WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

WOOL SEASON 1927-28. (Special to “ Guardian WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. The new wool-selling season in the Dominion will begin with the sale at Wellington on November 14th. The sales will be limited both as to the quantities to be ofFered at each sale and number of lots. The New Zealand Wool Committee has authority under the “ Hoard of Trade Act,” to limit the quantity offered at each sale, and every broker must abide by this limitation. The buyers, on the other hand, also limit the salo by stipulating that the sale shall not exceed a stipulated number of i'ots, and this restriction must be observed by brokers also. Some growers may feel inclined to resent buyers dictating as to the number of lots, but the request of buyers in this respect is not unreasonable, for during the selling season they lead a strenuous life, and a considerable amount of time is taken up in travelling from selling centre to selling centre. Any wool received for sale by a broker is subject to all i'awful regulation governing the trade. A broker is not liable for loss arising directly or indirectly (owing to restrictions regarding lots and catalogues) from the wool not being put up for sale at the first or any subsequent auction. Any advertised or announced date for the closing of catalogues for a sale may be altered, and cither put forward or back, with or without notice to the grower or vendor.

It is obvious that when the quantity , of wool has arrived into store it would, bo useless not to close down the cnta-j logues. It,is impossibi'e to say before-j band how shearing is going to progress: and how certain sales are going to bo j rushed for* wool. Any closing date; suggested previously must therefore be , tentative. Even when a closing date; has been definitely announced, and the lists have been closed, a certain pro-i portion of the wool which is already in! store may be excluded from the sale, ; as brokers are allotted only a portion of the wool which they have in store at closing date, the balance must be cut ; out. Preference, however, will* he given ; as far as possible to wool in order of j arrival in store. Oddments, crutehings, I star lots and skirtings, irrespective of . date of arrival, may have to give pre-! ference to fleece wools. Storage is free , up to the date of the sale in which the 1 grower lias the first 'opportunity ofj offering this wool. ,1 - 1

A grower holding over his wool on his own initiative to await the prospect j of, a. hotter market will be given six j weeks free storage, and then charged. 2d per bale per week. Extra insurancealso accrues at 2d per bale per month. I The insurance included in the consoli-J dated warehouse charge is ordinary fire insurance only, and does not include; damages resulting from earthquake' shock, or fire as a result of earthquake shock, riot, civil commotion, hostilities, military or usurped power, but cover against all or any of the excluded risks can be obtained should growers so, desire. '

The latest news from Bradford is rather ominous. The wool section of l he textile industry has terminated the wastes agreement, and the employers insist that both a duty and a reduction in wages are essential. Tliero is thus every possibility of a fierce struggle the outcome of which no one can foresee. The wool' men of Bradford have complained with great persistence that they were unable to compete with the Continent, especially with Germany, because of the high costs of production. Wages are higher and hours of work shorter in Bradford than in the German trade, but on the other hand there are too many mills in Bradford, and the machinery is not of the latest. The industry would stand re-organisation with advantage. 7f there is to he trouble in the wool trade of Bradford tlve sooner it comes the better so that producers hero may take steps to counter its effects. MOTOR, VEHICLES IX NEW ZEALAND.

As is well-known tlierc lias keen bia; .fafling off in the imports of motor vehieios into New Zealand recently, the official figures show that for the sevc” month to the end oi July last the nun. her of motor vehicles imported was 7,012, against 14.911, in the seven months of 1920. This tremendous decline is no doubt directly (lue to the had times, hut apart from that the imports wore due to decline, for the country had reached the saturation point. On January 1. 1927, there was a record world registration of 27,050,207 auto-motive vohicels, equal to one car to every 00 persons for the countries covered. The estimated number ol persons to each motor vehicle is given as 5 persons in the United States, 11 each in Canada and Hawaii respectively, 12 in New Zealand, and 17 in Australia. IVe appear to have gone crazy on motor cars and the question now is can wo afford this luxury. It is to he feared that tiie instillment plan has tempted a good many people into buying motor cars who could ill afford the luxury. What is to ho the upshot of this extravagance?