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Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1921, Page 2

Wool,, meat, and dairy producers have had reason enough of late to realize the forco of the Prime Minister’s expressed opinion that “this Imperial Government buying of our produce was the best tiling that ever happened to us.” lie said that at a time when many of the farmers were rather restive under the I ‘commandeer,” as it was wrongly called. The British Government has paid for all it bought in New Zealand, the highest prices producers had up to then received. They have been, and are still, receiving more for cheese; but prices for free meat and wool,' the staple lines of other days, are well below Government prices, and cheese and butter prices for next season are not expected to approach those current to-day. With respect to wool, nil snles were postponed after March Inst m view of the then absolutely ridiculous prices that were offering; no one knew

what the market was, neither growers nor hllvers The kales were, however, resumed on May 26th, reopening in Wellington. There was a limited offering of 11,180 hales, and fixed reserves based on those of the Tiritish-Austra-lian Wool Realisation Association. A clearance of 75 per cent, of the weol offered was effected. Tho prices realized on that occasion, also January prices, compared with those obtained during Government purchase, averaging tile four clips taken by the Imperial Government, were as follows:

It will he easily seen, then, from this table, how heavily farmers’ returns from woql have fallen, all, as it were, within less than twelve months. This time last year they were sending wool into store, sold to the. British Government on the basis of the prices of which the last column is tho average for tlie past four years. Tlie effect upoh the import trade of the full in the price of wool is verV well understood by the importers of New Zealand. Prices of live stoc k for slaughtering at the freezing works are also much depressed sine'e the termination of the Home Government’s contracts'. All the Govern, incut meat is now away from the Dominion, hut 311.000 bales of Government wool remain and are likely to remain until the outlook is better. This is independent of the wool owned by producers, hanks, freezing works, merchants and others, of which there were over 100.000 hales in store and hold on the farms ns on April 30. The sales to he held throughout tile Dominion this month, providing buyers meet the reserves or exceed them, will help in reducing this holding, and. incidentally contribute some relief to the monetary position.

Description. Jail., 1921. May. 1921 Govt, peace. (191(1 to 1920). I’er pound. 1-er pound. i’er* pound Merino . 13 to 14Jd. .... 0 to Ojjd 18 to 21x1 Half bred su|xM' ... ... 12 to 14 ... 7.1 to 81 .. 15}- to IS Halfbred medium 9 to 11 J .... 71 to ... 14.1 to 16.1. Halfbred infer. 7 to 8 ... S to 7} ... 12 to 14 Crossbred super .. . 10P to 113 ... (i. 1 , to (il .. 15.V to 16'.: Crossbred lino 8 to 10 ... .7 to 0 15 to 16 Crossbred medium . 6‘Do 8 ... 3 j to 4.1 14.1 to 15.1 Crossbred coarse .. .. 4'Sooi ... 3 to 31 13 to 14.1 Lamb’s l>est . If) ita 121 ... 7 to 73 ... 14 to 16