Untitled

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 March 1928, Page 9

In announcing the formation of a New Zealand Industrial Rabbit ‘Club, the “New Zealand Smallholder” (published in Auckland) says: “This is not a toy club. It is for a livelihood. ” The objects of the club is stated to be “to promote the keeping of industrial rabbits, to improve the local strains, to market the product (whether wool, skins or flesh), and to seek amendments to existing laws, if necessary.” The present efforts, are chiefly directed toward the Angora rabbit on account of its wool, which in the best British strains is said to weigli 11b per annum, and sells for 40s a lb. The average yield in Britain is about lOoz per year. The “Smallholder” quotes Dr. McDougall, a British commercial Angora wool farmer, as saying that 500 Angoras yielded a profit of £220 a year. As le-wt of wool represents over £2OO the exportation costs are easy. The demand is said to be unlimited, and the price rising. The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of train arrangements and of issue of cheap excursion fares in connection with the New Plymouth Show on 7th and Bth March.