WOOL WASTED BY BRANDS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 4

WOOL WASTED BY BRANDS

“RADDLE THE CHIEF CAUSE” NORTH OTAGO FARMERS’ DISCUSSION : The amount of wool wasted through the branding of sheep and the use of marking raddle was mentioned at the monthly meeting of the North Otago Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in Oamaru yesterday. The chairman, Mr W. Malcolm, presided. Members suggested that farmers should be asked to use raddle more sparingly and to use smaller brands. The subject was introduced following a report on the annual meeting of the New Zealand Meat Board given by Mr W. Doig. There was more wobl wasted by raddle than by any other branding material, said Mr A. B. Rapson. in asking Mr Doig if any steps to prevent this had been discussed at the meeting. If wool with raddle was put into washing vats with other wool it coloured the water, and the clean wool was affected. Members stated that the brand had to be three inches, but that some of them were four times that size. The branding of lambs was also discussed, it being mentioned that although a small brand was used on lambs, the size of the brand increased as the lambs grew bigger. Mr Doig was thanked for his report. A visit to Oamaru by a touring party of overseas farmers and businessmen next February was mentioned in a letter from the acting district manager of the Govdtnment Tourist Bureau in Wellington. Although ho definite dates were given the letter stated that the party would arrive.in Oamaru on a Saturday evening and leave after lunch on Sunday. . “I suppose this is a sop to our letter before saying. that we were neglected,” said the secretary, Mr A. W. Woodward.

The chairman stated that the tour would probably be made by farmers from Australia. The visit should be encouraged. Th'e meeting decided to make efforts to get the party to visit Oamaru.