7

H.—3B

Contract prices paid for wool-scouring have been as follows : — Seasons 1916-17, 1917-18, 1918-19 :— Per Pound Fleece— on Scoured Weights. Merino .. .. .. .. .. .. .. l|d. Other qualities .. ' .. .. .. .. .. 1-id. Pieces, bellies, and locks— Merino .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2d. Other qualities .. .. .. .. . . . . Ifd. Season 1919-20 :— Fleece — Merino .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2d. 48/50's to 58's quality .. .. .. .. .. if d. Other qualities .. .. .. ... .. .. IM. Pieces, bellies, and locks— Merino .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 |d. 48/50's to 58's quality .. .. .. .. . . 2d. Other qualities . . .. .. .. .. .. IJd. Freezing Companies' Slipe Wool. The purchase of freezing companies' slipe wool ceased with wool pulled on or before the 30th June, 1920. The following table indicates the extent of the Department's operations in this section from the commencement of the first contract of purchase : — Payments to Date. Purchased for Valuation in the United Kingdom : — £ Number of bales advanced against . . .. .. .. 68,869 2,029 064 Shipped to Great Britain .. .. .. 67,074 Shipped on account of other Governments .. 1,795 68,869 Purchased under New Zealand Valuations : — Number of bales purchased .. .. .. .. 192,323 5 496 241 Shipped to Great Britain .. .. .. 135,517 Shipped on account of other Governments .. 7,604 Awaiting shipment .. .. .. .. 49,202 192,323 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 261,192 £7,525,305 The total of £7,525,305 is made up as follows : — x , Percentage Amount. to Total. ' Appraised value .. .. .. .. ..7,345,431 97-60 Valuation and shipping charges .. .. .. 67,589 0-90 Storage .. .. .. .. .. .. 105,700 1-41 Administration expenses .. .. .. .. 6,585 0-09 £7,525,305 100-00 « Sheep-skins. The purchase of sheep-skins was extended, as in the case of wool, to cover all sheep-skins delivered into brokers' stores up to the 30th September, 1920, and all such skins were appraised and paid for on behalf of the Imperial Government. The total number of skins purchased and distributed to fellmongers was 7,666,864, for which £3,279,499 was paid, including cost of fellmongermg, transit charges, &c. Fellmongering was completed during the year, and the following are the results up to the 31st March, 1921 : — Delivered to fellmongers for treatment: Sheep-skins, 7,666,864; appraised value, £2,683,669 ; average cost per skin, 84-01 d. Kesult: Slipe wool, 31,097,267 lb. ; average pull of wool per skin, 4-06 lb. Pelts —Marketable, 6,980,461 ; valueless, 686,403 ; percentage valueless pelts to skins purchased, 8-95. Paid to fellmongers for sliping wool and curing pelts, £409,201. ■