WOOL INDUSTRY IS LAGGING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 103, 18 May 1937, Page 5

WOOL INDUSTRY IS LAGGING

- Pres? Asaociation J

Breeders Must Improve Their Flocks MR. CHRISTIE'S VIEWS

(By Telegraph-

PALMERSTON N, This Day. That the wool industry in New Zealand had much leeway to make up^ xf it was desired that a premier position in the world 's trade should he retained, was emphasised by Mr H. M..Christie, M.P. for Waipawa, in the course of an interview last evening. Mr Christie is chairman of the Wool Publicity Gommittee and to-day is paying a visit to Massey Gollege, wher* the main research work as far as wool is concerned is being carried out. He is anxious to see something of the progress that has been made with the many problems under investigatjon, although, as chairman of the committee he is well acquainted with what being nndertaken. Mr Christie was high in his praises for what had already been achieved at the college. The Wool Publicity Committee was appointed by the Government, but future committees, he explained, would be elected by the producers, with tho exception of the Government .nominee and associate members. The funds iot carrying on its work would be derived from a levy of 6d per bale on all exportable wool. In New Zealand ft portion of the funds would be expended on research work and other directions which ,the committee might consider benefieial to the industry. Danger of Fibre Froduct. Mr Christie voiced the alarm that was felt at the strenuous endeavours being made in the northern hemisphers to produce a fibre that would take the place of wool and, vhile it was true that the efforts had not been completely Successful, there was a definite threaf to the wool industry and large sums of mojiey were being spent in tho endeavour. Many of the countries which could not obtain a reasonable supply of wool were fostering the work to obtain a fibre to take its place, notably Ger* many, Italy and Japan. ; Hair Menace. Mr Christie emphasised that there was a dire need for New Zealand wool- • growers to efEect improvements to their flocks, especially as regards hairinegs of the fleece. Much. had bten done by the dairy-farmer to raise the grade of his dairy produce and stock, but very littie of importance had been aimed at by the sheep-farmer. Where was a scheme for the certification of rams? he asked. The certified Tam must coma and he hoped the breeders would rcaliso that and start immediately to wipe out ■ the hairiness that appeared in the sheep as could be done by selectivo breedmg. And in this connection Mr Christie emphasised tho' important part played by the ram. In New Zealand there was a tromendous variety of wool produced with marked unevenness in the fleeces. So far, not a , great deal had been done to correct this fault, but there was definite evidence that more scientific methods conld be used which would result in improvements in the sheep and even up the fleeces. The effect of sucn improvements would be to reduce immediately the expense involved is. wool-sorting, which was oue of the principle complaints of the manufac* turer. Massey College, h.e said, was doing really good work but had a tremendou» amount of prejjidice to break down. Hairiness was still a vital problem and many breeders, he was glad to see, were accepting the offer of the college tcj test out fleeces. So these reseaTch workers had reached a point in their investigations when they can be of great assistance to the breeders. Mr Christie emphasised that it was pos-, sible to develop a sheep that was hair-. free. Export of Rams. Referring to the Dominion 's export trade in rams, Mr Christie pointed out that while this was doing something to improve the quality of the country's rams, there was the danger of the • country being left with a class of ram that would result in deterioration of the Dominion 's own flocks. In Australia there was a feeling against. the export of rams to Russia, because it was feared that it would be helping to build up a foreign trade in wool that would underinine the Australian market, but Mr Christie said nis own view was that Russia would be ahl© to absorb all the good wool it could raise for many yearB to come. Russia had something like 70,000,000 sheep at present, but very inferior animals, which produced h wool that was only fit for carpet-making and the like.