ALL WOOL PACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 12

ALL WOOL PACK.

MANUFACTURERS’ NEW SUGGESTION. FARMERS’ REPRESENTATIVES APPROVE. COST OF 16a. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON. April 7. Another mooting to consider the question of the all-wool pack was held in London a day or two ago, but was not open to the press. The Bradford trade was represented by Mr F. A. Aykrovd, Messrs Walter Andrews. and S. Harfand (ex-presidents of the British Wool Federation), Mr W. Harrison (secretary of the Wool Federation), and Mr H. T. Tulloch (secretary of the Brad ford Chamber of Commerce). The Growers’ Committee was represented by the lion. George Fairbairn, Agent-general for Victoria—who presided over the proceedings—Mr R. E. Bush. Colonel Hill, Mr A. J. C. Webb, Mr A. C. Michaelian (South Africa), and Mr 11. E. Parker (secretary of the committee). ITiero was a total attendance of about 50, the Continental wool trade being represented by M. Maurice Dubrulle, of Roubaix. It will be recalled that last autumn a similar conference was held, when Mr Aykroyd exhibited an all-wool pack intended to hold sowt of wool. On the

present occasion he showed a new pack to contain 3cwt. Of this the meeting ex pressed in general terms their approval Ihe question of “adjusting’’ the cost of the new pack—l6s—remains to be settled, out it was agreed that a meeting of representative wool buyers should be held in Bradford at the earliest possible date, with a view to drafting an offer which, it is hoped, will lead to an amicable agreement, this offer will be submitted through the representatives of the Wool Growers’ Committee in I»ndon to the growers in Austra ia, Now Zealand, and South Africa, and at the same time specimens of the new packs will be forwarded to the woolproducing colonies for inspection by the growers. Ihe original pack designed for scwt of wool weighed 2|lb, and the cost was 12s sd, but the represntatives of the dominions* growers objected to it on the grounds that *‘k difficulties involved in pressing and banding’’ a pack of that size were too considerable to be undertaken, except on tho largest stations possessing extensive plant. It was considered that the smaller growers could not afford to install new pressing machines. In addition, it waa realised that the waterside workers would object to handling scwt bales. The new pack is similar in size and style to that already used by the dominion producers. It requires no steel bands, and consequently no new machinery to press the wool. On the other hand, it is made of stronger material—a special blend of dominion and South American prepared wood—than tho former one, but, of course, the cost is greater. Ihe growers are more inclined to welcome it as being better adapted to the requirements and customs of the up-country farmers. As intimated, the manufacturers will now meet to decide the extent to which they are prepared to contribute toward the additional cost of the new pack, and an amicable settlement of the whole question is hoped for at an early date.