Provision Sought For Owner-Classers

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31862, 14 December 1968, Page 17

Provision Sought For Owner-Classers

The scheme for the registration of wool classers is coming in for growing criticism in the Canterbury district, particularly in relation to ownerclassers. Speaking at a meeting of North Canterbury Federated Farmers recently, a highcountry member described the scheme as full of anomalies. This was followed by a letter from the meat and wool section to the wool handling committee. The section has asked that a farmer representative be included on the committee. It noted that the committee ■was made up entirely of North Island representatives, and suggested that a South Islander with a knowledge of Merino, balfbred and Corriedale clips would be an advantage. The section has no complaint over the qualification requirements contemplated by the committee, but it points out that in the category dealing with Merino clips, a problem exists in the limited number of sheds. The meat and wool section has suggested that bale numbers be the criteria for registering a classer handling Merino clips only, rather than a minimum of three individual clips. It has suggested that 150 bales of classed Merino wool would be sufficient to determine a classer's proficiency. The wool handling commit-! tee’s decision to postpone the registration of owner-classers until 1969-1970 has received; particular criticism. The sec-! tion has advised the commit-; tee that quite a proportion of the Canterbury clip is owner-

classed. This wool. It stated, could be at a disadvantage alongside the professionally classed clips in 1969-1970, yet it was felt that the ownerclassed wool was well up to the required standard. In the opinion of the meat and wool section, the number of bales is of minor importance. It considers the important factor is the standard of

classing of the wool presented, regardless of number. It has suggested that the registration of non-profes-sional classers could be granted on the basis of one identified clip consisting of about 50 bales. If a much smaller elip was presented, it considered a Department of Agriculture instructor should have authority to recommend a pass for shed management so long as the applicant was proficient and the number of bales handled represented a fair test.