WOOL APPRAISAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 17 November 1939, Page 6

WOOL APPRAISAL

START AT AUCKLAND FIRST TO-MORROW DENIAL OF DELAY MINISTER’S STATEMENT (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A denial that there is any undue delay in commencing the appraisement of wool, as implied in the Press Association message from Auckland on Wednesday, was expressed by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, yesterday. The Minister said the announcement made from Daventry some time ago that an agreement had been reached with the New Zealand Government for the purchase of New Zealand wool at an over-all f.o.b. price of 9.8 d. sterling, or approximately 12.25 d. in New Zealand, was premature, as at that time negotiations were still being carried on to determine who should pay certain charges in New Zealand.

A cable message finalising the matter was received only on November 4. The Woolbuyers’ Association, who will be-carrying out the appraisement, were notified immediately and they had since been working continuously to get out schedules of types and prices. This work could not be commenced until the purchase price had been decided. Arrangements had been made for appraisals to be carried out as soon as tire schedules were ready. The first appraisal will be made at Auckland, starting on Saturday, November 18.

“As no sale was ever held at Auckland before November 20, or Napier before the beginning of December, there is no reason why the wool coming into the stores should be causing embarrassment to the woolbrokers, who always had to handle equal or even greater quantities to be ready for sale at dates later than those on which the appraisals will be made,” said Mr. Lee Martin.