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cataloguing, displaying, and countermarking in accordance with the instructions issued by the Government, and their remuneration for this service was fixed at ,-Ld. per pound of wool for all wool purchased through the agency of these brokers in pursuance of the scheme. An additional allowance of 6d. per bale was made to brokers to cover the cost of preparation of shipping documents. The woolbroker was required to provide storage free of charge for the wool for a period of twenty-eight days after the date of valuation, and on the expiration of that period storage was paid by the Department of Imperial Government Supplies at the rate of 4d. per bale per week or portion thereof for the months of October to April inclusive, and at the rate of 2-|-d. per bale per week or portion thereof for the months of May to September inclusive, in any year. The Government also accepted liability for freight, stamp duty on bills of lading, and all wharfage, lighterage, and railway charges from the store to the carrying steamer where such were incurred. Valuation. The services of the overseas buyers and others as valuers utilized for the valuation of the 1916-17 clip were retained for the valuation of the 1917-18 clip, and the remuneration for their services was fixed at £45,000 plus actual locomotion expenses, and £1,500 for clerical assistance and office accommodation. In addition to valuing the greasy clip, all scoured and slipe wool is valued as required without extra remuneration. Wool bought and shipped. Since the commencement of the requisition the following quantities of wool have been disposed of as under : — Total number of hales valued (as per valuation certificates received) .. 991,774 Number of bales lost in transit .. .. .. . . 9,668 Number of bales arrived at destination (in seventy steamers) . . 385,074 Number of bales en route to Groat Britain (in fourteen steamers) 65,159 Number of bales shipped on account of other Governments .. 18,560 Number of bales of greasy wool available for shipment or scouring 513,313 991,774 Number of bales of greasy wool delivered to scourers for treatment .. 129,435 Number of bales of scoured wool shipped .. .. .. .. 62.552 Number of bales of scoured wool available for shipment .. . . 58,685 Total number of bales paid for .. .. .. .. .. 981,573 For the 981,573 bales of wool paid for as mentioned above, the sum of £23,360,888 has been disbursed, and, in addition, £1,594,895 has been paid to freezing companies in respect of 62,981 bales of wool advanced against and shipped for valuation in London. The wool-valuing centres under the scheme were : Auckland, Tokomaru Bay, Tolaga Bay, Gisborne, Napier, Waitara, Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Timaru, Oamaru, Invercargill. Wool for other Governments. Acting on instructions from the Imperial Government, arrangements were made to permit the French Government to select in New Zealand, by its own agent, from the 1916 17 clip, 20,000 bales of wool for its own requirements, and this was effected at valuation prices, plus |d. per pound to cover cost of valuers' and brokers' services. In addition, 1,553 bales of wool were selected by the Department's representatives and shipped to the French Government without the intervention of the French representative. 7,436 bales of wool from the 1916-17 clip were also selected and shipped on behalf of the Canadian Government by the Department, and the prices charged for these latter shipments were arranged by the Imperial Government.

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