H.— 30

Slipe Wool

SCOURING AND CARBONIZING OF WOOL For the year ended 30th June, 1944, 155,259 bales of wool (approximately 57,499,265 Ib.) were allocated for scouring for United Kingdom and Russia. The terms and conditions of the scouring contract remained the same as for the 1941-42 season. The quantity of wool allotted for carbonizing up to 30.h June, 1944 (1943-44 season), was 2,281 bales (812,667 lb.). shipping Arrangements and destination of wool exports The United Kingdom Wool Control released quantities of wool for shipment to the United States of America, Canada, India, Australia, and Russia.

The following tabulation shows the quantities of wool shipped during the year ended 30th June, 1944, and the destination ; —

The quantity of wool held in New Zealand at 30th June, 1944 (659,048 bales), represents the largest accumulation since the inception of the bulk purchase by the United Kingdom Government. The quantity held at 30th June, 1943, was 583,850 bales, but a favourable shipping programme between July and December, 1943, effected a highly satisfactory clearance of this accumulation prior to the commencement of the 1943-44 appraisements. Unfortunately there is no indication of a similar shipping programme this year, and the matter of making provision for storage of present accumulated stocks to enable appraisement of the 1944-45 season clip to proceed has been the subject of numerous conferences, arising out of which arrangements have been completed making available sufficient space to ensure the 1944-45 appraisement requirements. ACCOUNTS The wool accounts are shown in the accounts section at the end of this report, page 32. The accounts cover appraisals of wool up to the close of the wool year (30th June, 1944) and they comprise. Purchase and Sale Account, and Charges, Expenses, and Administration Account. It will be observed from the accounts that the purchase and sale transactions for the year ended 30th June, 1944, show a surplus of £83,363 after allowance has been made for expenses and charges and for the agreed contribution by the United Kingdom Wool Control for abnormal storage and insurance on wool whilst awaiting shipment from New Zealand. The Wool Account shows the transfer to War Expenses Account of £86,006. This sum represents the balance of the allowance made by the United Kingdom Wool Control for the 1942-43 season to the Marketing Department to cover expenses and charges. WOOLLY SHEEP-SKINS The terms of sale to the United Kingdom Ministry of Supply of the exportable surplus of woolly sheep-skins remained as stated in the Department's annual report for the 1941-42 season. The period of the agreement extends to and terminates on the date of termination of the Wool Purchase Agreement— namely, the period of the " global " war and the following season's clip. REPORT OF CONTROLLER " The Hon. the Minister of Marketing. " I beg to report to you on the operations of the Sheep-skin Control for the twelve months ended 30th June, 1944. " Accounts. —A deficit of £8,862 13s. Id. was shown for the year. Less the balance forward of £4,613 14s. 9d., this gave a net deficit of £4,248 18s. 4d. to be transferred to the Reserve Account.

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U 'tf 18 *° Total Appraisals. year ended. ° f Bales. Net Pounds. Bales. Net Pounds. Bales. Net Pounds; Value. £ s. ci. 30th June, 1944 .. 135,412 44,387,242 148 47,8.54 13(5,560 44,435,096 3,614,214 7 5 30th June, 1943 .. 115,738 38,232,570 217 70,312 115,955 38,302,882 3,115,103 16 7

Destination. Greasy. Scoured. Slipe. Total. Bales. Bales. Bales. Bales. United Kingdom .. .. 422,406 102,853 97,235 622,494 Canada .. .. .. 51,150 21,561 10,541 83,252 U.S.A. .. .. .. 43,899 964 12,415 57,278 Australia .. .. .. 1,790 .. .. 1,790 India .. .. .. 8,618 4,182 .. 12,800 Total, 1943-44 .. 527,863 129,560 120,191 777,614 Total, 1942-43 418,036 97,790 91,139 606,965 Bales. Quantity unshipped or hold for scouring and carbonizing at 30th June, 1944 .. 659,048 Quantity unshipped or held for scouring and carbonizing at 30th June, 1943 . . 583,850 I