TO IMPROVE WOOL QUALITY

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1933, Page 9

TO IMPROVE WOOL QUALITY

CAMPAIGN IN NEW ZEALAND ACTION TAKEN BY GROWERS. • RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. SMALL LEVY TO PROVIDE FUNDS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, May 26. An important conference of wool interests was held this morning in connection with the annual conference of breeders and research workers at Massey College. Mr. E: A. Ransom, Minister of Lands, and-Mr. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, were present. A very lengthy statement prepared by the committee which recently met the Minister at the College was presented to the meeting covering accomplishments with regard to improving wool and the 1 objectives sought. It was plain, it was stated, that until the parts played in the production of hair by heredity, soil, feed and climate, and the question of constitution, had been determined by means of experiments both at the college and in conjunction with farmers in different parts of the country in such a way as to give the. farmer perfect confidence in the results, the doubts which existed in the minds of many today would continue to act as a serious brake on the improvement of quality. - COMMITTEE’S SUGGESTIONS. Suggestions for the conference were summarised under seven paragraphs: (1) The appointment of a small permanent sub-commitee to concentrate on ways and means of fostering an improvement of the quality of sheep and wool; (2) the committee to appoint two instructors, with headquarters. at Massey College, systematically to tour the North Island giving lectures and demonstrations; (3) that; with the aid of brokers and buyers data on the advantages of . various methods of preparing wool for marketing be collected and widely circulated in order to clarify the situation and dispel doubts in the minds of many. as to the value of standardised marketing; (4) scub.rams to be eliminated by the adoption of a scheme of voluntary inspection and certification; (5) the standard adopted by inspectors of stud flocks to be raised; (6) that a more efficient organisation for research in connection with sheep and wool be considerably strengthened; (7) in order that the investigation of more urgent problems be expedited, arrangements be .made for the publication at suitable intervals of booklets devoted to matters in connection with sheep and wool, which will be distributed to all sheep farmers. GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORT. Addressing the conference Mr. Ransom express**!, the. hope that j the farmers would recognise their own, Responsibilities. .He was attending at tbe-special request of the Prime Minister to. carry on as 'far as” possible the work’ which. the. latter had endeavoured tof inaugurate on his last visit to the district. Whatever sound proposals -were'put forward would receive 'the hearty support of the “ Government., / ■.<' - ' It< was rather disappointing •_ to find throughout ’the Dominion a want bi proper pasture management. A suggestion had ..been made to. levy -3d. a .bale- for research work. He was satisfied that would bring a greatly increased return. The irregularities of classing methods were the cause of serious losses. The Minister had been advised that Japan would be a large buyer al the next sales if proper shipping facilities were available and the classification The Minister saw no reason why the Dominion should not be the stud-raising country not only for the Empire, but also for the whole world. A careful study of requirements would bring benefits to the Dominion. The Minister was also satis-, fied that the' Dominion would have to Widen its markets for wool.. He' advocated the appointment in London of a direct representative of the wool industry to’keep in touch with the buyers and ascertain the real requirements. ; After subsequent discussion definite action was taken along the lines of organising the industry with the object of improving the standard of crossbred wool and sheep breeding generally, and establishing a research fund to be maintained by a small levy on production.