WORK FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 86, 3 July 1945, Page 6

WORK FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

WOOL-CLASSING POPULAR A feature of the choice of civil occupations by ox-servicemen ol the present war lias been the inclination towards, the land and to occupations allied to primary production. This, is indicated not only by the large number of men taking the farming courses at agricultural colleges under the Rehabilitation Board's scheme but also in such courses as horticulture. A large proportion of the 42 men undertaking this Avinter's avoolclassing course at Masscy College are ex-scr\"icemen many of whom, will be available as classers next .spring. Others Avill assist in the stores. Any digger of training more men than the. industry can absorb is being guarded against by the College through its close contact witii the NeAV Zealand' Woolbrokers' Association Avhich has accepted an invitation from the College to set up a committee to assist the principal and staff Avith the. development of the courses, conduct of the examinations and absorption of trained men into the industry.

Although additions to the College Avoolroom Avere made only tAvo years ago the demand for instruction i* such that a still further addition lias become, nccessary to enable the handling of a greater bulk of and especially small clips. Not all men who take the first

term of the course become professional wool-elassers. The latter receive most of their advanced tuition in the second term, Avhich is not attended by those men who are or intend to sheepfarmers. The men who will go on to the land ? receive a degree of instruction which* will assist them in their culling of ewes and buying of raras ) as well as in a general supervision of the classing of their clip by an expert. Each member of the class is required to compile mainly from the scores ol different samples in the College room a wool book whicli i becoming his own property ? assists him in general reference work and in keepiifg his eye in training. One reason for this greater interest in wool-classing lias been advanced by an authority in the trade. He said that, apart from the desire of ex-servicemen to enter avenues allied to primary production the growing practice of binning wool in the stores, as against station classing ensured a linger and'more continuous working season for qualified men. ■ This greater security of employment which involved no travel iegtriction was encouraging r jHHing men to regard wool-classing I as having a stable and definite fus ture. Growers were realising more i and more that to gain lull value un- : der the appraisal system, their wool - must be presented in a better form ' than in the past.