OTAGO'S WOOL CLIP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 88, 7 January 1918, Page 8

OTAGO'S WOOL CLIP

Pfl i t> !?° valuatlon was commenc- ' m U n n<^ m ? n TJ »"-sday (says tho Otego Daily TW'). . The condition or tho clip now being appraised is generally estimated at from two to five per cent, hotter than Jasfc year. This is due principally to tho small -percentngo of grease in the wool, fleeces averaging from half a pound to a pound lighter than was the case at tho corresponding appraisement last year This decrease of yolk is attributed to the absence of really hot days iu tho spriim and early summer. The weather this season, so far. has" been relatively colder, and while there is a possibility ot hot weather prevailing, tho chances are that the bulk of the clip will be-in the bales before that eventuates. An examination of tho clip now in store shows that growers are not giving as much attention to the get-up of their wool, and the classing of it to meet the requirements of the requisition, as was the case formerly. In order to got the best out of their clip it is absolutely necessary that they should give moro pare to it than in ordinary times. Apart from it being a patriotic duty, it would be a sensible and remunerative act on the part of tho grower. So far as ■ the valuations have gone prices show an improvement of from Id. to ljd. per lb., but it must be borne in mind that this does not mean a rise in the value of wool, as valuations aro still being conducted on the clean, sconred_ costs basis. ■ As a matter of act it is doubtful if growers are going to get as good a return as they got last year, notwithstanding the higlior prices. There is a possibility of vegetable matter in the wool being moro prevalent this year. At the Invercargill valuation, held just prior to the holidays, quite a number of clips were affected by bid-a-bids and other seeds— quite an unusual thing for wool clipped in Southland in December. These seeds, which have matured quite a fortnight earlier than usual, and aro exceptionally prolific, are likely to depreciate the value of many clips this season. The carbonising plants on tho Continent are no longer available for dealing with thie class of wool,- and tho demand will unquestionably bo for "free" wools, which are free from vegotable matter. v