tend to benefit New Zealand wool perhaps more than others in making it available for immediate export 1o liberated countries. For example, on account of its special suitability for war purposes substantial stocks of New. Zealand crossbred wool were <ki hand in Britain when the war ceased, and although these wools are also of value for the civilian trade, It would appear that the supply position here was such that the United Kingdom authorities found themselves able to include useful proportions of New Zealand wool in the first lots made available for commercial export from Britain. SUBSTANTIAL RELEASES

In the past few days Wool Control, for the first time since 1939, has released substantial quantities of Dominion wool for commercial export from the United Kingdom to any country with which Britain has payments arrangements, and New Zealand wools are well represented in the list of types made available. Countries eligible to receive this wool include Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Holland, Portugal, Spain Norway, Sweden. Switzerland, the United States of America, and Latin America. Practically all Continental Europe except ex-enemy countries is covered by this arrangemept, and although it relates only to specific quantities and types now available here, traders hope it may lead to :. more general and continuous flow of wool to these countries as circumstances permit. In addition, other European countries are receiving wool through U.N.R.R.A. and although detailed destinations are not known Greece and Czechoslovakia are believed to be among the beneficiaries. Nothing is known here about the possibility of wool being supplied to exenemy countries, but it is assumed any such supplies would be only through the official bodies administering those countries. YARN EXPORTED New Zealand wool benefits from another United Kingdom decision to make available for export large additional quantities of British-spun crossbred yarn in qualities not finer than fifties, which means that practically the whole quantity will be made from New Zealand wool. This yarn, too, may be sent to any accessible market with which Britain has payments arrangements and it is being eagerly taken on the Continent. New Zealand wool and the yarn made from it are thus in the forefront of available supplies for the gradually re-opening Continental markets.

It might be over-sanguine for New Zealand growers to think that the Continental European wool demand on the, full pre-war scale is rapidly reviving. While needs may be great, war impoverishment exists in many quarters tand the effect which this may have on wool-buying capacity has yet to be measured.