WOOL PRICES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 224, 16 June 1919, Page 6

WOOL PRICES

Sir,—"Fair Play" thinks it is time farmers were getting more for their wool and meat. 1 need hardly say that I, lor one, quite endorse "Fair Play's" opinion What are the farmers of New Zealand thiuking of that they are so apathetic, and so blind to their own interests? Has this commandeer of our wool kept down prices? Go into any draper's shop, and note the prices all materials are selling at,' and' I think 0110 and all will concede that nothing is gained, but thousands of pounds are being lost to this country by the commandeer. Tho South African wool is fetching 4s. Tier lb. in London market. Read the following, from an eye-wit-ness of the London'sales: 'A lonuiaker remarked to the writer that he was trying to pick up at 81d. for average 6i 8 tops. And in spite of these prices wo read: "Orders have been placed for tliouj sands of pieces since the sales opened. Now, what is puzzling me is this: Why wa9 tho New Zealand'farmer not allowed to Compete in tho open market as soon as the armistice was signed? Also, fleeing that the Imperial Government has no further use for wool, what is neing done wilh the wool? AMio is benefiting? It is.no use saving (he farmers are getting 55 per cent, more; that is not the point, either what they aro getting, or what they were willing to take. ♦The point is that the necessity of selling the wool cheaply for patriotic purposes had ceased, and therefore no restrictions should havo been put on it. Wo have among others a lot of returned soldiers farming. Surely they and others would have been very glad to 'have been placed on the same footing as the farmers of South Africa and the United States, and got the ruling world prices: It is altogether a most unfair transaction.—l am, etc., NOT A WOOL KING.