SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18911, 28 January 1927, Page 3

SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

I|pXECUTIVE. fei'tke Canterbury f%H;met yesterday, plllin Morten (presi; A. Eutherford, rahCt. JENilton, Leslie Upland, E. Hay, P. S.(H. Nicholson (secreceived from miif-% 0. Toflhunter, fr&ifarttoe, and Goo. aunt OS bearing being *ead from the Sight )'iansit«v (iif j. o. \M is mm* to re W« By the Sheopdwntfoma MMtloa 0 f th o »tl«tiejyby tho British pto>t|tie», of wool, both «H held in'store had beet brougat imperial Conference, and !ty hopa of a satisfacPttfltofion was expressof the Prime Minister "», and tho view was enable statistics would »e..to, the New Zealand > and sheepowners genttpMsetttation* from > the White New Zea#UJd,it was Mselved, i M I »-W. Westenra T. Peter, to assist the Mted in its endeavour arthOr influx of Asiatics ?* the Christchurch » WMe apking for the union to the work of the e,ur*ent year. The 4 that the tendency k shearing ww to take g m preference to mat five out'of the nine IWly used for tuition •en scrapped. He also W wool-forting classes "ended, and that good done, the college havveral applications from w classers this season. >ed satisfaction at the tical work being done especially with regard of blade-shearing, and of M» G. 0. fiutherY Mr L. A. Eutherford, Witteat was voted to- « the classes for the Of the Department of dnstrial Research, Welmquiring if there was hannel connected with industry along which 'could co-operate with [aniiationg. The Decked to know to what 8H would be prepared til along any Ikes sugfull discussion, it was thatthlsbeing vaGov*«ni, provhien should ace along similar lines 1 for other industries, left in the hands of i deal with. »• lire-brands, of the New Zealand IM Association wrote '«ag fluid which had m from Australia last

yea* with & view to testa being made. The secretary reported that thin fluid had been Sent to ■ the -Head Office of the Agricultural Department, Wellington with a view to having official tests made following on ,tho successful tests carried out by members of the Executive. He reported that a sample had been forwarded to the Herd Testing Association, for experimental purposes, find that they had promised to advise, the results of their experiments. IB view of the great loss to stock* Owners through injury to hides by firebranding, the hope was expressed that the Department would be able to sec its way to supply tho 1 fluid to atockowflers at a minimum cost, with a view to preventiig the cruelty to cattle and darflagO to hides resulting from the old system* of fire-branding. The letter was received, and the secretary's action approved. The executive of the St. Gsorge's Ohufch of England Hospital wrote acknowledging re'ceipt of tho proceeds of the SftlO Of part of the wool exhibit from the Union i« the Canterbury Court at Bunedin. , Toronto Exhibition. The secretary reported that flie balance Of the exhibit which had been returned from tho Toronto Exhibition, Canada, by the Government, was being realised, and the proceeds would be forwarded to the secretary of the St. George's Hospital Fund in terms of the resolution passed at the end of the year. The secretary's action was approved. The Sen. Mr MeLeod, Minister for Industries and Commerce, wrote, advising that the management of the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, had awarded a gold medal to for its exhibit Of wool, as set out in the New" Zealand section of the Exhibition. The Minister congratulated the Union on its success, and expressed the thanks of the Government for the assistance given in- making the Canadian display on behalf of the Dominion, and stated that the assistance rendered in this matter was a material factor in the Success Of the undertaking. Gratification was expressed by several members of the executive at tho acknowledgment by the Canadian authorities of the excellence of the' quality Of Canterbury wools, and the secretary was instructed to acknowledge receipt of the Minister's letter expressing thanks, and the assurance that the sole object in sending forward the exhibit was that it might be of assistance' to tho Government on behalf of the Dominion. Now Wool Scouring Process. The Australian Wool-growers' Council wrote, asking for information with respect to a new, wool-scouring process, which, it was reported, had been invented by a Dunedin chemist, and asking for samples of wool treated. The secretary reported that he had been in touch with the' inventor of the new process, and had obtained samples for the information of members, and that he had also forwarded samples to Melbourne as requested, with full particulars (as far as they are available at this stage) of the new process ijnder which the inventor undertakes :to remove tar, paint, or dye stains from wool which are not removed in tho ordinary process of scouring. The cost of this scouring process is not great, being only n fraction of a penny per lb, while the results were apparently eminently satisfactory. Mr Robert Coghill, the inventor, a manufacturing chemist in Dunedin, had also forwarded a sample of sheep-brand-ing fluid which he had invented, with ni request that practical tests would be parried out under farming conditions of the new branding-paint, which he claims will bo not more than 50 per cent, of the cost of existing sheep-branding fluids, and whleh can be easily removed

