DOMINION WOOL

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 231, 26 June 1931, Page 9

DOMINION WOOL

Complaints from Bradford Manufacturers SCIENTIST’S ADVICE A reply to recent criticisms bv Bradford mannfßCtnrere regarding defect® in New Zealand wool was made at the annual conference of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand yesterday by Mr. D. J. Sidey, B.Agr„ of Lincoln College, who hag just completed twelve months’ research work in England.in connection with wool problems, particularly as they affeet New Zealand. Mr. Sidey referred to the collection of fleeces which had been sent by New Zealand breeders about eighteen months ago to the Wool Industries Research Association in England. Sir Frederick Aykroyd, who had led the criticism against New Zealand Romney wools, and who was an influential Bradford merchant, had been asked by the Research Association to give a manufacturer’s report on each fleece. “I consider the fleeces as a whole as representing a very good type of wool,” he had reported. “They are not by any means the class of wool complained of. and, speaking as a wool-buyer, I should say they are far above the average of the crossbred wool grown in New Zealand.”

Romney Appreciated. Other Bradford wool merchants who z saw the fleeces, said Mr. Sidey, were quite pleased with them, as was shown by the remarks of Mr. William Hunter at the Bradford conference between the British Wool Federation and the party of New Zealand sheep-farmers. Mr. Hunter had said that no one could complain about the Romney fleeces which had been sent from New Zealand to the Research Association, and if the Dominion could produce that type of wool in large quantities no complaint would be made. It was wool which could be used cither for weaving or hosiery: it was ideal wool. ■lt was. of course, an exaggeration to call it ideal wool, proceeded Mr. Sidey. as some of the fleeces were not up to standard. There was no doubt that our better flocks were producing wool that was up to Bradford requirements. Why. it might be asked, had this criticism of New Zealand wool arisen? It had been confined to the heavy class of wool, Jor which the Romney was blamed. If New Zealand sheep-farmer* wished to produce, a super breed of sheep, inbreeding would be essential, and they should aim at maintaining the flock within itself. They should select types which would suit tlie particular class of country and give the best results. The Bradford manufacturers forgot that Romney wool met other demands very satisfactorily. While some New Zealand wool was not what it might be. the bulk of the clip was eminently satisfactory for classes of manufacture other than single yarn wool, in which Sir Frederick Aykroyd was so keenly interested. If Lincoln-Merino blood was introduced on top of Romney crossbred, an uneven fibre of wool would be produced. South American wool was preferred at Bradford because it was Lincoln, and not Romney. Some English manufacturers advocated the scrapping of Southdowns because they were blamed for brown fibres, but wools with brown fibre could be used for the manufacture of English cardigans and similar goods. How Defects Can be Remedied. The English manufacturers had suggested that burr clover should be declared a noxious week, as the burrs got into the wool. This was ridiculous. Complaint had also been made of the branding , fluids used in New Zealand. This could be mitigated if petrol were used when the branding liquid was too thick. Boiled linseed oil and turpentine, which had been used in the past, were the worst liquids which could be used, as they dried hard. There had been complaints at Bradford concerning the wool bales used in the Dominion, but the trouble was that the English manufacture? would not meet the producer in providing a dearer type of bale. Complaint had also been made that wool was baled in New Zealand in a damp state. This could be prevented by the fleeces being hung out to dry in all cases where damp sheep had to be shorn. . In order to meet competition, said Mr. Sidey, New Zealand must aim at a better class of wool, with perhaps -more types, and it was essential, therefore, that research should be ever in the foreground. Flock Testing. It was about time that something was done in the wool industry in the way of herd testing. Great improvement had been made in the dairying industry by this means. Careful selection and eulling of flocks and more attention to proper feeding would make not only for better wool but better mutton. It stood to reason that it did not improve sheep to give them a superabundance of feed at one season of the year and to make them scratch for a living at another. “Don’t chase the market by changing breeds simply because a certain class of wool is bringing a high price for the moment,” concluded Mr. Sidey. “New Zealand wool has been definitely on the improve during recent years,- and it only remains to continue with these improvements.” The president, Mr. L. V R. C. MacfarJane, said that wool was a subject which farmers had been apt to neglect. “It used to be said that wool was our bread and butter," he remarked, “bpt now I am afraid it is only our bread and dripping.” He considered that the manu- ’’ facturers at Bradford had learned more about wool from Mr. Sidey than they had been able to teach him. Mr. W. H. Booth. Carterton, said that when he was in England an English manufacturer had referred to some of the New Zealand fleeces as “donkey’s hair.” There was no doubt that spots were caused in cloth by the branding liquids used in the Dominion. The Bradford people thought they had a branding ink which would eliminate the trouble. This had been tried in various parts of the world and had turned out most satisfactory. This was a question which the council should go into in the near future. Levy for Research. Mr. W. Berry congratulated Mr. Sidey. upon having brought back to the Dominion a vast fund of information which would -be of the greatest value to woolgrowers. A certain amount of research work was being done at Massey College, find he thought they re on the verge of investigations which would improve the value of New Zealand wool .maieri-. ally. He moved that the Minister of Agriculture be asked _to request the Government to bring in a Bill making a levy upon sheepfnnners for the purposes' of carrying on research work in connection with wool and advertising. The motion was seconded by Mr. W. H. Booth. Wairarnpa, who said that all was not well with Lincoln wool. ( The motion was carried.