WOOL BUYING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 113, 6 February 1919, Page 8

WOOL BUYING

BROKERS AND THEIR CHARGES. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Wanuanui, February 5. Wool growers have lately expressed concern in respect to a deduction of 2lb. per bale off their supplies, to provide, as .stated by .brokers, for possible shortages. Brokers claim that this is a custom of the trade. The matter lvas brought before the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce by Mr. Allan Robinson, who contended' that it lvas something the wool growers knew nothing about. They did know of the lib. deduction for dralt, and protests had been made without result, he said, because the Imperial Government had purchased the wool, subject to ruling conditions. On an annual export of half a million bales, a deduction of 2lb. per bale was a very serious matter. He believed hd was in a position to prove that it was not a custom of the trade, as'some-of the brokers did not make the deduction. It was, therefore, absurd that because some growors. dealt with certain brokers they should be penalised. The brokers contracted to deliver that weight of wool invoiced, and in order to protect themselves from possible claims they made the arbitrary deduction from theWcol growers. Mr. Ewan Campbell said the bale was not always standardised, and.if bales 0 wool were saturated .with grease, more was taken off for draft. He had broiisrhv the .matter up at every conference. The same thiiig pertained in regard to frozen meat, and'.New Zealand was losing 10,009,-001b.-every-yeair. A deduction of 2lb. was made off she'ep, and lib. off every lamb. All they aaked was that the growers should be paid for what: they sold. It was decided' to sand copies to the Wool Brokers' Association and the Minister iu charge of the Board of Trade.