CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16726, 8 January 1920, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

WOOL AND SHEEPSKINS. TO THE EDITOR OV "TIIK TRESS.' 1 Sir, —Regarding tho commandeer on wool and skins, I understand that this embargo will be lifted by tho Government on Juno 30th, 19220, thereby making thorn free for disposal at tho best pneo obtainable as before tho war. Seei]ng wool is worth from 4s to 5s perJb in tho open market (it is bringing tnat Mow in South Africa), would a farmer ho justified in holding his wool and l >kins ovor until after Juno 30th next, J ind thereby getting tho extra money, L-rom Is fid por lb Government jirico as Ifnow. ti> 4s fid per lb obtainable in open a difference of 3s per lb (well worth having)? Kindly let mo know if it would bo legal for farmers to hold their wool for the higher pricca obtainable after Juno SOtli next, either in their own sheds, or in tho various wool stores in Christchurch or Addington. I, for one, would certainly hold this yonr'B clip over, for it would mean about £2000 moro than if I sold at the present Government valuation of Is Gd per lb? Why should South African farmers get 4s 4d per lb for their inferior wool (only worth 7d before tho war), nnd wo in New Zealand only get Is 6d for some of tho best wool in the world P About tho sheepskins, tip to September 30tli, 1918, farmers wero allowed to fellmonger their own skins at Belfast, or Kaiapoi, nnd by so doing get all the profit, save commission, etc. But now tho Government, in their wisdom, says farmors shnjl not treat thoir own sheepskins nnd Hides, but Tot tho nuctionoßrs sell them and get their glorious commission. Now, do you call this fair play to tho farmers? "WTiafc about the A<r4t*A tPA/ll

extra wool profits promised some timo ago? Arc they obtainable?— Yours, etc., FARMER. fApparently thero is no legal bar, to a growers holding his wool, but if he docs dccide to hold, tho Government may sclzo tho wool, in which caso the grower might bo ablo to claim a valuation on world's market values, though this iB doubtful. On tho other hand, if the Government did not seizo tho wool it could prevent tho grower from exporting it. So far as tho allocation of tho extra wool profits is concerned, this will not bo modo, it is understood, until the whole of tbo wool taken by the Imperial Government has been sold and tho accounts Bottkxl up.— Ed. "The Press."!