AUSTRAIAN WOOL TRADE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 54, 4 March 1875, Page 4

AUSTRAIAN WOOL TRADE.

(Melbourne Daily Telegraph, February 6.) The vast and growing importance of the Australian wool trade has lately led to the diBCUBBion amongst those primarily interested as to the feasibility of opening up other markets by direct shipmerits. The subject is one of such vital interest, not only to the growcrß themselves but to the colonies at large, that it deserves more than ordinary consideration, sb any addition to (he material benefit. of this great industry must act favorably upon the entire community. Up to the present time, with infinitesimal exceptions, our entire ■wool product has been forwarded direct to the London market, where periodical public sales invite the attendance of continental nnd American buyers to supply the wants o£ the various countries they represent. As long as the production of the staple was limited, such arrangements wore apparently highly suitable to meet the requirements of the producer ntel the cousutner, but the extension of wcolgrowing, the large increase in the yearly export trade, and the extended consumption of the staple in various manufactured articles, have now made it more than doubtful whether the old channels which carried a limited amount of trade are capable, without depreciat-ing-value, of dealing with the extended shipments of the present time. Added lo this, certain abuses havo crept up, probably induced by the monopoly bo long enjoyed by English consignees, which call for immediate redress; and as the demands made for the latter are either wholly ignored or only partially recognized^ it certainly behoves those who are pecuniarily affected in the isßue to lose no further time in impressing on London agents the true relation existing between consignor and consignee. The president of the Pastoral Chamber of Riverina, in a recent pamphlet, has pointed out in most unmistakeable terms how grossly in J many instances are (he interests of Australian wool-growers neglected by the very parties who are remunerated to protect them, whilst the evidence collected at least goes to show that, through the supineneßS of the Equatter in the past, a system has grown up respecting weights and sampling which involves a loss to the latter of a p.um equal on nn average shipment (o the expense of placing the same on the London market. The gain in weight which the wool makes by the voyage, up to a very recent date, and then only incidentally, not generally, has been credited to the shipper, whilst by the peculiar system in force, of drawing brokers' samples a further doduction has heretofore been made, in the account sales rendered from the original weight. It will not be a matter of much surprise, when the extent of a year's operations, of any leading firm is taken into consideration, to learn that between the actual and nominal quantity of wool in a bale, as received and delivered, there is a margin of sufficient profit to realise a fortune. Again, (he Australian consignor labors under the disadvantage of a custom in vogue for the broker to be paid by both vendor and vendee — a practice which is sure to ] militate against the former ; whilst, what is still more objectionable, brokers purchase at their own sales without disclosure. AH these evils are fairly attributable to the want of energy shown by the Australian squatters, who seem in the past to havo considered it useless either to attempt to find another market for their wool, or to kick against the impost annually increased by the parties entrusted with the sale of their produce in London. To what extent this neglect of their own interests was carried may be judged from the fact that a short titno since, when the grievances of certain woolshippers came prominently before the public in New South Wales, a committee, consisting of the very men whose laches gave rise to the complaints, was appointed to ajudicate ou the matter, and recommend nny reform they should deem necessary. It is needless to say that the parties who drew so golden a return from existing abuses could hardly be induced t) find fault vu',h a system so admirably adapted to suit their own. interests ; hence the former still remain rampant. In dealing with the subject of wool exportations a short time since, the importance of fostering the rising demand in Germany and Russia for our staple was strongly insisted upon, and the personal observation of Mr W. A. Brodribb adds the weight of his testimony to our remaaks, whilst he aptly quotes the establishment of a direct trade in cotton between Germany and India as illustrative of what might fairly be done in regard to Australian wool. If once the Australian growers go fairly and with a direct purpose into the question of shipping regularly direct to the continent of Europe and America, and show they are really in earnest in the matter, little more will be heard of any objections on the part of London agents to meet the legitimate and reasonable demands of the wool shippers. The market will no longer be at the mercy of those who have interests other than the growers' to serve, and the establishment of monthly instead of quarterly sales will be acceded to, thus affording a permanent relief to that apprehension of an overstocked catalogue which at present always overhangs the limited number of sales now accorded to this staple. Those who have at heart the interests of Australia , and with it Victoria, can appreciate the efforts of any body of men linked together to effect reforms in a system prejudicial to one of the

largest colonial industries ; and the Pastoral Chamber of Kiverina, through its president, has boldly proclaimed the wrong yearly done to this country by the manner in which our wool is sold in England. If, in finding the means of redress, fresh channels of commerce with foreign countries are opened up for Victoria, U will be a matter for general, not particular, congratulation.

The following very sensible remarks are from the New Zealand Herald-. — Many of the social observances of the present day are but the remnants of bygone times or of a barbarous age, One of these foolish customs has been frequently attended with fatal consequences, and the sooner it is broken through and ignored so much the better it will be for many. It is (he fashion for public men when addressing a number of persons assembled in the open air to take eff their bats and stand bareheaded perhaps for one or more hours, regardless alike whether (he sun is darting down its scorching rays, or blinding rain prevails, or the wind comes from off (he ice-heaps in (he vicinity of the South Pole. A foolish custom insists that a bare-head is symbolical of respect due to a crowd, and the consequences frequently are that the speaker goes home suffering from the effect of solar heat or piercing winds. We have only too much reason to fear that one valuable life has just been lost through the cause we have referred to. No man should consider himself compelled to risk sun-stroke or inflammation, or an attack of rheumatism when addressing an open air assembly, and no men composing an assembly would permit of euch a risk if they only gave the subject a thought; but then it is just in this want of thought that the danger lies. A peculiarly shocking crime bos occurred in Paris. It is thus reported in the correspondence of The Times : — " The body of Emily Maraune, eleven years of age, the daughter of a fumiste in the Rue dv Fouarre, who left home on the 23rd ult. with 900 f. belonging to her father, has been found in the Heine. It has been ascertained that a youth of bad character, aged seventeen, named Eugene Henry, with whom she had formed an acquaintance, induced her to steal the money. She gave it up to him with the exception of a few silver pieces. Being afraid to return home, she passed the night in the public latrines. The next evenin/r, meeting him near the river, she told him she could not rernuin in Paris, but intended going a distance, and asked him to return the money. He shook some coins out of his handkerchief and on her stooping to pick them up he slipped a nooso round her neck, strangled her, and threw the boely into the river. On being arrested, he attempted suicide. He has since confessed to the murder. Part of the money was found in the house of his mother. A pork butcher, in one of the markets, lias also been apprehended, together with two of his companions. The Value of Property is Londox.— Mr J. R. Fowler sold by public auction, in December, the freehold house No 3a Clifford-street, Bondstreet (a frontage of 18ft by 53ft), for the sum of £3230.