THE WOOL TRADE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20026, 6 September 1930, Page 19

THE WOOL TRADE.

A HEALTHY FUTURE. ADDRESS BY MR MACHIN. That thoro would be a healthy state again in tho wool trade if something were dono to influence the public to a slightly increased consumption, was tho opinion expressed by Mr W. Machin, in a recent address to a meeting of farmers at Ilawanlen. "Bradford is still ihe wool centro of the world," said Mr Machin, "but tho trade thore at tho present time is lagging behind somo other parts of tha world, and Bradford may not always bo the leading wool centre of the world if this continues. X do not, however, think that Bradford merchants and manufacturers will bo content (o let things slido—that is not the British way. "Tho ntato of Bradford nerves to-day reacts on the price our wool will bring to-morrow, and Bradford is feeling very sorry for its losses over the last few years. It is, however, inconceivable that sho will lie down and lick her wounds, and be content to ponder over the losses of yestorday, without looking forward to tho future. These losses, however, have boen enormous, and are a factor to be reckoned with to-day. Nobody knows when the situation will altor, or what may be tho prices that our clip will fetch this year. For the last ten years the consumption of wool has balanced production, and the 'mountain' of wool which was left over after tho war has boen consumed in addition. Thorcforo, I am optimistic that Bradford will regain her old position, and with new onterpriso and uew machinery will give us satisfactory prices for our wool, but with the information we have it is impossible to say when this will happen. "Bradford Must Wake Up." "One has only to have a look at tho other industries to seo how England is progressing. In many, the enterprise shown is marvellous. There are some of the most wonderful factories one oould possibly imagino. Electrical engineering and motor trades have better factories than are usually seen. This excellont general stato must react beneficially on the wool industry. Bradford must wake up. I am convinced that if we can do something to influence tho public to a slightly increased consumption, thero will bo a healthy state again in tho wool trade, and I can think of no better way of bringing this about than to advertise tho undoubted merits of wool.'' Much research work was being done there, said Mr Machin, and some marvollouß results were being obtained. Tho. artificial silk competition lacked in ono thing. Wool kept one warm and no other fabric would do it. People must have wool, there was no raal substitute invented. If we could, with united advertising, convince people of this fact wo must help Bradford, the wool trade, and therefore help ourselves. The Wheat Market. Wheat was one of tho most important commodities Canterbury and Otago produced. The world's markets were overloaded, and we should be very thankful for tho steady price in New Zealand, which was a direct result of tho sliding sc.alo of duties. Australian wheat in London was selling at 3s 2jd per bushel, and with railage and exchange deducted the net price was 2s Bd. Though the Wheat Pool was a bit slow in paying uf, tho wheat conditions here were sound. Tho "free" wheat-grower was helped enormously by tho Pool, and got his cash quicker. There would be very bad results if the sliding scale were abolished, as somo North Islanders desired. "Our case when wo got the sliding scale was that we could not produce wheat without it," Mr Machin continued. "New Zealand might have had to pay a penny a loaf more for bread, but it was better to do that and support those who keep the wheat industry going. I still stand by that. If thore is a fight, and there will be, it is most vital for us to band together against tho loss of the sliding scale. There would be no hopo of a steady price in New Zealand if we did not protect oursclvos against tho big outside wheatgrowing countries. Steady Meat Market. "With regard to meat, we cannot say that the steady market in London from February until the present time has been unsatisfactory, and, at the present time, the New Zealand producer has more anxiety with regard to wool and with regard to the future of wheat than about meat. "In England the Government subsidises farmers and manufacturers by remitting rates to an extent of £32,000,000 a year. Prance, Germany, and other countries all do something similar. All Governments to-day are commencing to do something for the farmer and particularly for the arable farmer, and New Zealand cannot be an exception to this." The pork trade in Britain was enormous, and to-day pigs were realising first-class prices. The evidences of foot and mouth disease, which were discovered in pigs from Holland and other places, had served to cut off the deluge of pork from the Continent, There was an enormous prospect ahead of us if we could turn out the quantity and quality for the English market. Mr Machin said he had a vision that the pork trade of New Zealand might outdo the fat lamb trade. One could not buy cooked ham anywhere in England under 4s per pound. His vision might stop at being a dream, but he believed that there was an enormous possibility. New Zealand Lamb. "While New Zealand lamb has averaged 8d per lb in England during the past few months, the price of homoj killed lamb has been about double," ho ! continued. "There is still a popular idea prevalent that all New Zealand lamb is Canterbury lamb and Canterb rv lamb has still n most excellent name among the consumers ir England. While it is perfectly trne that there are just as good carcases produced in other parts of New Zealand and bearing other brands, it is also true that a lot of very poor stuff is sold as Canterbury, which does not assist this Province." Mr Machin suggested that a good deal more could be done in taking care that onr lamb reaches the consumer in better condition. He saw many dirty wrappers and broken shanks while in England. The wide difference between the price of New Zealand lamb and

that of English lamb could be, to somo extent, bridged if our meat was more attractive in its appearance to tlie consumer. He considered that tho work of tho Empire Marketing Board had done a great deal to popularise New Zealand products and it deserved every encouragement. He also thought that England could consume a good deal more Now Zealand lamb than is exported at the present time, as he found a general opinion throughout England that it was an excellent product at a reasonable price. PROPER CARE AT CALVING TIME. When a dairyman finds he is losing by poor milk yields and cream testa, let hiin look to the drench be uses. Is it % tonic as well as a cleanser, as is SYKES'S DRENCH! Does it merely cleanse, and in doing so, impoverish the animal's blood, upon the state of whieh depends the yields and tests! Try SYKES'S DRENCH after calving, and you will learn the full earning power of your herd. Sold everywhere, 1/6 pkt.; 17/- doz. CPs