ANGORA RABBITS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1935, Page 5

ANGORA RABBITS

YOUNG GIRL’S SUCCESS. SYDNEY, February 14. Two years ago a girl of 14 pleaded with her father for tin Angora rabbit. To-day. she runs an industry which is thriving on the wool of 250 rabbits. This girl. Eileen Halls, of Tempe, a Sydney suburb, not only breeds the Angoras, but shears their wools, cards and spins it, and knits her own samples. Last year her product was on sale in Sydney’s leading retail stores. “We could see she had a liking for animals." sgid her mother, “and as she had to find something to do, her father agreed to ‘finance' her when the opportunity arose for her to buy 40 thoroughbred rabbits. 1 and two others help with the spinning ami knitting.’’ Eileen realised that Angora wool was too expensive t.o gain a large market, and this year she experimented with Angora plied with merino. Th** r-sults have been so sm -f .l that a city store is putting n '• n < •/

hibition of her goods. Chinchilla and Siamese sable rabbits are also bred, and recently Miss Halls Ifad the satisfaction of seeing the pelts for her first fur coat. The coat haa already been sold; the value p? the pelts was £3O. Hats, berets, cravats, and a hundred other artickw that she has fashioned from her wool, have found a popular market The Angora wool industry is of growing importance to New South Wales. “Babbitries” are dotted round the countryside near Sydney and are nearly ?11, conducted by girls or wo- »’«'* Tae largest is probably on a rnam traffic artery which is a popular route for weekend motorists. Its owners make money not onlj- from tho products of the rabbits, of which there In a remarkable collection, but also from inspection fees paid by hundreds of visitors every weekend. A woman and her two daughters conduct this profitable business which has already pUd for a visit to England by them.