The Ensign TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1913. THE GOLDEN FLEECE.

Mataura Ensign, 30 September 1913, Page 4

The Ensign TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1913. THE GOLDEN FLEECE.

The movement promoted by the Southland Education Board in appointing Mr McGregor to hold wool-classing classes throughout the district deserves to be widely known and appreciated for its usefulness. The ultility of these cLasses has been conclusively proved by many fflookowners in increased returns for their wool consequent on the instruction imparted last year at the various centres by Mr McGregor, and the Board is to bo congratulated upon its wisdom in arranging for a continuation of his services. The truth of the maxim, "It is never too late to learn," is exemplified in regard to the classes. Some farmers may hold the view .that they have learned in the school of experience all that is necessary in regard to :heir calling but it may be pointed out in respect to this one matter alone that carelessness in getting up the wool lis unsatisfactory to everybody; indeed, \

some buyers will not waste their time in valuing badly got up wool, which may be bought by others, subsequently treated in a proper manner and the profit reaped goes to those buyers instead of the producer. Briefly, the object of classing wool is to get the clip up in such a way as to induce buyers to purchase at as high a price as they can possibly pay. In order to obtain the best results classing must be done scientifically and carefully. Scientific classing means of dividing of a clip of wool into such lots as will best meet the requirements of the various sections of wool-buyers and in such * way as to enable them to correctly ascertain ite value. Wool-growers have an increased incentive to do the best they possibly can with their wool in view of the enlarged market for it consequent on the sanctioning of "free wool" by the United States Legislature—that is, the admission of raw wool to the States free of duty as from December 1. A writer in 'Dalgety's Review' says that there will be an enormous increased demand for well-grown wools of aver-j age grades, both merino and crossbred, vvliicli cannot but haro an excellent effect on values generally. That the altered tariff will tend to an: inereaml demand for scoured) and skin wools also seems probable; the old duty, which amounted to 16-Jd per lb on scoured, or three times the duty on greasy wool, was obviously prohibitive, for it meant that the price of the best quality scoured was about 40d per lb in America! Dear wool in the States has led to an enormous use of substitutes, and as an example it may bo mentioned that a recent return showed that out of 63 million dozen socks and stockings made in the States, 57 million dozen were all cotton; and out of 28 million dozen knitted under-ga-nnents, only about ' three million dozon contained wool. Statistics show that there has been a considerable decline in the production of wool in the United States, and the main arguments for the imposition of the late duties has proved itself ■a fallacy. The excessive duties have in fact restricted trad© in the prevention of the manufacture of cheap woollens, and have not led to the expansion of the sheep flocks, which was a strong point advanced in their favor. The main point, so far as the Australasian wool-grower is concerned', is the probable effect on wool values. High prices have been the order of the day for some seasons now, and the prospective increase in business on account of the State's demand, dissipates any fear that there will' be a sudden slump. The position of the world's wool supplies and the increasing demands of manufactures justify a prophecy of confidence in the pastoral industry and in. the permanence of a high level of values. Southland sheepfarmers may seem to bo a long way from these great world markets but "the attendance at the metropolitan wool sales in New Zealand of foreign buyers is- bound to increa.se and as "the district farmers' product goes to swell the total produced by the country they should lose no opportunity of interesting themselves or tlieir sons in these wool classes, for the instruction given there if utilised by them will be of distinct material benefit.