ANGORA RABBIT WOOL.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 39, 6 March 1930, Page 3

ANGORA RABBIT WOOL.

\ Sir,—Having noticed a -recent article in youT paper dealing with, the above •subject, wherein to the lay mind it would appear that vast profits would 'accrue to/growers of this class of wool, I feel it niy duty to subjoin hereundeT particulars the industry, which were gathered late in 1929 by one of the largest Commercial Houses .in Australasia, and which : should ealigiiten those who contemplate purchasing this class of rabbit. No doubt you will be good enough, to publish this information in your valued appex. . ".Angora Rabbit Wool." "The growing of Angora Rabbit Wool' has been taken up with, enthusiasm by a number of people, bfut unfortunately at the time of writing (September), t>here seems to foe no demand for the wool in England. A table showing weight, value, and average prices per pound of AngoTa rabbit fur, purchased by the largest English, spinner of this type of material from British (breeders from 1922 to 1927 is remarkable, and demonstrates in a 'marked manner, the growtih. of the in-. ' dustry for this period, . Year Weight, lbs Value aver, price £ perlb. s. d. 1922 , 30 35 23 4 . 1923 195 412 42 4 1924 " 605 1086 35 11</ . 1925 1946 3203 32 11 1926 5862 ; 8970 30 7 1927 15967 27.057 35 6 "On the above figures and the boost-ing-of the industry, many people took up -small Jioldings, ibut unfortunately I the principal buyers in the United Kingdom, t>he Derwent Mills, ceased .buying in December, 1928. Since then, there has,ibeen for some time a seriousdepressdon in the demand for f ut.. The; reason for this depression is given as being to a great extent brought about by the foisting upon the market by ■Continental' manufacturers of a spurious article masquerading under t&e title of 'Angora Wool • Fabric,' In Novem-^ ber 1928, London quotations were given as 34/- per lb. for Ist Grade, 2nd Grade 25/-, and 3rdT Grade 7/6 to 10/- per lib. according to quality. To-day it is absolutely impossible to" get any offers in England, .but it is hoped to • find a market on the Continent and enquiries are now being made to that end.

* "- There is a great danger of this 'business being' overdone, a.nd extreme caution should 'be exercised in launching out on a big scale. -

"Very few, if anjj, exports have been made of this wool; next season will probably see out-first export." I am etc.,. .

P.E/C