SHEEPOWNERS’ UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 October 1926, Page 10

SHEEPOWNERS’ UNION

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. At the last meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Sheepowners’ Union, the increasing number of ram lambs being received by. some freezing works as compared with previous years, was discussed, arid the detrimental effect on the standard of quality of seeondhlass lambs from this cause, was generally- acknowledged. It was agreed that this was mainly a matter of individual care by sheepowners, and'tile need for using greater caution with regard to. this matter was stressed by several members. r-; WOOL CONTROL PROPOSAL. '■X A letter ■ was received from Mr Daniell, of Masterton, regarding the possibility of the. formation of a Wool Board along similar lines to that of the Meat Board and Dairy Control Board. • Mr H. D. Acland stated that this matter had been, discussed, at the Federation annual meeting, . and that it was agreed that the existing Wool Committee could deal with all matters such as handling costs, freight, insurance, etc., where this was necessary, but that as such a large and increasing percentage of wool was sold locally, and became the property of foreigners before shipment from New Zealand took place, it would be recognised that there were greater difficulties in dealing with the control of our wool clips .when compared with butter, meat, etc., which was shipped direct to the Home market. Mr Acland’s views were supported bv the president, and after discussion, it was agreed to defer action regarding this matter until the return from Great Britain of Mr B. E. H. Tripp, tho Federation’s representative at the Bradford Conference, and a member of the New Zealand Wool Committee, who is bringing particulars from Great Britain, which it is hoped will prove to be of great assistance in coming to a satisfactory decision. WOOL PACKS. Mr H. Acton-Adams wrote drawing attention to a suggestion by the

British Wool Federation, and received by Mr Walter Hill, president of the Christchurch Woolbuyers’ Association, viz., “The British Wool Federation has unanimously decided to ask the Buyers! Association strongly to recommend 'brokers to use their influence with growers to adopt the method of .packing fleeces into woolpacks turned inside put, thus bringing the rough sides, scams, and loose e'ii; outside.” The letter pointed out that under present conditions, the fibre has to be picked out of the wool with tweezers, after it is made up into cloth. If any threads arc broken during this process, they have to be very carefully darned. In some big factories 200 or 300 women are kept fully employed picking jute fibres from the cloth, and this adds roughly 3d per yard to the price. One , firm paid £2300 per annum for this “burling” as it is ca'led, and it would readilv ho scon that every endeavour should be made to assist the trade in this respect. " I SHEEP RETURNS. ■ The secretary of the Timaru Com- ' mitten of the Union wrote forwarding a- suggestion that as sbeepowners are required to give returns of the various breeds of sheep, numbers of ewes, i wethers, lambs, etc., in the annual sheep returns, that the totals of tho various breeds should be tabulated by the Department for the information of sbeepowners in the various districts, instead of, as at. present, only the grand total of all breeds for each province. It was agreed that if tins could be done, it would bo of assistance to owners in arranging for their future requirements, and the secretary was instructed to approach the Department with a view to arranging for the suggestion to be carried out if possible. The director of tile Timaru Technical College wrote asking for financial as- | sistnnee towards the bolding of a blade- j shearing c'ass at the college during the coming season. —£12 12s was grant- | ed towards the expenses of the classes, j