DEMAND FOR WOOL SPREADING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 202, 11 September 1937, Page 17

DEMAND FOR WOOL SPREADING

More Countries Are Now Consumers AUSTRALIAN VIEW

"During the past two seasons the wool clip of Australia has contributed over £120,000,000 to Commonwealth revenne, ot nearly twice the amount received in the two lowest depression years," said Mr. Harold Bell, chairman of Wxnehcombe, Carson,. Limited, at the annual meeting in Sydney recently. "Indications point to further handsome returns for this season 's clip," Mr. Bell continued. "I am not pertnrbed that Australia will not find customers for the increased quantities of wool fshe •will probably grow in the years ahead. Of late we have sold less wool to some of our previonsly largest customers. But, just as Australia ;s boundaries in world political developments have extended during the past 17 years, her wool trading frontiers are also expanding. "Before the war less than 12 countries bought our clip. As a result of the world-wide increase in woollen textile manufacturing, wool was exported from the Commonwealth to no fewer than 36 countries during the past season. A few years ago Mexico was unknown as a consumer of Australian wool, but she bought 2400 bales in the past 12 months. "Substitute fibres have not so far vanquished wool. They may have kept its price in cheek, but on the evidence to date they have helped rather than hind'fcred its comsumption, except in the case of Germany and Italy, where imports are restricted for monetary reasons. "Production of fat lambs is being given mpreased attention, and the prices for them have provided very romunerative returns. During the year ending June 30 last 4,942,000 carcases of lamb were exported from Australia to Great Britain. The total is 1,339,000 cases above the 1933 level. But shipments to other destinations were only 40,630 carcase?. An extraordinary expansion has, therefore, occurred in our lamb trade with the "United Kingdom. Those lambs, including their skins, produced approximately £5,000,000 for growers. Sole Market For Lamb. "In contrast to the graduaily extending outlets for wool, new markets for lamb are not developing. We are almost wholly dependent upon the British lsles for lamb exports. The lamb industry may be overdone in Australia unless new and substantial markets are found. At present no such outlets are in sight. > "Every prospect exists for a steady consumption of all the Merino wool the Commonwealth can grow. While Australia only grows about 25 per cent. of the world 's annual clip she produces nearly 55 per cent. of the yearly supply of Merino."