FUTURE WOOL VALUES.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 August 1919, Page 4

FUTURE WOOL VALUES.

The British “D.ra.pers’ Record” states that the G'6'i7‘e"rnment. is fearing a heavy fall in Wool values, unless drastic action is taken to prevent it. The “Shipping Controller is seriously con~ sidering the stoppage of wool imports for several months, owingyto the enormous wool surplus” that has accumulated in England. This eablegram, received yesterday, renders considerable help in understanding Sir Joseph Ward ’s advice to farmers to get back to the free market as soon -as possible. He tells our producers to shake themselves clear of the Imperiall commanvdeer when the current arrang-ement expires,;and now We plainly .see Why. Does not I this enormous, surplus..of .wool.. in Briitain, and‘ nth-e threat to -'- refuse lto take any of our; clip, noiv actually being shorne,,-. for several months to come indicate that our wool is assuredly being marketed under trust methods‘? The authorities are cornering, holding, our wool purchased at fourtec-npence: for.a.‘profit. of two hundred per eent., orthereabouts, and, it seems, they intend holding it, trustlike,,A till -extortionate prices ‘are forthconiing. The freedom of wool, ag well as the freedom of meat, will not only contribute to better prices to producers, but lower eosts'.toleonsllmel's. Continental and American buyers have, been re-admitted to British wool sales, and yet the demand "is A not strong enough to maintsain the three ‘shillings a pound xvaiited for it; ‘and, it will be noted, the Shipping Controller doesfl not ‘ urge the authorities to come down toi a more honest value, but he threatensu to close the market entirely to wool-ll growers’ product for sC‘vel':ll nloll’tllSThis Dominion stands. in need of not:h—l ing more Vital than its own Shipping. so tlrat it can defy any Shipping C011?‘ trailer to shut it out from any market, at any time, while the trust para-l sites ply their soueezing processes. !