ALTERNATIVE WOOL BALES

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 15

ALTERNATIVE WOOL BALES

(N.Z P A.-Reuter— Copyright) LISBON, June 17.

New Zealand i s watching tests on plastic wool bales to replace the traditional jute pack.

The chairman of the Australian Wool Board, Sir William Gunn, told delegates to the 35th annual international wool organisation conference in Lisbon that the tests would free Australian wool of jute contamination.

He said that paper bales, as proposed to be in use for

South African wool within two years, would not be suitable to Australia because of the type of wool press generally used by Australian growers. However, two types of plastic packs had been conditionally approved for further tests right through the supply line to the mill. They had proved satisfactory in trials and would now be tested with 30,000 bales each in commercial shipments to world markets. “If trials are successful then the Australian Wool Board will recommend the widespread adoption of the packs by Australian growers. They are no more costly than jute packs,” he added. New Zealand delegates said they were watching the Australian tests but that the problem did not arise as much for New Zealand wool, whose texture prevented jute contamination. South African delegates said that within two years all South African wool would be free of jute contamination, i one of the industry’s most , persistent problems.

Jute contamination occurred when jute fibres worked their way out of the bale into the wool. Australian and New Zealand representatives today also reported developments in the compression of bales to reduce their size. The smaller volume and more squarely shaped bales would considerably reduce shipping costs.

Moon’s Surface.—-America's Surveyor robot has confirmed that the moon’s surface is strong enough for a man to walk on, space scientists said yesterday. It can also support a properly designed manned spacecraft.—Washington, June 17.