PREMIERS AT HOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 2

PREMIERS AT HOME.

VISIT WOOL-SPINNING AREA.

SYMPATHETIC HEARING TO DEPUTATION. By Telegraph.—Preee Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Aieociation. (Received December 8, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, December 7. Mr Bruce and Mr Massey visited Leeds to inspect the housing system. They then went to Bradford, where they were shown Sir Titus Salt’s wool spinning mills at Saltaire. The Lord Mayor welcomed them at the Town Hall, ivliere they were entertained by a large company at luncheon. In proposing their healths, the Lord Mayor said that there never had been a time when closer co-operation between the Motherland and tho Dominions was so necessary. Mr Bruce urged the business interests of Bradford to do their utmost to further trade developments with *the Dominions. Mr Massey warmly supported Mr Bruce’s advice and added that he had heard that New Zealand wool in some respects was not quite Bradford required, but ho was taking back information for dealing with Bradford requirements.- - He urged exhibitors at the Empire Exhibition to do their best to provide educative exhibits in order to give oversea visitors an idea of the value of tho Yorkshire industries. A deputation from the Bradford Chamber of Commerce and the executive of the British Wool Federation conferred with Mr Bruce and Mr Massey urging the disuse of ta r in the branding of sheep. They pointed out that experiments had already disclosed a solvent branding material which would resist the results of the weather on live -sheep. The deputation complained of the inferiority of the bales used in pack- [ ing wool, stating that vegetable mat- | ter from inferior bales could not be ! eradicated until it reached cloth and that entailed an extra cost of 12s 6d per sixty yards fo r burling. The deputation suggested that the use of Romney rams in New Zealand W’as causing inferior streaks in the wool, resulting in serious defects in the cloth. They recommended the use of YVensleydale rams, of which they presented a fine specimen to Mr Massey.

They also demanded a reduction in Australian and New Zealand tariffs on artificial silk goods. They discussed the questions of mails and Australian exchange. Mr Bruce and Mr Massev promised that sympathetic attention would be given to all matters.