THE WOOL INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8189, 15 May 1906, Page 4

THE WOOL INDUSTRY.

ItEt'KNT information as to the price of wooi in the Home market is very gratifying. The advance that has been recorded will result in a large amount of money being plieed in the pockets of growers - , and this will, of eourse, benefit the colony considerably. Present indications point to the continuance of :i good market at Home for wool, which is good news indeed for those engaged in the industry. It may not be generally known that a decline in the world's supply of >dieep has been going on for a quarter of a eentury. Statisticians have been preparing figures regarding the number of sheep in various countries:, wh:rh, iu nearly every ease, ?thow n fait, ing off in recent years. That this decline can suddenly be arrested is not ■it ail probable. It must naturally take time to restock. The demand for mutton and lamb is growing, fliui tnl! offset any tendency towards; an oversupply in the world's markets. The reduction in flocks throughout the world may largely account for the improvement in the price of wooi, but whatever reason can be assigned for the high values now ruling, the fact remains that .shecpbirmers are enjoying a period of prosperity, and that they thoroughly deserve their good tortune. There was a time in this colony when sheep-growing was a very unprofitable occupation, but new life has been infused into the industry of late years, and there is little doubt that it will claim many more followers in the near future.