THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14, 1912. THE WOOL OUTLOOK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10558, 14 February 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14, 1912. THE WOOL OUTLOOK.

The tone of the fourth series of wool sales, held I*ll Wellington yesterday, I M'as easier than at the last sales. This is due in a measure to the wool being of an inferior quality compared with previous sales. It may interest growers to know that, when the last mail left England, tho outlook for wool was very encouraging. Messrs Windeler and Co., in their annual circular, are most optimistic. ■They state thjvt-tlie past year, 011 the whole, has been most- favourable to the grower and the spinner, and, in a somewhat less degree, to the worsted manufacture)'. In spite ol : the continued inactivity of the American buyers, there has never been any real anxiety as to the soundness of the j business, which has been evidenced by the capability of the consumers to absorb, at a realiy high level of value, practically the whole of the vast quantity offered. The circular states that though manufacturers arc not engaged so far ahead as they were, they are still well employed both at Home and on tho Continent, and general trade conditions are at present good. Some decision as to 1 the tariff in U.S.A. temporarily or otherwise, must be near now, and, j whichever way it goes, will stimulate demand from that quarter. Buyers

there have recently 'been showing some signs of life after their long torpor, and apparently only want to know where they are, as regards duties, to get going, for stocks of botli wool and goods are now in a very small compass. The other factors which influence the wool position remain much as a year ago, viz., a wool ■wearing population growing at a greater ratio than the wool production and the continued increase of gold finding which tends to enhance the value of all raw materials and living, about which so much has been heard of late. The more abundant supplies of cotton, which is at such a much lower figure than a year ago, may in its turn partially ease the textile situation. But, speaking generally, while any big rise in prices is not looked for, the present conditions point to a fair maintenance of values during tTie year, apart from international complications, strikes or other disturbances, the possibility of which, unfortunately from recent experiences, cannot be ignored.