WOOL RESEARCH AUTHORITY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6867, 23 March 1929, Page 3

WOOL RESEARCH AUTHORITY

VISITS PEILDING. INVESTIGATION PROPOSALS. ~ / Dr. J. E. Nichols, animat breeding expert in conneetion with research work under Dr. P. A. Crew of the Edinburgh University, and recently appointed to the Biological department of the AVoollen Research association, of Leeds, Lngland, visited Fcilding yesterday and addressed a meeting of prominent Romney Blarsh sheep breeders. With the assistance of a grant received from the Empire Blarkcting board, Dr. Nichols is at present engaged upon a survey of the wool problems of the Empire. In his visit to Feildiug yesterday, Dr. Nichols was accompanied by Professor Percn, Dr. Blars"den, Dr. Dry and Mr. Cockayne. At short notice, Blr. E. J. AVackrill ■secretary of the Remney Blarsh Sheep Breeders’ association, got together a representative gathering of prominent breeders, whom Dr. Nichols addressed on the scope of his investigations into the wool problem. Blr. 81. A. Conway occupied the chair and following his address, the visitor answered a number of questions. One point came out of the discussion to which much importance is attached. Manufacturers at Home say that there is a fault with our wool and Dr. Nichols was able to assuro the breeders that the fault was not common to New Zealand alone, but affected all woolgrowing countries and what was equally important, it affected all breeds.

In answer to a question Dr. Nichols said it was a fact that since the cutting up of the largo estates into smaller holdings, wool had altered in texture. At the period of larger estates, a more uniform class of wool was obtained, but with the smaller holdings, this uniformity was lost, lie admitted tLat this had a lot to do with the wool problem. Efforts were being made, and they came within the scope of his investigations, to grow a wool of a more uniform type—a type which would be free from thick and thin tips on one fleece. Dr. Nichols informed the breeders that it was proposed to collect samples of the different fleeces grown in New Zealand, and to send them Home to be tested out. Following the laboratory tests, these fleeces would be made up into manufactured articles and then sent out to New Zealand, in order that breeders could see what the particular classes of wool were best suited for from the manufacturers’ standpoint. This, breeders admitted, would be an interesting, and no doubt, profitable experiment.

Following the meeting, Dr. Nichols, who was warmly thanked for his address, left to pay a visit to the Parorang] stud sheep farm in company with Mr. E. E. Short. He remained in Fcilding last night and is to leave for the East Coast to-day.