THE WOOL POSITION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 179, 24 April 1920, Page 8

THE WOOL POSITION

TOTAL STOCK ON DECEMBER 31. THE FREIGHT CONTRACT In. connection with the letter on tho wool position, received by the Prime 'Minister frosj the Director-General of liaw Materials, London, which was published in Tub Dominion on Thursday, some :n----tcresuing iigures showing the total slocks of wool (including the balance of clips to ba appraised) on December 3), 1919, ennw to hand by thelast mail, and should 1» of considerable interest. Stocks In -United Kingdom. Merino. X-bred. Jlaleß. Totals. Combine 111.52? 237.861 - . - ClotMnT.. - 66.582 25,767 - Carbonising ... 20,820 31,750 - - Scoured in ft.Z. - - «W« "' cii M ß — — 52,244 — tupeß 608,211 Stocks in Antwerp. Merino. X-brcd. Bales. Totals. Combine 8.833 7,802 - Olothine 1,232 - - - Carbonisinir ... 447 — - — Slines ... - - I.CS4 - bUBCS 19,403 Stocks in TJnitcd Statos. Merino. X-bred. Bales. Totals. Combine 26,671 26,073 - Olothine 3.902 ••- - Carbonisine ... 2.494 993 - - 60,133 Wool Afloat. i Merino. X-bred. Hales. Totals. Combine 107,137 104,580 - Olothin* 14.C65 1.44S - Oarbonisine .. 12,309, ISO - - Scoured in N.Z. - 13.019 - Wipes - «- HB3B - — 267,660 Wool Afloat for United State*. Merino. X-brcd. Bales. Totals. Combine 13.293. 1,541 - Olothine' 9,«5 1,91.0 _ Oarbonißinz .. 7,197 5,033 ■ — . — 38.418 Stocks in Colonies Still to be Appraisal. Merino. X-bred. Bales. Totals. Combine 880,891 1,241,840 - Olothine 224,096 160,104 -- Oarbonisine .. 165,055 220,811 - - Scoured in N.Z. - - 60,333 - Slipea - - 97,248 - - 3.050.384 , -4J44.U2 Less estimated nwmber of \ bales to be retained for , local use 61,(00 For scourine 240,000 bales, estimated loss 120,000 — 181.CC0 Estimated net stocks and wool to be appraised 3,853,162 Totals MerinoCombine 1,148,357 Olothine 313,312 Oarbonisine 210,322, Crossbred— Combine 1,619,599 Olothine '89,235 ' Oarbonisine 256,776 Scoured in N.Z 136,007 SliDes 165,474 '4,044,182 A letter accompanying the above stales that the freight contract entered into between the Ministry of Munitions and tho Australasian Refrigerated Tonnage Committeo fully provides for the carrying out of tho programme of shipments announced last year, viz., that the total purchases of .Government wool should he finally cleared from Australia before September SO. and from New Zealand before. November 30 of the present year. Tlnfortunately, however, through 'long delays in turning round steamer-tonnage in this 'country, and other disturbing factors, it does not appear probable that tho freight contract will be punctually carried out. No efforts will bo spared by the Ministry of Munitions to exact tho performance of the contract as nearly as possible, in order to avoid apy posy sibilitv of supplies of wool in Europe falling below the industrial requirements during 1920, at the end of which year it is to be hoped that the responsibility of the Ministry in this matter will be virtually ended. Of the above-mentioned colonial stocks, and expected further receipts, 2,250,000 bales correspond to Australia; and 800.000 bales to New Zealand. It is estimated that 225,000 bales per month can with advantage be marketed in this country, about 100,000 bales for export, and about 125,000 bales for domestic consumption. Tlie Director-General of Daw Materials will make the utmost endeavour to make up the quantity offered at the monthly auctions as nearly as possible to these figures, but it will be evident that in eome.of the qualities most in domand tho supply is dependent to a. very great extent upon the monthly arrivals.