Woolgrowers Warned Of Clip-Preparation-

Northern Advocate, 9 November 1939, Page 8

Woolgrowers Warned Of Clip-Preparation-

Judging by the number of inquiries being received by woolbroking firms, farmers do not appear to have a clear conception of the arrangements for the purchase by the Government of the New Zealand wool clip. • In examining the statement by the Minister for Marketing (Mr Nash) that the basic price of 12. id per lb is net to the grower at the wool store and that brokers’ commissions, handling charges in store and costs of appraisement will be met by the British Government, growers have overlooked the Minister’s definite instruction that all clips should be skirted prior to despatch to stores. Dominion Average. Actually the grower, when he sends a properly skirted and classed clip to the broker for appraisement, will receive a rate based on the Dominion average of 12£d per lb in accordance with the grading schedules prepared under the direction of the Minister. Until these schedules are completed it is not possible to estimate with any degree of 1 accuracy the probable return for any particular grade of wool, although it seems probable that generally there will be a fairly consistent ratio bet ween the realisation last season and the expected return this season.

Those who forward unskirted clips for appraisement will pay for ignoring the warning as appraisers are empowered to refuse to value a clip not properly skirled and prepared for salei Then'the clip would have to be opened and skirted in the store at the grower’s expense. Slow and Expensive. Done in its proper place, the woolshed, skirting is part of the system of shearing and handling, in contrast to skirting carried out in the store, when the task becomes slow and tedious, with corresponding expense. • As care in skirting and get-up of the clip will greatly influence the return, growers are ■ urged to watch these points with care. Growers are also reminded that their own brands should appear-on the cap and one side only of the bale, the other end and three sides being reserved for official markings.