FAULTY WOOL CLASSING

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 14, 17 July 1934, Page 9

FAULTY WOOL CLASSING

JAPANESE COMPLAINTS

AUSTRALIAN REPLY

The leader of the Australian Eastern Mission. (My. J. G-. Latham) recently informed the Australian; Wpolgrowers' Council that while at Tokio, Japan, complaints were made to him that the classing, of Australian wool was deteriorating and that materials used for branding sheep were insoluble in the process of scouring. . ■ ■ As a result,; Sir Graham: Waddell, chairman of, the ...Australian. Woolgrowers' Council, interviewed the Consul for Japan, and later Mr. J. W. Allen^ secretary of the council, forwarded to the Consul a letter outlining the views expressed at the interview.

The letter stated that in the view of the council there was no reason to believe that the classing of the larger clips had in any way deteriorated, as the owners undoubtedly "realised the importance of properly preparing theirclips for salo and of maintaining their good name in the world's markets; For these reasons competent wool, classers were employed. '

In the medium-sized and smaller clips, howevei-, there had in some cases probably been a tendency during the preva; lenco of low wool values to economise by owners doing the classing themselves or with tho aid of "members of . their families, thus avoiding the expense of employing wool classers. During the past few years tho cost of employing classers for the smaller clips had practically been prohibitive.

As an offset to this arrangements had been made by which • small: clips, and oddments could be efficiently classed in the capital cities under bulk-classing conditions. This practice was receiving increased support, and should-materi-ally assist in the proper marketing of the clip. Instruction m wool classing at the Technical College and through tho courses provided "in-, country ; districts was increasingly sought by sons o£ graziers and farmers. s This fact should also aid in the preparation of the smaller.clips. .■ . ■•'...;.''-.'....

■_■ During the past season there had been a considerable increase in the practice of selling wool in tlie country instead of through the auction room. In such eases the wool was frequently purchased on the sheep's back, and probably insuifieient care had in some such cases been taken in the subsequent classing.

In regard to sheep branding the letter stated that the subject had been considered by the council for many years, and a considerable amount of research had been carried out in order to evolve a,, branding material which would provide the grower with a brand legible from shearing to shearing, , and which would be readily removable, in the ordinary process.of ..scouring. .