WOOL FOR JAPAN FROM N.Z. AND AUSTRALIA

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1948, Page 5

WOOL FOR JAPAN FROM N.Z. AND AUSTRALIA

Importations To Be Continued

fN.Z.P.A.—-Reuter Cable]. (Rec. 11.0) TOKIO, April 2 General MacArthur’s headquarters announced to-day that Mr Max B. Laupheimer, Chief of Wool Procurement, would leave by air to-night for Australia and New Zealand to arrange for the continuing of the import of raw wool in adequate quantities for Japan’s wool industry. Mr Laupheimer will visit Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, and . Wellington, where he will confer with the Government and trade officials concerned with wool marketing. A tentative basis has been established for an active resumption of the raw wool trade between Australia and New Zealand and Japan, said Mr Laupheimer. What remained, now, was to set up the mechanism t" implement shipments. Pending his discussions in Australia and New Zealand. he was not in a position to comment on the quantities of raw wool which might be involved, or the date when the shipments might begin. The Japanese wool experts hope

that Mr Laupheimer may obtain at least, a continuing supply of ten thousand bales per month from Australia. .By initial sales of ten tnousand bales oer month, Australia would be able to offset her purchases of rayon silk, and Japan, simultaneously, by processing and exporting the finished prdoucts, would build up credits with which to finance further, wool puich.:ises^ EE|v)ENT W(TH It is understood that Mr Laupheimer will negotiate an agreement with New Zealand on a similar basis to the Australia-Japan agreement. This will largely be a long-range plan, as the New Zealand wool sales will be completed by the end of May, and Japan’s immediate purchases there may be substantially less than five thousand bales.