at any time under ordinary wool-scour-ing conditions. It was agreed that, such a branding fluid'would be of inestimable benefit to tho industry, provided it carried a Government guarantee, and Mr L. R. C. Macfarlane undertook to test out the samplo submitted on threo different types of sheep, and roport results. The Secretary stated that he' had undertaken to keep the Australian Wool-growers' Council advised, more especially in connexion with tho scouring process, on account of the prevalence of tar branding of sheep in Australia. Members' agreed that such a process would materially assist the wool trade in dealing with tar-brandcd and stained wool. The' secretary's action in the matter was approved. Dirty Sheep at Meat- Works. The New Zealand Meat Board wrote drawing attention to the increasing number of daggy sheep being sent along to the ireezing works, and asking that sheepowiiers should be advised by circular of the damage done to fat stock where dirty sheep have to be handled by the slaughtermen, and of course, the quality of the dressing must naturally suffer. The secretary reported that he had advised members of tho Federation u of the position, and it was generally agreed that although the companies could have the dagging done at the cost of the owner, yet the damage done to the carcase through extra handling, etc., was often far in excess of the cost of doing the work. The president stressed the necessity for care in this connexion, and pointed out that the Slaughtermen's Award contained a clause in which "all sheep must be dagged before slaughter." The secretary's action was approved, and he was instructed to stress the necessity for care on members. The Royal Agricultural Society wrote asking for a donation to the prize funds of the Society. After discussion, the matter was referred to the Federation Executive for favourable Consideration. The manager of Messrs N. V. Alintex, Ltd., Amsterdam, wrote advising that their representative would be arriving in New Zealand shortly, with a view to instituting a method of direct &ale of wool from the producer to the consumer. It was stated by members that the firm be advised that it was usual for Continental firms to have their representatives attend our local wool-sales; and the secretary was authorised to interview the representative on his arrival in Christchurch, with a view to ascertaining the exact position and requirements of his firm and other Continental woollen companies in this connexion. Lice-Infected Sheep. The officer-in-charge Department of Agriculture, Christchurch, wrote advising that the provisions of the Stock Act providing for a penalty for expos-ing-lice-infected sheep for sale would be strictly enforced at Aldington Yards, and elsewhere in Canterbury, and that all sheep so affected must be withdrawn from sale and dipped before being sold. Satisfaction was expressed by members at the action of the Department's officers in this connexion, several cases of lousy sheep having been noticed at Addington recently. The secretary was instructed to write the Department thanking them for taking action in accordance with representations made. The British Research Association for the Woollen and. Worsted Industries, Leeds, England, wrote advising that they were forwarding samples of a new sheep-marking fluid which has the great advantage of cheapness, and which had been tested out under English conditions and found to be suitable fo r the purpose in ©very way.

Branding Fluid. ' The secretary reported that Mr It. E. Alexander, Director of Lincoln Agricultural College, while in England recently, had been in touch with this Station, and had advised them to forward samples for practical tests finder colonial conditiohs. The offer had been niado to forward the prescription for the making up of this branding fluid, provided it stood tho tests required 'under practical conditions. Members of the executive undertook to take samples with a, view to making the tests required, and ~to rer port the results. The hope was expressed that the Agricultural Department would bo able to see its way to supply the fluid to fanners at a minimum cost if proved satisfactory in use. The secretary reported that action was being taken on behalf of membrain cases wher.e alleged breach of award had occurred during the present shearing season.