§ 14. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government are still holders of any colonial wool in this country or in the Dominions, or on its way to this country; approximately what quantities are still held on Government account; what efforts have been made to dispose of same; and when it is hoped to dispose of the whole of the wool stocks owned by the Government?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hilton Young)I have been asked to answer this question. The approximate quantities of wool at present held on Government account, and now in the hands of the British Australian Wool Realisation Association for sale are as follow:
These figures are exclusive of the Australian owned wool under the control of the Association. Disposal is taking place continually through the usual channels of the wool auctions in London, Hull, Liverpool, Manchester and Antwerp, and as rapidly as the wool can be absorbed by the trade. It is impossible to state with precision when the whole of this wool will be disposed of, but it is at present anticipated that it will take at least two years.
Australian … … 490,000 bales. New Zealand … … 554,000 bales. South African … … 56,000 bales.