REGISTER OF CLASSERS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 8

REGISTER OF CLASSERS

A register of wool classers has been established by the Wool Handling Committee of the Department of Agriculture and the Wool Board in an effort to upgrade classification of wool being offered for export.

Announcing the establishment of the register, the general manager of the Wool Board (Mr J. D. Fraser) said the scheme aimed at having only qualified classers grade wool In farmers’ wool sheds.

“While protecting the qualified classer whose livelihood may be threatened by the actions of the incompetent, the scheme also provides woolgrowers with a method of checking on the ability of the men who are responsible for presenting their wool for sale,” said Mr Fraser. The scheme, which does not make it compulsory to be on the register, is modelled on similar projects in South Africa and Australia. The Wool Handling Committee is responsible for set-

ting standards and establishing the qualifications of shed classers who wish to register. It will approve registrations after considering reports from the department, the Woolbrokers’ Association and the Wool Commission.

The department is to carry out the inspection of shed management; the woolbrokers will advise the commission on the presentation of entire clips, including binned wool as classed by registered men or those seeking registration; and the commission will inspect the clips. The board will keep the register and issue to approved classers a stencil brand for use on bales.

The qualifications required are one of the following:— A diploma of wool classing from Massey University and two seasons classing experience in New Zealand. A certificate from Lincoln College and three seasons experience. Six seasons experience in New Zealand. A diploma, or certificate, in wool classing from an overseas country and adequate classing experience in New Zealand.

These provisions make It possible for the man who has had no formal training, but has the experience, to be on the register, just as a man with lesser experience, but who has received instruction at Massey or Lincoln, is also eligible. The commission is required to report on three separate clips of not less than 50 bales each classed by the applicant. Each clip must include the main lots of ewe fleece, lamb and hogget wools, pieces, bellies, and so on. Once the applicant has been passed he will receive a stencil consisting of the stylised kiwi, created by the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association, bearing a registered number and a code letter indicating the classer’s proficiency in classing various wools whether they be crossbred halfbred-corriedale or merino, or any combination of these.

The stencil on the outside of bales will enable buyers to tell at a glance whether or not a particular bale has been classed by a registered man, while the classer’s number and registered code will also appear against the clip in the broker’s sale catalogue. The committee and the board believe the register will help upgrade the prestige of wool classing while making a practical contribution toward higher classing standards.

The photograph shows a stencil brand, such as will be issued to registered classers.