WOOL OFF SMALL FARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 118, 21 May 1934, Page 4

WOOL OFF SMALL FARMS.

THREE-BALE LOTS ADVOCATED

A requcet to the Wool Brokers' Association to reduce the minimum number of bales in a lot from four to three will be made by the Farmers' Union, following a discussion at the annual conference in Christchurch. Speakers claimed that this would have the effect of improving the standard of wool from small flocks, as there would be some incentive to class well when lots were sold individually under the growers' brand. The remit from Banks Peninsula, which provoked the discussion, was: "That the Wool Brokers' Association be requested to reduce the minimum number of bales of wool to be sold in one lot from four to three bales, as the present practice is not in the interests of small farmers, who are compelled either to get their wool reclassed or sold in star lots at the end of the catalogue, when a number of the buyers are not present." Mr. F. G. Armstrong said that the averna;e number of sheep In the flocks of New Zealand was 942. With small lots of wool the farmer lost his individuality and the incentive to class his wool carefully. A limit of three bales would increase the efficiency of farmers with small flocks. If the brokers helped in this it would encourage small farmers to eliminate un-even-ness in wool p.nd to strive for more efn'-ienr , -" in their fanning. i Mr. W. W. Mulhollancl said that what was wanted above all in New Zealnnd to-day was offiriVnt marketing, and selling wool in small lots was not efficient marketing. Big buyers hfi'" not time to deal with small lots, 'and by selling in small lots the farmer was deliberately restricting competition to punters and jobbers. Individuality was worth nothing on small lots. They should be classed and crroupeil in their own district. This would need co-operation, but it would be a real conjtribution to raising the quality of wool. \ The remit was carried.