ASSURED WOOL POSITION.

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 245, 17 October 1942, Page 2

ASSURED WOOL POSITION.

THE AUSTRALIAN GLIP. SOUTH AMERICAN DIFFICULTIES. The assured sale of the Australian clip under the British contract favourably contrasts with ihe Soutli American position (observes the Sydney Morning Herald). As a result of shortage of shipping, a considerable portion of the past season's clips of hoth Argentina and Uruguay is unsold. A Government statement recently expressed grave concern that sheep flocks and the quantity of wool grown in Australia had increased since the war. It is a strange twist in Australian affairs if increased production in the greatest export revenue-earn-ing industry is a fault. The sheep produces the raw material for elothing, blankets, pelts, food, and many by-products. Limitation of areas under wheat and unsatisfactory returns have resulted in many growers of that product pasturing more sheep. The expansion in the size of the clip is partially caused by larger sheep numfoers, but also results from the greater number of sheepskins which have been fellmongered locally because of the elimination of France as a buyer. She was the leading pre-war purchaser of skins. Wool on skins exported prior to 1939 was estimated to weigh 51,000,0001b. a year, the equivalent weight of 170,000 bales of greasy wool. Approximately half the quantity went to France. Shipments elseyhere have also shown reduction. As a matter of fact, sheep in Australia at the latest available date were estimated to total 125,000,000, only 7,000,000 more than in 1939. The point must be remembered that flocks are liable to quick variation because of seasonal conditions. That factor, combined with lack of manpower for the care of the stook on the properties, difflculty of securing drovers, and shortage of rai'l transport for store stock, is likely to put a brake on further expansion in sheep numbers in the Commonwealtli. v