VEGETABLE FIBRE IN WOOL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7914, 25 September 1911, Page 2

VEGETABLE FIBRE IN WOOL

The presence of vegetable fibre in wool has been a fertile theme for complaints by useis against the producer for many yea re. So far none of tho suggested, remedies have been put into practice to any extent, in fact there seems to be considerable doubt as to whether the proposed substitute© are an improvement of the first quality bales now m use, with tho possible exception of those that are paper lined. These again axe objected to on the score of incurring expense that the grower has to stand without any guarantee that better prices will bo realised by their adoption. English and Continental wool firms have apparently come to a decision regarding the matter, and according to a resolution passed at a recent conference held at Roubaix, steps are to be taken to bring about reforms by compulsory tactics. The following is the text of the resolution:

In the belief that a large proportion of tho growers of wool do not sufficiently realise tho danger of vegetable matter getting into wool from the inferior bags used, it is recommended that spinners 'and buyers or wool should declare that they will only buy such, wools as are packed in proper bags. This is to take effect from the season 1912-13. This resolution gives a clear indication of tho minds of one of the interested parties in the bargain, but it remains to be seen what effect it. will have upon the growers who represent an equally important side of the transaction. Discussing tho question in "ThePastonalirts' Review," Mr S. B.- Hoilings, a wcli-knowm authority and writer on wool matters, in tho course of a lengthy article says: *'l fancy a good deal of water will flow under London Bridge before anything definite is done on tho lines suggested, and because of' that fact growers can sleep the sleep of peace. . * •* "I think the time has arrived,' says Mr Hollings,- "when the vegetable fibre committee should tell the growers what thedr intentions are, and take them into thedr confidence, and see if some arrangement cannot bo arrived at which will be acceptable to both parties interested. Whatever dust is kicked up by either side, in the long run tho responsible h&aoe will have to come together and try to settle the - matter on principles of equity and fairness to both parties. WHAT ARB PROPER PACES?

“Many people in the trade do not take the threat very seriously to boycott all wools after 191 S if they are not packed in proper packs. The question is, however, asked, What are proper packs? In passing such a resolution, surely a little time might have been spent in defining distinctly tho requirements of the committee. The requirements, in a word, mean, superior jute tares, or preferably, paper-lined packs. X understand that tests aro to be made on bags made from pine fibre. I dare say if tares can be made from this material sufficiently strong to stand the knocking about which every. bale has to undergo from the station to, the mill doors of the world, they will bo a good thing, hut at present paper-lined tares offer tho best solution to existing difficulty, and 1 think they always will do so. It can, therefore, be taken for granted that it is the cheap half-a-orown packs to which tho committee take serious exception, and which they wish to abolish, i reecho those sentiments most heartily, and approve of every word that has been said about such rubbishy packs. It has been stated that the most fruitful source of mischief is the fluff from the inside of the tares. But this is not every man's opinion. There are many who contend that these bits of fluff come out in the noils in tho combing operation, it being the pieces of string and jute which become entangled in tho wool which is the cause of all the trouble. There is a good deal of truth in this, for those who are the first to go round the wool lofts in London when the bales have been cut open for show can see almost every day fairly long .pieces of jute lying on the wool. The men on duty keeping the gangways clear and passable are supposed to pick off these loose bits before buyers -turn up in the morning, but I am certain that tho duty is not half done. Therefore, the use of these 1 clean, loose Calcutta packs cannot bo defended in the least. However, the bulk of the wool comes in them, and i suppose it will continue to do so until a better arrangement can bo arrived at between growers and buyers. AYHO SHOULD PAY FOB THB PACKS? “An important section of the vegetable fibre committee maintain very strongly that growers have as much right to send thedr wool to market in a proper and business-like way as the manufacturers have to send out their tops in good bags. I quite agree with that, statement. Whatever a man sells it is his business to seo that tho ‘envelope’ is good and satisfactory, - but here again many growers assert that they get just as much for their wool in half-a-crown packs as if it was put up in bales costing 4s to ss. I do not dispute that users may show a preference for wools when baled in good packs, but as for growers getting a fraction more for their wool, that is a very debatable point. I might as well inform members of the trade who do not follow Hue question as minutely as they should that many growers have used good tares, and affirm that their returns have not been a fraction better than when their- woolpacks were costing little more than half, and therefore they are in no mood to go back to dear tares. I heartily endorse the view that wool should bo baled in good tares, but whether growers should be called upon to nay something like 4s for paper-lined packs or very good quality bales is where the rub comes in. After all, this is a question of ■£ s. d.. and I am a little surprised that the vegetable fibre committee have not soon this question in a stronger light. Their recommendation amounts to asking growers to spend about 4s upon, every wool hale that is umd. (Tho question therefore arises.

Who should pay for the paper-linxxl tares which the committee practically ask for ? . . . “Do not let the reader think that I have a grudge against the vegetable fibre committee or any section. considering this important question. I am quite willing to do all I possibly can to abolish the evil, but it is the modus operand! to which I object, and which I am certain, will never result in curing the evil. The negative side of the subject has been dealt with fully, and it is now the positive aspect of the whole affair which needs and 1 stronglv maintain that a solution can never "be arrived at until _ growers" interests, are taken into consideration, and an effort mad© to ascertain what are thedr views. . . . t “1 am writing in this strain for fine good of the entire trade, and no one can charge me with having an axe to grind, but I do strongly assert that before the evil can be ©radicated the vegetable fibre committee will have to face the question which I have raised, and they will have to try and bring the trade into a mind to defray some of the extra expense incurred in providing paper-lined packs. It has been suggested that if paper-lined packs cost 4s each, then buyers should be asked to pay 6d per bale on what they purchase, and the grower will make up the deficiency. Surely this cannot bo urged as an extravagant demand. If topmakere could guarantee their tops free from vegetable fibre they would command more confidence from their customers, and although at first the buyer of the raw material might feel the seeming injustice a little, yet in twelve months" time h© would bo losing nothing, while the trade would be gaining a good deal. Whatever happens, I am satisfied that buyers of woof will never refrain from purchasing the raw material baled in average packs, and if a superior article is wanted by the trade, then the buyer should certainly be prepared to meet the growers in regard to the extra expense/"