THE WOOL TRADE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 121, 2 May 1884, Page 2

THE WOOL TRADE.

In reviewing a statement showing the amount of importations of colonial and foreign wool into the United Kingdom from 1831 to 1833, a southern contemporary remarks :—There are sixteen sources of supply, to which are added three more columns—“alpaca,” “mohair,” and “sundry,” i.e., sundry localities. The importation of mohair seems to have increased as steadily as that of wool, while apaca has undergone great fluctuations, reaching almost its maximum in 1882 and its minimum in 1883. The total importation of wool for 1883 was 1,488,460 bales, of which 1,178,160 were Colonial and 310,300 Foreign. This total was exceeded in 1882 by 64,911 bales, otherwise it is the highest total attained. The fluctations are surprisingly large, as the following figures show : — Bales. 1879 1,322,814 1880 1,487,495 1881 .. .. .. 1,396,372 1882 1,553,371 1883 1,488,460 Considering that wool is not a commodity the production of which is affected by momentary fluctuations in the demand, it is surprising that prices are not more affected by the groat fluctuations in production. It is apparent from a careful examination of the figures, that the fluctuations are mainly due to causes operating in Australia, which supplies more than half the wool. About oneseventh of the importel wool is produced north of the Equator. Victoria is by far the largest source of supply, with 336,518 bales—fully 10 per cent, loss than the production of the two previous years. Queensland, while increasing her produce at an enormous rate, produces only 60,858, against New Zealand, 215,025. It is probable, however, that some Queensland wool is included in the New South Wales return of 234,659 bales, and perhaps an adjustment of this account would bring 1;io N.•••■.• S'Oifh Wiles amount down to that of New Zealand, which it exceeds by less than 20,000 bales. As the figures stand, New Zealand is third on the list for the whole world. It i; a'.-<> that the lions so apparent i i oth ■. ret ir occur in those for Now Zealand, which has only once receded a little—viz., 6,500 bales in 1881. After all that has been said of the River Plate, it is surprising to find that that

country sends to England bu. 5,690 bales about one-fortieth part of our export. 11'0« bably cattle have superseded sheep. Ibe pioduction has, however, never reached 18,090 bales. Supplies from Russia have steadily increased, controlled no doubt by competition between Home and Foreign manufacturers, a cause which does not affect us. Persia grew rapidly to be an important source of supply, but has as rapidly declined. India has come powerfully forward. The Cape has raised its export steadily, until it nearly touches that of New Zealand. The net result of the whole thing is that the importation of wool has risen 50 per cent, in about 10 years, and 200 per cent, in about 20 years, a mean of several years at each of these periods being represented roundly by the figures 500,000, 1,000,0000. Growers may draw their own inferences as to the chances of improved prices.