RECORD WOOL CUP.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10295, 26 July 1911, Page 6

RECORD WOOL CUP.

ANNUAL REVIEW AND STATISTICS.

BY DALGETY AND COMPANY,

LIMITED

Wo have received a copy of the j "Annual Wool Review" published by Dalgety and Company, Limited, which is now in its thirteenth year of issue, and, as customary, shows every indication of having been carefully written, while statistics, always of valuable nature, appear to be very complete and , comprehensive. There is bo much of interest in the publication, dealing not only with the past .season, but with a number of current topics in connection with the pastoral industry, that every producer should endeavour to procure- a copy, either to keep as a record, or for the purpose of perusing a number of facts in connection with tho disposal of the wool clip. CLIP VALUED AT THIRTY MILLIONS. The principal feature of the wool year has been that a record clip was shorn, the oversea, exports having amounted to 2.468,750 bales, an increase of 34.107 bales on the shipments of the previous twelve months. Owing to a slightly lower level of prices, the average per bale was "£l2 10s 4d, as compared with £l3 12s 2d in the preceding season; but even at this rato the value of the clip was a little over £30,000.000. It is a fact worthy ot notice that the 2,000,000 bales limit in exports was reached for the first time in the year 1906-7, and that the past year's returns are neoa-ly double those of 1903-4. There could not therefore, be better proof of the marvellous recuperative powers of the country than is shown by these figures. :

AUSTRALASIAN SHEEP NUMBERS. According to tho figures given, the flocks in Australia and New Zealand now total a little, over 116 millions, having increased during the past 12 months by a Little over half a million head. A greater number of sheep, however, are now depastured in Australasia than a.t any period during the past 17 years, tho previous record having been in 1891, when the figures reached a few under 125 millions. The increase during the past twelve months is considerably below what had been expected, but it is accounted for to a considerable extent by the very large numbers which have been slaughtered for export and home consumption. A very high standard ' with' respect to the cut per head has now been reached, especially in regard to merinos, a fact which will be appreciated when it is stated that though there were many more sheep .to she-ir 20 years ago, the clip shorn during the past season eclipses all previous rc- ) cords.

FUTURE PROSPECTS. As regards the future, "Dalgety's Annual Review'' states that prospects for another bounteous season are encouraging, while the outlook, broadly sneaking, is distinctly good. A splendidly grown and sound wool clip is expected, and provided somewhere about current rates are maintained during the coming felling season, woolgrowers will again reap a good reward for their labours, which continue to do so much towards.the general prosperity of these lands. Stocks of raw wool being everywhere normal, the trade practically enters upon the new seafson without being in any way encumbered, so that there seems every probability of a satisfactory demand prevailing during the ensuing twelve months. Present wool values are by no means excessive, in fact are well below'the "average of the past 50 years.'and are fully justified under existing'trade conditions.

The compilers can be congratulated upon the excellent manner'in which ■the: report of the past season's wool business has been written, .as well as upon the very interesting way 'n which the statistical portion is shown ; ■and incidentally it may be mentioned that the printing and general,get-up of Dalgety and Co.'s publication is of the highest order.