New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4926, 6 January 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1877.

One of the pleasing duties which devolve upon a journalist is that of chronicling from time totimethe progress andadvancernent of the country or colony in which he happens to he resident; and, as a general rule, experience has proved that there is no more certain or reliable test than an examination into the extent and value of its exports, with a view ‘to ascertain whether the J production of the principal articles of export are increasing or diminishing; and we propose considering this question with respect to wool, which we need not inform our readers may fairly be regarded as our main export, there being, we believe, more people engaged in producing this commodity, and more capital invested in this pursuit, than in ariy other in New Zealand. Wo are under the impression, that these remarks apply with equal force to most of the Australian colonies.

We shall append at the foot of, this article a return which is well worthy of careful study. It will be seen on looking into the figures it contains that the total quantity of wool sent to London from the Australian colonies and New Zealand in the year 1874 was 651,885 bales, and froth the Cape 163;800 bales; in the year 1775 the export from Australia and New Zealand was 700,557 bales, and from the Cape 174,567 bales; and that for three quarters of, the year 1876, from-tho Ist January to the 30th September, the export from Australia and New Zealand was 736,864 bales, and from the Cape, in the same period, 136,632 bales. In the year 1874 the export from New Zealand alone was 140,952 bales, in the year 1875 it was 148,034 bales, and for three quarters of the year 1876 it was 157,877 bales.

It will probably surprise many people when they notice that the total export of wool from 1 the united colonies of New South Wales and Queensland, two very important dependencies—one New South Wales, the oldest of her Majesty’s possessions in the Australian group—was in the year 1874 only 134,555 hales ; in the year 1875 it was 147,127 bales ; and for the nine months of the year -1873,164,078 bales, being less than from New Zealand in the years 1874 and 1875, and only 6201 hales more in the nine months of the year 1876. There can ho little doubt, however, from the quantity of. New Zealand wool offered for sale in the October and November sales, that at the end, of the year 1876 Now Zealand will still stand second on the list of wool-producing colonies, Victoria, of course, taking the lead. We shall probably be told that a ■large quantity of wool grown : in New South Wales is shipped from; Victoria.

We are Avell aware of this, but then it would only be deducting from the score of the colony of Victoria and adding to that of New South Wales and Queensland. It Avould not make any difference to New Zealand; and looking to the rapid way in which the production of jwool is increasing in this colony, in .the course of ten years (we regard it as a mere question of time) New Zealand will probably stand at the head of the list instead of second as she does at present. - It may be thought that we aTe taking a. sanguine view of the matter, but we only require to instance Tasmania as an illustration, an older colony than New Zealand, which at one time produced more wool than was grown in this country; and yet the table we are'referring to shows that in the year 1874- the export of wool from Tasmania was only 15,751 bales, in the year 1875 it was 18,226 bales, and during nine months in the year 1876 it was 19,686 bales.

An examination of the tables will show that the import of wool to London from Australia and New Zealand during the first six months of the year 1874 was 498.388 bales, and during the second six mouths was 153,497 bales; from the Cape it’Avas 73,220 bales during the first six months, and 90,641 bales during the second six months. In the year 1875 the import from Australia and New Zealand during the first six months of the year Avas 550,990 bales, and during the second six months 149,567 bales; from the Cape it \vap 84,981 bales in the'fiist six months, anci 89,586 in the secotad. In the year 1876 the export from Australia and New Zealand in the first six months of the year was 652,213 bales; and from July Ito September 30, 1876, it ..was 84,651 bales; from the Cape it was 82,265 bales, and 54,377 bales. It will thus .be seen that, excluding the Cape, where the difference between the two half-years is not very great, the bulk of the wool imported into England from Australia and New, Zealand arrives during the first six months of the year. In the year 1874, out of a total of 651,885 bales, no less than 498.388 bales came to hand prior to the 30th June. In the year 1875, out of a total of 700,557 bales, the quantity received up to the 30th June was 550,990 bales; and last year 652.213 reached Londononorbeforethe3oth June, and only 84,(551 bales betvyeen the Ist July and the 30th Sentember.

The figures and facts which we have placed before our readers suggest a variety of considerations. Probably the first and most important is the magnitude of the trade and its rapid development. We fancy we shall not be very far wrong if we estimate our export of wool during the past year at 180,000 bales. Presuming it to be worth on an average £l6 per bale, that gives a sum of £2,880,000, close upon three millions. Surely such a substantial reality in the form of only one of our articles of export, and the knowledge that the; production of wool is steadily increasing, ought to inspire confidence, and demonstrate in the most convincing manner the, immense resources of the country Ave live in, which we may safely say are only now beginning to be properly developed. It is an admitted fact that there are immense tracts of country where at present there is less than one sheep to the acre depasturing; and yet every acre, by the judicious expenditure of capital, could easily be rendered capable of carrying five times that number.

