DOMINION FARMERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3884, 21 August 1928, Page 32

DOMINION FARMERS

TOUR OF BRITAIN ENDED.

A CONFERENCE IN LONDON

LONDON, August 13. The dominion farmers ended their, three months’ tour with a conference in London under the auspices of the British National Union./,

Mr William Hunter, president of the British Wool Federation, uho presided, alleged that Australian woolgrowers’ organisations were responsible for 11 seriously misleading estimates of last Season’s clip, arising probably through exaggeration of losses during the Queensland drought. The estimated deficit on April 2 was 100,000 bales, compared with the previous season ; whereas the actual surplus was 58,000 bales. Undoubtedly this was issued in good faith, but when the inaccuracy wa s discovered the Growers’ and Brokers’ Councils failed to issue a revision. Such extraordinary discrepancies reacted injuriously on trade'. Another source of annoyance in 1928 was the presence of skin pieces in greasy lambs’ woo], chiefly from Queensland, but also Victoria and New Zealand. This was probably due to careless shearing. The cost of sorting and removing the skin bits was two-thirds of a penny a lb.

Dr Barker, director of the British Re search Association for Woollen and Worsted Industries, said that small skin pieces caused heavy losses to the manufacturers, and it was often impossible to detect them until the dyeing stage; then it was too late to eliminate them, and the cloth thus became second grade. Mr 11. J. Vernon (Australia) said that many shearers were employed in sheds, and it was impossible entirely to elimin ate careless shearing. The Shearers’ Union was powerful, and there was a continual danger of strikes. Mr A. E. Drummond (New Zealand) said the trouble was caused by the sl< champions attempting record tallies. The remedy lay in watchfulness by the man on the sorting board. The conference decided to ask the British. Wool Federation to issue a circular calling attention to Mr Hunter’s poin' and also approved of the Research As sociation s formula for a sheep-marking substitution for tar. It also recommended legislation prohibiting tar should the formula be satisfactory. It arranged to despatch trial shipments through the High Commissioners and Agents-General. Mr Hunter and •Mr Harry Dawson claimed that the most important and immediate need of the industry was a wool pack devoid of vegetable fibre, the lack of which cost Bradford £500.000 annually, and which was ultimately debited to the producers.

Mr Philip Finlayson (New Zealand) submitted a rubberised jute which Mr Dawson admitted was new to him, although he had been a member for 20 years on the Bradford Wool Pack Committee. He promised consideration of Mr Fmlayson’s proposition.

A discussion in reference to artificial silk revealed uneasiness for the future of wool.

Mr Dawson, while admitting an immediate menace, said there was no apprehension for the future. A s a matter of fact there was insufficient wool in the world to feed 75 per cent, of the machines. ■ Therefore artificial silk had been a temporary Godsend. The prognosticated demand for wool would not abate, because a combination of wool and artificial silk was inevitable.

DISCUSSION ON MIGRATION.

LONDON, August 14.

The Farmers’ Empire Conference was continued to-day, Sir Thomas Mackenzie presiding. A discussion took place on the development of grass lands in the Empire. It was said that £420,000,000 worth of products of the world’s grass lands was imported annually by Britain. It was mostly of foreign origin, but a part could be produced within the Empire if Britain offered preferential markets.

With reference to migration, it was stated that the dominions were prepared to say, “ Give us your markets and we will take your surplus population.”

Sir Thomas Mackenzie proposed and Messrs Yelland and Vernon (Victoria) supported the formation of national unions in Australia and New Zealand in co-ordination with the British National Union. Mr Yelland said that the farmers’ tour had dispelled any misgivings as to the character, capacity, and status of British people compared with Continental peoples.—Australian Press Association.

Mr P. J. Hannon (a .member of the House of Commons) _ said the serious feature of the migration problem was the increase in the numbers of aliens entering the dominions compared with Britishers. In the last four years British migration to Australia had increased by 12 per cent., while the influx of aliens had doubled.

Mr Yelland said the whole problem was whether suitable country employees could be obtained from the cities, because the English farmers could spare none. ? * '

Mr Vaile (New Zealand) said that the city wages were responsible for men leaving the land. Until the present false standard , of living was changed New Zealand could not absorb more migrants. . The conference approved of a tour of British farmers to. Australia and New Zealand at the end of 1929, • following the formation of national unions in Australia and-New Zealand, '■• with which would rest the initiative