THE DEMAND FOR WOOL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1719, 9 April 1913, Page 10

THE DEMAND FOR WOOL.

AMERICAN TARIFF REDUCTION. . There is at least 0110 keen business man in Wellington who does not look to Anything much coming to A : ew Zealand woolgrowers by the prospective removal or reduction of the protective tax of sd. per lb. on wool entering tlie United States of America. "I think," said the business man in question to a. representative of Tjib Dominion', "that it is highly improbable that tlio protective duty will "bo removed altogether, but there may be a reduction of, say, 50 per cent, in tho tax. This I judged to be the general opinion as regards the wool tariff, in conversations I had during a recent visit to America. I fail to see that there is any warranty for, the assumption that the reduction is going to mean any great benefit to us. . If it is, it is diflicult to see how the United States people arc going lo get the benefit they anticipate by removing or reducing the duty." A prominent Auckland authority, discussing tho proposed removal of tho duty on wool, said: "Wo do not anticipate that President Wilson will succeed in wiping •out the duty on wool altogether, bscauso of the strong opposition likely to arise in the Senate and elsewhere, but .we do think it likely that it will bo reduced to half its present amount. If so, tho Americans are surd to conie.'hito tho Australasian market- more extensively, and their keen competition should firm prices considerably." Tho. sanio gentleman expressed the opinion; that a very strenuous battle is likely to arise between the rival factions interested in tho woollen and cotton trades. '.'This is only tho beginning of it," ho added, "but we feel that the .outcome is bound to be favourable to New