ROMNEY MARSH WOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1930, Page 4

ROMNEY MARSH WOOL.

A REPORT DENIED. SIR F. AYKROYD'S VIEWS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. Tile Department of Agriculture has issued the following statement;—A cablefram was published in New Zealand in 'ebruary in which -it was stated that, addressing the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, the president, Sir Frederick Aykroyd, described Romney sheep as producers of wool "little better than donkey's hair." He was further reported to have stated that Leicesters were among the best sheep ever bred and that they were displacing Romneys in the Dominion. The New Zealand Government was alarmed at the declining value of Romney wool, according to the report, and had sent a representative to inquire what could be done in the matter. In view of the extraordinary nature of this statement attributed to a gentleman of the standing of Sir Frederick Aykroyd a communication was sent to the High Commissioner asking him to make special and direct inquiries and to cable the result. A reply has now been received that the report was inaccurate. In the first place Sir Frederick Aykroyd had not been president of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce since five years ago, and some years have elapsed since New Zealand wool was discussed at a meeting of that chamber. The statement published here referred to a meeting of Yorkshire farmers and breeders of -Leicester sheep at which Sir Frederick stated that at one time Leicester sheep formed the foundation of New Zealand flocks, but breeders have since allowed Romneys to supersede Leicesters. He further stated that Romneys run oft' to little more than donkey hair at the britch, and that bad culling of Romneys had been brought to the notice of the late Mr. W. F. Massey, then Prime Minister of New Zealand, who as a result' had the matter inquired into. Sir Frederick Aykroycl's object in making this statement was to encourage enterprise in breeders of Leicesters. He fully recognises that there has been improvement in New Zealand Romneys, and for some time past he has endeavoured to assist New Zealand farmers in correcting faults in Romney wool. This explanation puts a different complexion on Sir Frederick's statement from that which was embodied in the cablegram.