FT.—3B

11

From the 1917-18 clip, wool for other Governments has been selected as under :- — For France ... ... ... ... 30,000 bales; For U.S.A. ... ... ... ... 12,000 bales; For Canada ... ... ... ... 25,000 bales; and, with the exception of a portion of the wool for the French Government which has been selected by its own agent, this wool has been selected by the Department, and will be shipped as space becomes available. Authority has also been received for the selection of a further 30,000 bales of wool for France, and this will also be selected and shipped by the Department. Wool for Local Mills. The Department has also arranged for the continuance of the supply of wool required by local mills, and this has been supplied at the Imperial Government schedule rates, plus the cost of valuation. The representatives of New Zealand woollen-mills are required to make their selections prior to valuation, and in the case of any dispute arising as between two mills, preference is given to the one which has first intimated its requirements to the broker concerned. WOOL-SCOURING ARRANGEMENTS. Arrangements were made for the scouring of wool produced on behalf of the Imperial Government as required. Assistance in allocating wool for scouring during the 1916-17 season was given by District Supplies Committees at the various centres throughout the Dominion, and the thanks of the Department are due to these committees for the very useful services rendered gratuitously by them. For the 1917-18 season it was decided that a more equitable distribution and control could be secured by dealing with the whole matter direct from the Department, and on the Ist November, 1917, the control of such allocations was accordingly undertaken. For the 1916-17 season to the 31st October, 1917, 80,951 bales of wool were distributed to registered wool-scourers for treatment; and for the 1917-18 season, from the Ist November, 1917, to the 31st March, 1918, 82,123 bales of wool had been distributed to wool-scourers or set aside for subsequent scouring. Scourers were required to sort, classify, scour, dry, and pack the wool to be treated by them, and their remuneration was fixed at the following scale: l L d. per pound for fleece on scoured weights; lfd. per pound for bellies, locks, stained pieces, and second pieces on scoured weights; with -|d. per pound advance in each case for merino wool; and payment for such charges is made within fourteen days on receipt by the Department of Imperial Government Supplies, provided the inspectors' and valuers' certificates required are properly completed. Satisfaction has been expressed by the Imperial Government at the condition of scoured wool already arrived at destination, and as a direct result of this instructions have been received to have a larger quantity of wool scoured in the Dominion during the present season. The credit for this satisfactory position is largely due to the unremitting attention given this work by the Inspectors of Wool-scouring Works, and also to the attention which has been paid by wool-scourers to the requirements of the Department. Condition of 1917-18 Clip. Auckland. —The wool from this district came forward in good condition, and the standard of preparation is better, but there is still room for improvement, as the bulk of the lines offered are very mixed. Poverty Bay (including Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay).—The wool in this district was generally disappointing, and seed was much in evidence, which in