Farmers’ Wool Clips

Western Star, 13 October 1908, Page 2

Farmers’ Wool Clips

INSTRUCTION IN CLASSING. 1 :pon tile advantages of their system of wool classing instruction, Mr George Jeffrey, Government wool expert for South Australia, says.'that twelve years ago that State was notorious for dhe negligent way in which the smaller growers’ wool was put on the market (says the Leader). It was worse than any other State, while to-day the small clips of South-" Australia are recognised by competent authoriti'es to be the best of their kind in Australia, or at least equal to the bast. It is explained how a start was first made with the idea more particularly' 1 of helping the small wool grower, as it was thought itihiat the squatter was in a position to employ competent men to attend to his wool classing. Under this system, howr ever, the squatter lent his shed, anjd ga\(e the privilege of handling his clip to the students. These farmer, students, many of whom were middle aged men, went .out to several sheds during the season, starting in the Jar north and working down south, under the direct control of the wool expert; 'Who was present in the ca-

pacity of instructor, and hie presence was a guarahtoe to the squatter that the clip would be handled properly and the w,crk well done. The students were, paid ordinary roustabout wages by the squatfter and provided with sepax-ate sleeping accommodation. Meantime, as small wool growers, they were obtaining practical experience. This system grow so, rapidly that competent foremen. had to be appointed by the instructor to take charge of other students and sheds in his absence. In addition to this work, it is

further explained that during the o& .season the instructor visited fliffer-

mU country wool growing centres, and delivered lectures on cleasing and ■ sorting. These wore given in the day time at an hour to suit local farmers, and were well attended, the result being almost invariably live formation of a .local class, at which hwjeve lessons were given, the Lie to the student being twelve shillings. The effect, of these lessons has been that the small clips of South Australia, as already mentioned, are now recognised by competent authorities as equal to (lie best of any of the States. By the moans adopted the farmer got an idea of picking his wool, and

the ins'll notion obtained has- been suf Jicient to greatly assist, him in classing his own small clip. The

expenence of South 'Australia has been tjhat the farmers were sufficiently intelligent to pick up what was wanted ti place their clips beioro the buyers in a, way that commanded respect, and ys a result better prices naturally followed. At tile s.ume time, the classes at the Governnient school in Adelaide have not be.,-n uog«ectod, but the main idea ~tis ~’wn , .’ wn after the farmer in the • etdrior. It was at one time urge,; as an objection that the -mal; wW grower would be himself too busy to get away to any stat'°n at shearing time ; but that has "'V ' b(?o, V t / ,e case, and the know, et.g'e gained has been well wprth tiu, time, while ho has been nothing out 01 pocket, the wage- covering, ex-pontes. It must bo ‘ understood, nlr aofi'rc.y further remarks that -the South Australian system is , noif| a< signed to turn out wool classics but simply to give. the farmer on