FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1926, Page 16

FARM AND DAIRY.

WOOL SELLING SEASON. A GOOD BEGINNING. (From Our Oww Correspondent.) Wellington, Nov. 18. The wool sales for the season 1926-27 commenced on Monday lasf, when a sale was held in Wellington, the offerings amounting to over 11,000 bales. This wool came mainly from the Wairarapa and Manawatti, -and consisted of all grades of crossbreds, and there was a sprinkling of merino wool from the Marlborough district. The season’s clip is of excellent growth, is light in condition, and shows considerable superiority over the clip of last year. The attendance of buyers was remarkably good, and all consuming countries were represented, besides the 'woollen mills of the Dominion and local scourers. The bidding was steady and there were no exciting moments. Last week the woolbrokers were rather dubious about the outlook and very unwilling to make any forecasts, Really at the time the outlook was not very promising; indeed it was anything but favourable, for the Australian markets showed a steady decline in values. However, the brokers took as the 'basis ■*! values the prices obtained at the March sales, which was the best of the series from December to March, and they came out of it pretty well. Merinos and half, breds sold up to Marell parity but .crossbred wools, 44’s/50’s, were a halfpenny below the Marell rates, and 36s’/44’s a penny below. There was an exceedingly good demand for hogget wool, and the competition for this class tended to create a false impression, and the opinion prevailed that high prices were being realised. Hogget wool did certainly sell slightly above March rates, two lots making 15fd, but the bulk of the hogget wool fetched 12Jd to 134 d. The wool was of better growth than that offered last year, which was rather tender, and when the condition is taken into account the prices realised were relatively no better than those obtained in March. It was thought that the market would have to depend upon Continental competition largely, but as it turned out the Continental buyers bought sparingly, and the market was sustained mainly by Bradford, and Bradford secured some reasonably cheap wool. There was a fair amount of wool offering known as “American’’ style, and for which American buyers -have been in the habit of giving extreme prices, but at the sale the American buyers were remarkably silent, securing just a few sorting up •lets. There has been a depression in the American textile trade for some time past, and apparently the situation there is still unpromising. Bradford did very well, and the prices secured at the Wellington sale will probably set the price for the other sales. It was the belief of some that the miners’ strike exercised some influence, for the announcement of the great chances of a speedy settlement of that labour dispute was a favourable factor. It is estimated that about 90 per cent, of the offerings at the Wellington sale was sold under the hammer, which shows that growers. JRhplayed a commendable disposition to meet the market. Some few growers did place high reserves on their wool, which failed to sell. A grower can only guess at the market value, for he has no expert knowledge to guide him, and in fixing a reserve lie naturally is generous to himself, but fails in his aim. The growers who accept the advice of brokers, and are guided by them almost invariably come out safely. There is nothing to be gained by holding wool for a price beyond the market value. That price cannot be obtained, while costs and charges are mounting up. DAIRY CONTROL BOARD MH. GOODFELLOW’S VIEWS. MR. WRIGHT DEFENDED. Referring in an interview jvith a representative of the Waikato Times to the Control Board disclosures, Mr. W. Goodfellow stated that, the city press quite overlooked the fact tl>at the copies of all four cables placed before members of the Control Board at last meeting were of a confidential nature. Mr. Timpany had acquired no merit by discussing the Board’s private business, but was in fact deserving of severe censure, which no doubt he would receive in due course. Indeed, under the circumstances, it would .be quite reasonable for the Board to ask the Government to remove Mr. Timpany, or any other member who acted in a similar manner. Referring to the attack on Mr. J. B. Wright by Messrs Paterson and lorns, Mr. Goodfellow stated that the action of Mr. lorns, inconsistent though it was, did not occasion any surprise in dairy circles. Mr. lorns had already developed the reputation of being a versatile individual. Mr.. Paterson, being a director of A. S. Paterson, however, should have known better, and it was little short of a scandal that a man in his position, appointed by the Government, and paid £lOOO by the producers should condescend to make such an unfair and altogether unjustifiable attack on the London manager of the Board. What we want, said Mr. Goodfellow, is less Government interference with the business of the Control Board. Mr. Paterson’s appointment has been most unfortunate, and any disinterested person acquainted with the facts would probably admit that ever since his appointment he had apparently set out to obstruct the Board in London. His recent cable would appear another attempt in the same direction. “Prior to his appointment, I was in almost daily touch with Mr. J. B. Wright,” said Mr. Goodfellow, “for over four years, while he acted as manager of the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Dairy Company, Ltd., and 1 say very emphatically that Mr. Wright is not only a very able business man, but also one who holds the absolute confidence of all those merchants with whom he has come in contact throughout Europe. He is a strong man of independent means, and the real reason for Mr. Paterson's antagonism is doubtless due to the cry of the speculator and small business firms, who will both suffer considerable- loss if Mr. J. B. Wright remains as London manager of the Control Board. It is undoubtedly duo to the fact that he is eminently suited for the position that such strong exception has been taken to his appointment by interested parties.”