A New Policy.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5094, 13 September 1894, Page 2

A New Policy.

TO THE EDITOE. ' | Sib,— la spite of the progress made by tbe owners of each factories BsKaiapoi, Eoalyn, Aehburton and Mosgiel, which appear to tarn out durable and honest goods, we etill export the bulk of our wool in a greaßy state. We thus afford the minimum amount of work to our own people, while freight is paid on dirt which, if extracted from the wool here, would assist in enriching the soil. It will be for experts to Btate whether or not our present mode of exporting the raw material tends to increase tho danger to life and property on the high seas, and to entail the payment of higher insurance. The simple and unskilled scouring of the wool to be exported might not be bo advantageous as one might suppose, for the Home manufacturer must have it in the exact state experience has shown to be moat suitable for manipulation. As America may soon import kinds and grades of wool hitherto excluded, we could, with greater chances of succobp, arrange our cleansing, Borting, and packing processes' to suit the special requirements of the chief mills and factories of the United States. Although scouring is carried on in almost every Province, the work seems to beperfoimed regardless of the special requirements of those who may buy the cleansed wool, consequently the work has to be done anew when the bales are emptied, and on this account we derive little benefit from the extra labour bestowed on our etaple industry on thiß Bide of the water. Now, it appears certain that wool sorting and scouring could be profitably cariied on here upon more modern principles, and aIBO upon a much more extensive scale than we have yet attempted. The men who now find brief employment in the woolahed , could follow the wool up to a more prepared state, and, with many o there, could be occupied advantageously between the shearing Beasons. Although the woolBtapler would not require very extenß«e apparatus, the repacking, combing, and drying of the Borted wool would employ a considerable number of handß here, jusb as we find is tbe casa at Home. As there aie usually ten or twelve qualities of wool on a fleece, skilled sorting iB highly necessary, and care in this matter would gradually pus'i New Zealand wool into favour; while the wholesale exportation of cleaner and minutely classified bales might be expscted to cause a saving in freight. As the English wool import is a very larga one, our altered mode of exporting the fleeces would not cause any appreciable difference in the Home market to react upon us. On the other hand we might export yarn with profits, and use our inferior wool ia the manufacture of felt. I beg again to suggest the appointment of a skilled commission for the purpose of raporting upon the benefits wbiob would accrue to New Zealand from the construction of wool-scouring works upon the best European models.— l am, &0., J. H. NEWLTN.