The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1911. THE OUTLOOK FOR WOOL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 43, 5 October 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1911. THE OUTLOOK FOR WOOL.

Commenting on a statement of very interesting facts given in Mr John Cooke’s discussion before the International Conference of Sheepbreeders, the Sydney “Morning Herald” says he shows, for example, that in considering tho general wool situation it is abundantly clear that the consumption is increasing materially, tho total quantity used by the home trade last year being 611 million Tbs, against 610 and 523 million lbs in the two preceding years, Australasia being responsible for the supply of about oncbhird of this increase. During the past fifteen years there lias apparently been an actual decrease of about 5 per cent, in the aggregate sheep flocks if the world—now estimated at 600 millions, but it is at least safe to say that tho production of wool lias not increased. This reduction in numbers may possibly be covered by the increased weight of the fleece. On tho other hand, the world’s woolusing population has increased during tho same period of fifteen years by about 100 millions, besides which the increased wealth and consequent expanded buying power of European, American and Continental nations, to gethcr with more luxurious tendencies, must have a favourable influence on

consumptive depmnd and on prices. Those who travel extensively cannot ail to observe that European woollen

.lotking is being used everywhere more and more largely, and in tho absence of effective substitutes, nothing, Mr Cooke thinks, can check this tendency. Great numbers of people who formerly wore cotton garments arc discarding them for woolen, and nobody with their eyes open

::m fail to see what an enormous growth there must have been in, for instance, such trades as carpet making during the past twenty years. The ■O'oat hotels and vast retail emporiums il the world are an object lesson in this respect, while, of course, the letter and thicker quality carpets now ’.sad by the people generally in their muies call for more wool. The on.ormnis expansion of population in North Vmerica and the knowledge that their iomestic wool clip is decreasing, or ;t any rate is at a standstill, confirms ■he belief that tho American woollen Manufacturer must look more and nore to foreign sources of supply, iml that, too, despite all financial or if her temporary drawbacks. When ■re look ahead and further afield and ibr.orvo the developments in the Far

Mast, and when it is stated that Japan, China, and India are aunuallv ncreasing their purchases of wool in Australian markets—last year they re-re more than double those of the morions season—it will lie clear that milling can interfere with a continu:nee of the growth in consumption, die one clear and outstanding fact

■ :n;i• np. that production lias been ovor1. k'M! liv rcrpiironKnits, and iliis mrdd quickly load to n;nro won] and aiilon being grown to meet tliat do- : icMinv.