PROSPECTS FOR WOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1921, Page 8

PROSPECTS FOR WOOL.

ADVICE TO THE GROWERS. “I do not think there is anything very cheering in the outlook for coarse wool and heavy frozen meat in Britain just now,” said Hr. James Bell, of Hawke’s Bay who arrived from England and America by the Niagara, "I may be a pessimist,” lie continued, “but my impressions of the market during my ten weeks in England lead me to think it will be a year or two before it is normal.” Mr. Bell said that when the coal strike was settled a little improvement was noticed, but the stores were still full of coarse wool, although fine wool was selling readily at good prices, better, in fact, than before the war. In America most sheep-farmers had two years’ clip on hand, and the Scottish and English farmers had last year’s clip on hand and were expecting another clip in a few months. The crossbred wool from New Zealand was mainly sold at any price offered, and not even bid for.

When in London, Mr. Bell said he offered 150 bales of his own crossbred wool for sale, but only half was send, at an average price of 5d per lb. On the previous day one of the best crossbred clips of the Waikato had been sold at GJd per lb. The Australian system of putting a reserve price on their wool seemed to be working well, and something of this kind would be of benefit to New Zealand. “My advice to sheep-farmers,” said Mr. Bell, “is to do their shearing before the wool becomes seedy, as that sort and shabby wool are practically unsaleable in Britain. Nothing but fleece wool should be put up, the ‘pieces’ being kept by themselves.”