HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9634, 24 March 1910, Page 5

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

Tne Minister for Industries aud Commerce has received the following report, dated 4th February, by the Produce Commissioner, London, on *he lirst series of colonial wool sales, which were held from ISth January to 4th February last:—

Throughout the sales there has beeu keen competition for all lots offered. Buyers from America and from the Continent have bid against Home manufacturers for all lots in any way suitable for their requirements. The latter have good orders ou hand, and as the stocks of wool held by thorn are iv short compass, having been steadily drawn upon iv the course of manufacture, prices all through the sale have been firmly maintained. Thero is no accumulation of stock, nor is there likely to be any, especially as, owing to the dry season experienced there, a shortage is expected in the shipment of wool from River Plate this season.

The position of wool is distinctly favourable. The classes for which has been the greatest competition during the present sales are heavy, medium aud coarse crossbreds, especially the latter. This is caused by OoutiueutaL buyers requiring these chiefly, aud, therefore, entering more ieeuy into compaction with British manufacturers for them than for other classes. The American buyers prefer bidding for the lighter wools.

One noticeable feature of the present sales is the great improvement found in the quality and get-up of the wools from South Africa. It is evident that the atteu'uou that is now being given there to the improvement of the flocks by judicious breeding, with a view to entering into the frozen meat trade, is beginning to tell. Care is apparently also now being given to woolclassing. So that it would seem as if in a few years New Zealand may have to reckon upou new aud increased competition from the South African colonies. There have been a oousiderable number of South African clips offered during the present series of wool sales that have shown this marked improvement in quality and get-up, and buyers have been commenting favourably upou them.