AUSTRALIAN WOOL

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 24 January 1925, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN WOOL

FEAR OF SOUTH AFRICAN COMPETITION. SALE OF BIG STUD FLOCK. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, January 23. (Received January 23, 9.20 p.m.) The purchase by Sir Abe Bailey, the South African millionaire, of the Zara stud property of Mr E. Officer, one of the leading New South Wales Merino breeders, is regarded with considerable concern by sheep-breeders. The deal is one of the biggest on record in its way, and the shipping of the whole flock is considered of importance as affecting the possibility of future competition with Australian Merinos, in which cheaper labour and rental conditions in South Africa will prove a big factor. A leading breeder claims that there can be no doubt that the purchase has been for the purpose of establishing a straight-out strain of Merinos on lines of stud flocks in Australia, with a view to creating a uniform type of wool in competition with the Australian product. The question is again being agitated whether it is wise to allow the export of stud sheep. A motion in favour of prohibition c.f export was rejected at the last Graziers’ Association Conference, but it is likely to be submitted again at the next Conference in Sydney.