THE SHEARING SEASON

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 35, 5 November 1918, Page 6

THE SHEARING SEASON

(To the Editor.) ' " Sir,—The biddi-biddi will be sticking by the middle of November this season, and once it starts to stick the wool under the Government commandeer system will go down in price from a penny for the smallest quantify showing to 4d. ,or \ * sd. for wool badly affected with biddibiddi. Every penny a pound dropped in our wool means over a .million of money less to the farmers of this coun- • try. I would appeal to- the Government to liberate 3000 or -WOO ot tjiose shearers and farm hands that are in camp at the present time to help with the shearing at once. If it is not done right now it will bo too late—for the FortyMile Bush in particular. What with higher expenses in .every way and the taxation of 55 per cent, on pre-war tirofit that is not there many will be taxed out of existence. Still. I don't think one would complain as long as we are all treated alike. But a drop of •Id. or sd. per lb. on biddi-biddi-affeete<t wool I consider is not a square deal, especially when it can be cleansed without dete'rioration. I think our young soldiers and especially young married men would appreciate three or four weeks' leave, oven if it is without nay. which I believe is the custom; but if it is to be done at all it must be done immediately to save the minimis above mentioned.—l am, etc, •_„„,_,._. JOHN BOUSTEAD.