LONDON WOOL LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 8

LONDON WOOL LETTER.

(From Oue Special Cohbespoxdext.) LONDON, December 6, 1907. VEGETABLE MATTER IX WOOL. . Another meeting of the committee considoiin,- this, question met at DalgetVb office in Bishopgato street last Wednesday afternoon and 1 yccoidingly went. Things havo not, yet got very much "forrarder. ' the whole subject bristling with great difficulty. I inspect ed several sample bags that were oti show, but not one could bo called satisfactory, because on rubbing my coat sleeve on the surface of the bag the loose hemp fibre came off. The secretary reported that he had got news from America of a gentleman there bringing out a patent which h> claimed would entirely remove all the lcose fibre, but a- jet be had no sample ou show, and the process was strifdy piivate. He a' so said that he hoped in two ot three weeks' time to ha\e for show ar all wool tare which he thought would cost between 6s 6d and 7s 6d each. If the committee expects wool-growers to Übe such a pack without buyers paying the cost, I am afraid they are reckoning without their host. Mr Acton Adams. Tarndale, Cai-terbury, to my mind, is fighting the battle of the growers single handed and yet doing the work remarkably well. His contention is, if possible, to get a superior tare, and for the buyer to shaie the cost He told the committee emphatically that if tney expect the Australasian wool-grower to adopt a radical reform and pay entirely for it they were reckoning without their host ; but meet them half way and lasting good will be done. However, as the committee had no new 'tare to recommend, the question as to cost, etc., was left ove- till a further meeting. It will be remembered that the committee last October decided to issue a ciicul.ir for circulation among wool-growers through out the world, and at Wednesdays meeting o final draft of !he circular was appro\cd. It contains nothing but what I have previously said upon this subject in past letter-^ for it faimply points out the difficulties and the cost which vegetable fibre causes to manufacturer's, this almost entncly arising thiouj-h pieces of hemp and the "'fluff' from off the inside of the tare getting on to the wool. This is found to be the mo»t fruitful cau^e of the mischief, and to secure v bag entirely free from "fuzziness" ; nside the tare is the primary object of the committee. They then suggest lemedies for the e\il. which are- as fol'ows: — First and foremost the general adoption of a woolpack of such a character that it will no- depreciate the value of the wool it contains The committee are pursuing mquiuci. in regard to the provision of a better bag. They hope shortly to be able to give further information, and to recommend an improved woolpack for general use. The adoption of such a standard pack, made oi good, c'.ean, hard twisted jute or hemp yarn, carefully sewn, so thai the pack does not need to be "cut down" at the cornei & in the baling press, and crowded with a separate piece of canvas for the top of the bale would do a vast deal to mitigate the evil. ,171 The systematic emptying of the pack before it 'is nut into the press. It is found that frequently bits of the canvas and ends of sewing twine come inside the new packs from the factory. Care should be taken to see that these are shaken out. In thj shearing shed, in the classing and pacidng of wool, the utmost care should be used to picvent loose bits of twine, rope, or bagging coming near the wool or being swept u;i with wool from the floor. The tying of fleeces ought to be avoideu entirely, and the hard twine used for «>e«, ing up the bags should be blue or other dark colour. In ht&res and warehouses where bales arj exposed for sampling the necessary opening of the tare should be done so as to damage n as little as possible. Bales should be opened -it the seams by cutting the sewing tvvme; and all fravetl edges and loose bits should be removed and destroyed. It is recommended that printed cards should be provided for hanging in shearing sheds and warehouses in the following terms : — FOR SHEARING SHEDS. 1 All straw, etc., should be carefu'ly removed fiom the aheaiing s-hed befoie actual shearing l* begun. 2. Tin n out each bag before packing the wool, and see that it is clean and fieo from bits of hemp. 3. Loose bits of twine, bagging, or straw should be carefu'lv kept apart from the FOR WAREHOUSES. 1. All bales must be opened at the seam-. only, by cutting the blue twine. 2. Any* frayed edges or loose pieces of shing should be removed carefully and at once by men whose special care it is to watch the wools when "on show." 3. Warehouse "puliings" should be cavefully looked over before being restored to the bales. The following parrels were amongst those sold at the opening of the sixth, series of wool sales : — Sold by Messrs Willaus and Overbury, November 29 — Elins/B in heart : Scoured — 2 aid- » B pieces 18d; 11 J^cks iaid, 3

half bred 13Jd; 4 do pieces 14Jd; 4 halfbred crutchings U&d; 10 do 12Jd; 4 do locks 15d; 2 three-quarter-bred locks Hid.

Sold by Messrs Thomas and Cook, November 29. — Tarndale : Greasy — 19 first combing withdrawn ; 10 do 12d ; 10 second do lljd ; Scoured — 19 first AA combing 23id; 12 A do 22£ d; 4 do 21d; 10 do 20Jd; 5 clo. 20Jd; 11 necks 21d ; i second do 18Jd ; 12"first pieces 23d ; 11 seoond do 21| ; 4 third do 19£ d; seven DF do 21d; 7 S do 18d; 21 bellies 02d; 12 locks 18d. Wairau : Greasy — 3 first combing Bid; 2 do halfbred lOJd ; 26 crossbred lOd : 79 A~do 9d; 12 do BJd; 7 three-quarterbred 9 Jd ; 2 crossbred 8d ; 3A do dead 6id ; 4 first do pieces 6d. COURSE OF PRICES. Bradford hardly wears that depressed air that it did last "week, and Coleman street has produced a steadying effect all round. Quotationo are at the lowest point, and the following shows the course of prices during the past month, Bradford terms: —

Description. 1 incoln hogs Liccolii wethers ... ... ... Yorkshire hogs . . Yo'.kthire wethers North hogs North wethers ... Hal f bred hoR-i Halfbred wethers Slnopehire hog-? Shropshire wethers Super Stafford hog* Super Stafford \\ ethers Kent wethers Irish hogs frish wethers Wiltshire Down tegs Wiltshire Down ewes Devon greasy Hampshire Downs Snssex Dowcs Cheviot bogs, super Blackfaced Scotch Turkey sivei age mohair Cape firsts mohair ... Cipe winter mohair 7')'b, colonial tops Me, colouialtops fiO's, colonial tops, super ofi's, colonial top 3 jl/s, colonial tops - 46 s, colocial tops 40's, colonial tops 3(>'s. colonial tops .. I ~ o d. m in m 124 1?4 m 121 131 la 13 121 IVi 12J 11J Wl 14 81 144 15 Hi 81 18 151 121 1 30 £9 ?5 22 37 it; 15 > o *S d. 12 | II 13 113 13 12 124 12} 131 13 13 1-2} 12 124 US 14 13? 81 14 15 I' 4 Si 18 151 12J 29 28 sl!s l! 21 J M* 15 Hi v: p d. 12 11 13 UJ 13 12 124 121 1 13 13 !24 12 121 112 14 135 SI 14 15 18 151 m 28J 27 2^4 23^ 2'l 15J144 134