AUSTRALIA’S GOLDEN FLEECE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 6, 5 August 1916, Page 7

AUSTRALIA’S GOLDEN FLEECE.

ANNUAL WOOL RETURNS. We have received from Dalgety .Hid Company, Limited, a copy of their annual wool report for the past •season, which gives a complete account of the business done in the Australian and New Zealand markets for the twelve months just ended. There is also embodied in it full statistical information with regard to the sales of. wool in the various markets, distribution of purchases, Oversea shipments and sheep returns, and. in a .vord. everything that has to do with the handling of the Australasian clip, din’s annual review is of value to every wool-grower, as it puts all wool j matters on permanent record, and enI ables any particular aspect of the I trade to be analysed and .studied. It S may he mentioned that it has now I reached its eighteenth year of issue. RESULTS TO PRODUCERS. The most important fact in the whole compilation from the woolgrower’s point (if view is that the total value of the Australasian wool clip (for export) in the past season amounted to almost thirty-three millions sterling, of which a little under thirty millions was realised at the local sales. It would, perhaps, ho thought that this sum ...\yould .establish a. record for Australasia, but such is not •. jim sc, as owing "to : the lessened, production through 'the drought last -casoai the 1913-11 season, with (a bumper production, jjealifieU'l about j half a million .sterling more than the 'liUb-Ki clip'. The average wool revenue obtained during the ;p ifit three seasons may he regarded as eminently satisfactory, and if similar returns can be secured in the ensuing season, producers will have every reason to he more than pleased with the value realised for the clip generally.

DEMAND AND DISTRIBUTION •Tho matter coming next in order of importance from the wool-grower’s standpoint is, perhaps, that of the demand for the wool piarkcted and tile distribution of same. Taking everything into consideration, the demand, generally speaking, was excellent. American buying was wonderful, and had no equal in the history of the Australian sales. There was also important purchasing on account of Japan and Italy, while Franco and the Australian mills also gave good support. Yorkshire was the mainstay of the market, taking 41 per cent, of the offerings, as against 64 per cent, in the previous season, the smaller proportion being accounted for by the much stronger buying in the past season, on account of America and Italy. The large requirements of the Allies in the way of clothing for the troops exercised an enormous effect on the raw .wool markets,., and from the present outlook, at seems probable that there will be a continuation of this special demand, at any rate in the near future. FUTURE PROSPECTS. The outlook for wool is cou- • sidered by Dalgetys ast particularly • bright. ' At, tlfe close of a season .0 which has/, seen the highest level in modern history, it may savour of unot duo optimism to look' for a'firm continuance of such prices, hut there seems no valid reason to anticipate at present anything in the nature of a serious decline. The enormous wastage of war continues, and the backbone of the demand in the coming season may again he the requirements of tho huge armies of Britain ami her allies. The wider distribution of the past season’s purchases as compared with 1914-15, removes the danger of further congestion, and the longer breathing space between the selling of the old and the new clip strengthens the position. Consumption is heavy not only in Yorkshire, but also in America, Japan and Italy, and this, together with prospects of increased business from Fiance, should result in a keen demand all round, and it will not be surprising, on present indications, if another year of abnormally high price's is .experienced. especially if the latest embargo which now shuts out Aineiha is removed. ff 'Vtwremifaaeßßamißiei