WOOL SKIRTING

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 21

WOOL SKIRTING

To The Editor

Sir,—Could you spare me space in your columns to discuss a few points about wool and the condition in which it is sent in for sale. I can safely say that 50 per cent, of the farmers do not skirt their wool but send it in in a deplorable condition. Others again are very careful and deserve credit for their work. Some will say, “Why bother skirting it, as I am getting it classed or binned.” But the proper place to do the skirting is in the woolshed,, as the wool comes off the sheep, for it is impossible to do it in the'wool stores. The time between sales is limited, and when wool is rolled with skirtings and dirt on and pressed • into bales the stain, goes through the fleece. I would advise the Farmers’ Union to take the matter up in its districts right away.. Southland wool had a good reputation on the markets, but in the last few years, because of bad skirting, it has looked shabby. Southland sends away firstgrade cheese and butter and lamb —why not first-grade wool? I am stating facts, as I have been wool-classing for 15 years. Farmers should skirt their wool and keep Southland wool to the fore. — Yours, etc.,

WOOLCLASSER.

September 8, 1938.