Another point which we have heard frequently discussed is whether the best plan is adopted in selling wool when it reaches the London market. We have shown very clearly that the bulk of the wool from Australia and New Zealand reaches England during the first six months of the year, and the practice has been to force it into consumption through the medium of auction sales shortly after its arrival. No matter whether the quantity is large or small, or the demand brisk or slack; in either case it is offered for sale, and in nine cases out of ten, sold to the highest bidder. Now this may have been a very good rule to follow _ in past years, when wool was arriving in London during the whole. year in something like regular quantities'every month; but a great change has taken place, and we are inclined to think the tendency will be to increase this evil, if it is one, as thanks to the introduction of ihe fine steamers which have nearly superseded the old coasting vessels, and the construction of railroads and ordinary roads, the means of communication have been greatly improved, and wool is conveyed more rapidly to the various shipping ports than it used to be years back, and of. course reaches London sooner. The same causes have effected equal changes in the Australian colonies, and brought about similar results. Whether these points have been sufficiently considered by those who arrange the wool sales in London, we are unable to say : but we do know that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction often expressed by the growers, and a very general feeling entertained that the course followed in London might be improved upon. There is another point to which it may not be out of place to refer, and that is the importance of improving the quality of New Zealand wool. We are well aware that many'growers are doing all that lies in their power to effect this desirable object ; and we think it is very clear that wherever the country is adapted for the , long-wolled sheep, they are the most profitable, they clip heavier fleeces, grow to a much greater weight, attain maturity earlier than the old-fashioned merino ; and.when it comes to a question of having to reduce numbers by boilingdown; there can be no doubt they yield a much larger quantity of tallow. We know very well that a great many people will differ with us, and be prepared to adduce strong arguments in favor of the finewoolled sheep, and we admit at once that everything depends upon the nature of the country. But what we are now about to say applies with equal force to the breeders of all classes , of sheep. The first object should be by judicious culling to get rid of all the sheep that clip light fleeces. The difference between a flock on an average 41b., and one producing 61b. or Vlb. per sheep, is very great. On a flock of 20,000 or 30,000 it would come to a very largo sum, and yet we fear this is not sufficiently considered. It should never be forgotten that a sheep that produces only 41b. of wool eats as much grass as one that yields 61b.; the cost of shearing being the same in the one base as in the other, an equal number of shepherds will suffice ; and the same rule applies: to every other-item of, expenditure. It is very important to . produce wool uniform in type and character, not mixed, some short, some medium, and some long. If this cannot be avoided, then the greatest bare should bo taken to keep each descrip.tion j by itself, and to pack it separately. Growers seem to fbrgbt that, manufacturers require wool of different lengths . and qualities, depending upon the branch of ‘the. woollen trade. they are engaged in, and that they will not buy parcels which are packed inVsuchba wa^y(that only ■& portion of the contents of each • bale is

adapted for their purpose, the result being that what are termed mixed wools are only bought by the dealers at reduced prices; that they then sort and re-class the wool properly, and by this means obtain its full value; Sheep-farmers frequently neglect to what ’is termed skirt their wool sufficiently, and when this is the case they suffer severely. When inferior wool, pieces and,.locks, is found in the bales, which are all opened u p for examination prior to the’wool being sold, parties intending to be present at the sales with a view to make purchases, place a black mark in the catalogue opposite the lot in which wool improperly packed is included, and these lots are avoided by the best buyers and fall into the hands of the middle men or dealers, who are enabled to, buy at a considerable reduction on current rates; simply because the grower has been foolish , enough to leave a few pounds of inferior wool in the bales;; they afterwards sort and re-class, anld make a handsome profit. 1 For the last twenty years, we cannot remember much further back, the alarmists have been constantly repeating the cry that the production of wool would be greater than the consumption, and that the time must come when it would cease to pay to grow wool. We are happy, to say that these doleful prophesies have never been realised ; wool has fallen and risen in price, like every other commodity, according to the supply and demand, but still it has been found J remunerative to produce it, and from all we can learn this will continue to-be the case. Judging from the latest intelligence from England, traders improving there, and the stocks of avool were very light, so that the prospects are fair, and there is every probability that good prices will be obtained throughout the current year. We have always entertained the opinion that mankind would increase quite as rapidly as sheep, that new markets would be opened up in .various parts of the world, which would create an increased demand for avool, and prevent its falling in price to such an extent as to stop the production, and thus far experience has shown the correctness of the views Ave have expressed. It may be thought that we have given an undue prominence to .wool as one of the exports from New Zealand ; and if our space permitted much might be said respecting other articles, gold for instance. We find that the quantity exported during the financial year 1875-76, was 331,917 ounces, valued at £1,312,170. To this have to be added grain, timber, flax, oil, &c., swelling up the total value of our exports for the financial year 1875-76 to £6,433,600 ; imports within the same period amounting to £8,373,111.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTS OF WOOL, 1874.. To Date ending Total Australian Queensland and N.S. Wales. Victoria. Tasmania. South Australia. West Australia. New ~ Zealand. Cape. Jan. 30 Dec. 31 Bales. 408,388 153,497 Bales. 97,414 . 37,141 ' Bales. ; 235,797 30,486 Bales. 11,118 4,633 Bales. 83,939 4,613 Bales. 5,111 681 Bales. 65,009 75,943 Bales. 73,220 90,640 .. 651,885 *134,555 266,283 15,751 88,522 6,792 140,952 163,860 SUMMARY OF IMPORTS OF WOOL, 1875. , Jan. 30 Dec. 31 650,990 149,567 108,213 38,914 256,187 24,478 13,373 4,853 • 88,006 , 12,943 5,328 228 79,883 68,151 84,981 89,586 700,557 147,127 280,665 18,220 100,949 5,550 148,034 174,567 TOTAL IMPORTS OF WOOL TO 30th SEPTEMBER, 1876. June 30 Sept. 3C 662,213 84,651 136,240 27,838 276,358 15.974 14,142 5;. r )44 92,180 3,445 7,192 74 126,101 31,776 82,255 54,377 736,864 104,078 292,332 19,686 95,025 7,266 157,877 138,632