H.—3o

The following tabulation shows the quantities of wool shipped during the year ended 30th June, 1943, and the destinations : —

ACCOUNTS The wool accounts are shown in the accounts section at the end of this report, page 32. The accounts cover appraisals of wool up to the close of the wool year (30th June, 1943), and they comprise Purchase and Sale Account, and Charges, Expenses, and Administration Account. It will be observed from the accounts that the purchase and sale transactions for the year ended 30th June, 1943, show a surplus of £86,006, after allowance has been made for expenses and charges, and for the agreed contribution by the United Kingdom Wool Control for abnormal storage and insurance on wool whilst awaiting shipment from New Zealand. The Wool Account shows the transfer to War Expenses Account of £133,607. This sum represents the balance of the allowance made by the United Kingdom Wool Control for the 1941-42 season to the Marketing Department to cover expenses and charges, plus a special allowance on account of abnormal storage and insurance during the 1940-41 season. WOOLLY SHEEP-SKINS The terms of sale to the United Kingdom Ministry of Supply of the exportable surplus of woolly sheep-skins remained as stated in last year's annual report, page 16. The period of the agreement extends to, and terminates on, the date of termination of the Wool Purchase Agreement—namely, the period of the war and the following season's clip. REPORT OF CONTROLLER " The Hon. the Minister of Marketing : " I beg to report to you on the operations of the Sheep-skin Control for the twelve months ended 30th June, 1943. " Accounts. —The results for the year show a reduction of £8,488 in the Pool Trading Account, leaving a balance of £4,613. The details are as follows : — " Balance 30th June, 1942 .. .. . • • • ■ ■ ■ • 13,101 "Deficit .. .. • •• •• 8,488 " Balance 30th June, 1943 .. .. •• •• 4,613 " The ' working-charges' shown in the Purchase and Sale and Revenue Account include provision for a loss on the disposal of 150 tons of sodium sulphide purchased from the United States of America, to safeguard fellmongering operations, when it was unprocurable elsewhere. Supplies from the United Kingdom are now assured, and the necessity for reserve stocks no longer exists. " Return to Producer.- - The Buying Schedule has not been altered since March, 1942. This schedule returns more to the producer than the realization value of the skins, based on the United States ceiling values for pickled pelts, and the Marketing Department prices for slipe wool. The schedule was so fixed in order that the reserve created from valuations of stocks might be reduced to a lower figure consequent on the fixing in the United States of ceiling prices for pickled pelts.

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Destination. Greasy. Scoured. Slipe. Total. Bales. Bales. Bales. Bales. United Kingdom .. .. 160,627 41,646 65,256 267,529 Canada .. .. .. 160,835 15,842 8,136 184,813 Australia .. .. . • 3,837 . • ■ • 3,837 India .. .. 25,482 15,542 .. 41,024 Russia 43,792 23,870 .. 6.7,662 U.S.A. .. .. 23,463 890 17,747 42,100 Total, 1942-43 .. 418,036 97,790 91,139 606,965 Total, 1941-42 .. 460,931 56,624 82,771 600,326 Bales. Quantity unshipped or held for scouring and carbonizing at 30th June, 1943 .. 583,850 Quantity unshipped or held for scouring at 30th June, 1942 .. .. .. 284,567