FIRST TO ARRIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20065, 11 October 1939, Page 4

FIRST TO ARRIVE

NEW SEASON'S WOOL START OF SHEARING GOOD YIELD EXPECTED WILL PRICE REACH I ID? The first clips in what should be a good wool season in the Gisborne district are beginning to arrive in store, where they are remaining in the meantime pending an announcement of the Government’s decision regarding commandeer arrangements. Only a few of the very small flocks have been shorn yet, but as arrangements are being made by some of the big sheds to commence this week a steady flow of wool into town can be expected from now on, so long as rain does not interfere with the work, The rain experienced during the past few days interfered with the start made on some of the large properties. A small lot of six bales from Mr. W. W. Smith, Bushmere, was the first of the new season’s clip, apart from wool from stud sheep and straggler fleece, to arrive in Gisborne. Messrs. Common, Shelton and Company, Limited, report that this small quantity was received by their store on Friday. On the following day Messrs. Williams and Kettle, Limited, received 17 bales from another small property on the flats. Bright Fleece The wool that has come off the sheep so far is reported to be in good order, and the fleece is expected to be at least up to normal weight. It is bright and clean. Growers are now awaiting an announcement regarding the price and other arrangements about appraisement and shipping, and until this advice comes to hand nothing can be done with the clips, which are expected to arrive in ever increasing numbers from now on. While no definite price has been announced in Australia, it has been reported that Britain has agreed to an average of 13.43'7d per lb. for the entire clips, or an increase of nearly 3d pe r lb or 27 per cent, on the average of 1G.58d last season. If this statement is correct and New Zealand also received a 27 per cent increase on last season’s average of 9.17 d„ Dominion growers will receive approximately llid per lb. Heavier Australian Clip The Australian wool clip is officially estimated to yield 3,096,000 bales this season. Judging by the sheep already shorn, it is probable that this total will be considerably exceeded. A survey of 94 sheds in different parts of New South Wales shows an increase of over 23 per cent in yield. Shearing in New South Wales has seldom gone with a better swing. Up to the end of September, 541,000 bales had arrived in Sydney, representing the yield of 18,000,000 sheep, for every grazier is anxious to get his clip into store at the earliest possible moment so that it may be catalogued ready for the appraisers to value.