AUSTRALIAN WOOL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 57, 9 March 1937, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN WOOL

PRODUCTION OF PURE MERINO A PROBABLE DECLINE. iaHEEP INDUSTRY MAY CHANGE. SYDNEY, March 3. Production of pure Menno wool may decline gradually in this State as closer settlement increases in the good rainiall districts, according to the State's sheep and wool expert, Mr. E. A. Elliott.. h rom wool the State this season will receive a cheque worth £35,000,Eut with the gradual cutting up of larger stations into smaller holdings, there must be a decline in the Merino sheep population of the State and the Merino s>neep has Deen worth billions in new Soutn Wales. But the biate not lose financially by this gradual evolution. It win prooably gain, said Mr. Elliott yesterday. Fat Lambs Valuable. Th? smaller farmer now finds that in tne good rainiall districts he can make more money by growing tat lam os lor the market in addition to growing wool than he can by conceng on wool alone. <he fat lamo raiser is not going to ce satisfied with merino sheep lor his stocx. A crossbred would suit his purpose better, added Mr. Elliott. lae merino will never be replaced in the west or in the other dry areas. Already in some districts this change-over is taking place, said Mr. Elliott yesterday. But me change will be gradual, and will not be felt seriously tor many years, he added. Prospects for next season, tor instance, are very bright. ••'the dry weather, or drought as some peopie called it, has not atfected the wool industry to the extent that many think it has,” said Mr. Elliott, who, with his officers, is constantly touring the country districts.