Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1934. QUALITY IN WOOL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 149, 25 May 1934, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1934. QUALITY IN WOOL.

Parliamentary consideration of proposals for tlie improvement of New Zealand wool was conveyed to the annual meeting of slieepbreeders at tbe Massey Agricultural College by tbe Prime Minister. Tbe Government, Mr Forbes affirmed, would give its support to tbe movement. A year ago, in conjunction with tbe sheep-breeders’ meeting, a conference was beld in Palmerston North to promote a scheme for tbe improvement of sheep and wool. It bad tbe assurance that generous support would be given by the Government. To finance tbe scheme it was proposed, with legislative sanction, to levy threepence per bale on all wool grown in the North Island, and to ask tbe Meat Producers’ Board to grant a subsidy, legislation being also required to this end. Tbe conference left tbe way open for tbe South Island to enter tbe scheme if its growers considered it in their interests to do so. Tbe main feature consisted of research and instruction with tbe utilisation of facilities already existing for this purpose. There was general agreement that a new epoch bad been marked in tbe industry in tbe North Island with tbe acceptance of tbe scheme placed before tbe conference; but its weakness has been tbe absence of a national movement. Woolgrowers who met in Wellington subsequent to tbe Palmerston North conference gave their support with only 6 dissentients in 58 votes, and in November Mr Forbes submitted to Parliament a lengthy report in which be said the Dominion was lagging behind other Empire countries, in both sheep and wool research. The desirability of an organisation being constituted as a centre of research and information was one of the Premier’s strong points, while he also advocated a long range policy to bring stability in the future. The Agricultural and Pastoral Committee of the House of Representatives took evidence on the question for Parliament’s guidance, recommending that an improvement scheme should be national, and in view of the divergence of opinions it heard a poll of breeders should be taken to determine the industry’s desire. As the session was well advanced the matter could not be taken to a further stage, but the assurance that Parliament will give it con-, sideration in the session soon to commence comes from Mr Forbes. Since the proposals were made the sheep farmers have had the best wool selling season for several years, but, as Mr Forbes, says, we cannot rest on our oars whatever the branch of primary industry. Every avenue for improvement must be examined. The price realised for wool being ruled by the average quality, a general improvement must have a far reaching effect, so that the sheep-breeders who favour the scheme should be assisted in obtaining the goal they hope to reach. Mr Massey during his visits to England was brought into contact with the Bradford trade’s criticism of the quality

of New Zealand wool, and Mr Forbes has had a similar, experience, leading to the decision that New Zealand should contribute towards the cost of research instead of “leaning upon other parts of the Empire.” If the scheme referred to is to be dependent for legislative sanction upon the presence in it of South Island breeders, they should be convinced of advantages to be derived from participation, even though their problems may differ from those of the North Island. Benefit from research surely cannot apply only to the growers in the north; there must be gain to the southern farmers from it. If progress is to be made—and Professor Peren has stated emphatically that improvement in the quality of the Dominion’s sheep and wool is long overdue—there must be unanimity on a scheme, and none has yet been put forward to replace that advanced at Palmerston North.