THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1918. THE WOOL CLIP.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 25 July 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1918. THE WOOL CLIP.

In an interesting the wool clip of Australasia, "Dalgety's Review" for the current month shows that the output of the past year, notwithstanding adverse conditions in Australia, has 'been entirely satisfactory. Official figures con.piled by the various Governments show that the decrease in sheep in Australia during the year amounted to no less than 9,8009,634 head. Fortunately for wool-growers generally, the higjb, prioes which ruled throughout the year resulted in the clip averaging £1 17s 8d per bale more than in the preceding year, and from a monetary point of view it has actually realised more than the record production of 1911-12. The aggregate returns from wool have, therefore, been satisfactory to growers; bait where the shoe pinches is that 10,000,000 sheep have been lost. Referring to this Dominion, the "Review" says:—

'The climatic conditions of iNew Zealand are so diverse from those of Australia that it is necessary to refer separately to the Dominion, where, tlhanks to a season well up to the average, concurrently with the high values ruling for wool and mutton, the staple products of the oountry, producers have had one of the most profitable years on record; and as a stable Government is in power an era of prosperity and confidence prevails. We congratulate New Zealand on their good allround results."

In dealing with the local wool salea, the "Review" says that the average value realised per bale for all the wool sold in Australasian markets has been £l3 13a Id, oa-jSI 17s 8d more than the previous year, and greater than in any year since 1906-7, when the average reached £l4 3s lid, which stands as the highest level since the year 1900-1, when the average was the minimum one of £8 lis lOd. The total value of the 1,804,801 bales sold in Australasia during the past season has been £24,642,648, a# against 1,926,926 bttleo of a value of £23,699,090 hi 1011-I®, MaS

ing that the portion of tie olip .which ha& been sent direct to london for sale ho& only made a like average, the nett gain in wealth to Australasia for wool alone will hare amounted t» £30,684,531. Possibly the most interesting portion of the article in the "Review" is that which deals with the outlook for the future. It is contended that with tha general trade of the world active, And every prospect of remaining so, there should be a strong consumptive demand for wool during tib.e ooming year. Labour is well employed At better wages, the world's wool requirements continue to inweave, while there will be a great shortage of wool in manufacturing centres before the end of the present calendar year, and only moderate supplies for 1914. Wool will very siwrtly be admitted into the United Statee of America duty free, and it will mob be very long before that great wool-using nation will require a very large proportion of Australasia's olip. Owing to great financial stringency in the U.S.A., it is quite possible that tlhey will not take a great amount of wool from Australia during tha ooming season; ibut they aw so short of stocks that they must purchase some, and later on tlhey will require a large quantity. If only the trouble in the Balkan States could be satisfactorily settled, the financial position, which is at present cramped, would no doubt improve, as would general trade, and a demand for wool would set in which will prevent the comparatively slight increase in supplies, which is assured, from having the slightest effect upon the market. Producers can look forward with confidence to a better year than the past, for all the primary products are likely - to roalieo payable prices; The season- over, the greater part of Australia and New Zealand continues to be a particularly good one, the lambing percentage should be very favourable, the weight of wool produced per head of sheep excellent, and as regards the crops they have never been sown under more favourable conditions.