PREPARING WOOL FOR THE MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 12

PREPARING WOOL FOR THE MARKET.

The fourth valuation of Southland wool was oommenced at Invercargill last week, when 1250 lots were to be dealt with. In conversation with a Southland Times reporter Mr. Denny again laid particular stress on the great lack of care in the preparation for market of a very great number of 'the lots submitted for valuation. "It may bo due. to ignorance, or it may be just carelessness," said the supervisor, "but at anyrate there is a great want of judgment." In far too many of the farmers' lots the whole clip has just been lumped in, the good with the inferior, without any regard to classing. The result is disaster so far as brices are ooncerned. If growers want the "best prices they must got their wool up properly. The valuers state that a great number of very nice wools have been just spoiled ..for want of a little judgment in sorting out. There has been a lack of proper skirting, too. Some farmers seem 'to have got hold of the idea that it is. of no use to skirt their wool—in fact, Mr Denny mentioned that one grower said to him, " I get just as much for my wool unskirted as I would if it were skirted." "That," said the expert "is absurd. Now that we have got time to go into the wool we go into it carefully, and the man who has taken the trouble with his clips benefits." Continuing, the valuer expressed surprise that this matter was so ignored in view of the present price of pieces, which should give a special inducement to skirt. It is, of course, acknowledged that probably 'the labour shortage has much to do with the lack of get-up. The wool this time is carrying more grease than at the earlier valuations, while there is a great deal more seed. The seed was also very bad a't Dunedin this time, due. doubtless, to the weather-delayed shearing. Apart from the drawbacks mentioned the wool under present notice is in a general average condition and of very even quality.