IMPROVING FLOCKS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 14

IMPROVING FLOCKS

SHEEP BKEEDERS MEET

LEVY FOR RESEARCH WORK

IMPORTANT DECISIONS

(From "The Post's" Special Reporter.) , PALMEESTON N., May 20. Gratification at the steps taken by sheep breeders in the North Island to improve the standard of crossbred wool and the sheep-breeding'industry in the North Island were expressed by Sir .William Perry (Wairarapa), a prominent sheep breeder, in the course of an interview with a "Post" reporter today. ■ Commenting upon the outcome of. the conference, which agreed to a levy of 3d per bale on all wool grown in tho North Island, Sir William said that the most important question today was the raising of the standard :of crossbred wool; it was most important, for, after all, the average quality ruled the price. As a, result of the carrying into effect of the practical methods put forward, the standard of the clip should be raised very considerably in the courao of a few years. "Wool improvement has been dis* cussed for some time," said Sir William. "The system put forward by Professor Alexander (Lincoln College) «f the elimination of scrub sires in sheep .and cattlo is in the same direction as the objectives of the Palmerslon North conference. This movement is part of that scheme, and probably will facilitate any action iv that direction." Sir William said that it was hoped to go thoroughly into the subject of wool marketing. The depression had brought the matter to a head; the wool■brokers had been, sounded, . and they ivere thoroughly •in accord' with tho movement. In the past, there had been no organisation of any sort in the wool industry in New Zealand, and he expressed the opinion that the decisions of the Palnierston North conference (reported in yesterday's "Post") should mark an epoch, as far as the .North Isalnd at least was concerned. As mentioned in yesterday's '' Post, '' the conference- was attended by some SOO sheep breeders. GOVERNMENT SYMPATHETIC. The Hon. E. A. Eansom (Acting-Min-ister in 'charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Kesearch) said lie was present at the special request of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was very interested iv what was being done, and he (Mr. Eansom) could assure the meeting that whatever sound proposals were put forward would receive the hearty support of tho Government. In the remarks that he would make ho would not pose as an authority; ho was interested in the matter as a farmer, and what he would say would be more in. the way of observations. As Minister of Lands, it was his object to see that production was * increased and that waste lands were brought into a state of production. His colleague'(the Minister of Agriculture) wa.s interested more in tho improvement of the quality of the produce and in- the study of marketing conditions. It hqd been a disappointment for him fo see throughout tho Dominion the want of proper pasture management. When one did see proper pasture management'carried out one was invariably impressed by what was being done. One of the"greatest losses to tho Dominion at the present time was the failure to take from the farms the greatest measure of products by pasture management. Mr. Eansom paid a tribute to the work being done at such institutions as Lincoln College and Massey College, but said that the farmers did not always nvail themselves of the research work being done and the application of it to their own operations. Ho also stressed the importance of demonstration farms, and said that whenever he was opening a big block of land he endeavoured to establish a demonstration farm in the centre, .both as an educational feature, and to show that the value of the land being worked was fair. to tho value of the wool and sheep industry to tho Dominion, ho pointed out that the country was facing a loss of £20,000,000 in national income, and he stressed tho importance of tho conference at a tirao like the present. One penny per ,1b in wool meant £1,000,000 to the Dominion. The proposals before the conference related to the North Island, and not to the Dominion as a whole. There were 15,000.000 sheep in the North Island, and if wool could bo brought to Is alb, it would mean £12,000,000 to the- Dominion. It had l)eeu suggested that a levy should be put on tho export of wool to enable research to be carried out; an excellent thing. ,If a certain cum were put aside for.such a purpose, there would be loyal and generous help from the Government. By the suggestion of a levy the breeders showed1 their earnestness and sincerity in realising what it would mean to the growers. A levy of 3d per bale had. been suggested, and to the average grower with less than 1000 sheep, the levy would represent about 5s for 20 bales; a penny rise would mean 8d per sheep or about £33. When the grower thought of that, there would probably be no hesitancy in contributing ' ss. Mr. Kansom also dealt with the question of breeding ewes, and said that while studying wool they must not neglect to study the class of- sheep -for the mutton, and fat lamb trades. CLASSIFICATION. ■ Other subjects of interest to-growers dealt with by tho Minister wore classing and binning. He said that it had l-ocently been demonstrated at Massey College • that in the classing •of wool clips' there was much to be desired, very serious losses having been sustained by growers ; owing to irregularities. The Minister quoted figures from his own farm in illustration of this point, HvH emphasised tho desirability of a system of classing. Binning, also, was a question that would have to be considered very carefully by the committee it was hoped to set up. Tho value of wool, he pointed out, was governed I'athcr by tho weaker fleeces than by the good wool. Speculators bought badly-classed clips and made- a living reclassifying and icoffering them. Nothing suited the buyer better than a good clip of wool badly classed. Much, wool was exported without being graded, said Mr. Eansom, whereas meat, dairy produce, fruit, honey, eggs,.and flax, etc., were all graded for export purposes. From good grading and classification much better prices would be derived. He expressed the opinion that much competition of Continental, American, and Japanese buyers was lost by badly classed lines. Growers would not get complaints from buyers, who wore taking advantage of the position, but the growers were not content to remain ignorant any ldnger. Of the total production, 58 per cent, was from the small grower. Mr. Eansom emphasised the benefits to bo derived from a national system of grading and classing, pointing out that if a cers&in typo in Napier was identical jvitk

the same grade in Christchurch it would add to competition, thereby adding to the value of the wool. Under a national system growers, brokers, and buyers would know what was meant by a particular description. Timo would be saved to buyers and they would know where to look for thoir requirements, and there would be less danger of useful lots being overlooked. The Minister also stressed the importance of the get-up of the wool for sale, remarking that a good shaped bale—the first indication of care—must impress the buyer. The present system of selecting flock rams was unsatisfactory. Buyers in the. main wcro not sufficiently experienced, and sometimes conditions and get-up sold in preference to quality. It would bo very helpful if there was a system of certification. Dairy bulls were bought on a butter-fat record, station bulls on a pedigree record, ryo grass seed was subject to certification, and yet rams were.at the buyer's fancy. With the ideal conditions that prevailed here, New Zealand should be tho stud?raising country, not only for the British Empire, but for the world.WIDENING MARKETS. The Minister said he was satisfied that markets would have to be wideuod. Ho hoped that as a result of tho tariff revisions at the World Ee&nomic Conference more markets would be open to wool growers that today were closed. Why should New Zealand get from America practically all the petrol required and sell them little or no wool? If cars from America could be paid for in wool it would be an immense advantage to the Dominion. We could not expect a one-sided trade, and would have to purchaso from abroad articles we could not economically manufacture. New Zealand could produce in abundance articles necessary for human life and comfort. Emphasising that ho was expressing only his personal view, Mr. Eansom expressed tho. opinion that the wool industry should have a representative in London in constant touch with the market and the consumers. In conclusion he-pointed out that New Zealand must produce what tho consumer required.