The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JULY 28, 1924. EMPIRE WOOL RESOURCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JULY 28, 1924. EMPIRE WOOL RESOURCES.

In a paper contributed by the British Wool Federation, submitted hv tho

l’resideut on “Wool Supplies and Consumption, the requirements of a. British Umpire Industry,” figures "ere quoted showing that the British Empire controls Ijß per cent., and South Ameiiea 32 per cent., of the world's exportable surplus of wool, while in the case of merino wool the British Empire produces no Jess than 85 per cent. The importance of this do-

minuting position, it was emphasised cannot 'lie exaggerated; it shows what has lieen achieved by pastornlists working under the British Hag. and it should he a direct incentive to them to redouble their efforts to increase their Hocks and thus add to the Empire resources in meat and wool, following a survey of the Hocks and wool production in the principal countries referred to, it was shown that as a natural result of the decline in the sheep population of the world there has been a pronounced decline

in the production of wool, and, coincident with this falling off in supplies, there has been a greatly increased consumption in recent years, owing to the tremendous expansion of the hosiery industry, and also on account of the prevailing system of spinning thick counts. Dealing with the question of increasing supplies, the view was expressed that in the United Kingdom alone there is no valid reason why the sheep popula-

tion should not t»e raised from the present level of about- 24 millions to 31 millions, the numlior pastured in this country fifteen years ago. As one means of attaining this object, it is suggested that farmers should he strongly urged to consider the advisability of refraining from slaughtering tlreir owe lambs. The members i of'” the British 'Wool Federation are ■

strongly of tho opinion that atepn should at once he taken to discover what measures, if any. can lie usefully adopted to encourage farmers to increase their Hocks in Australia, New Zealand, South A tVioa, and especially in Canada., it was contended, the shi'ep-hre’eding industry could undoubtedly he developed enormously under a properly organised campaign hacked hv the respective Governments. 'Hie wool trade, it was re-emphasised in conclusion, is essentially a licitish Empire industry, Not only manufacturers in tile Mother Countiy. hut those throughout the world draw the hulk of their supplies of raw material from the British Dominions beyond the seas, and if is to the pastoral.'ses in Australia. New Zealand, and South Africa, that we must look for additional supplies to meet tho evergrowing demand for wool garments of all description*. If the demand cannot he met then' must inowl.ahly he a reduction in the use o! wtiol, anil increased lise lini-t he made of substitutes. hul that is a contingency to he avoided if possible. The wonderful achievements of the past have demonstrated wlmt can he done by sheep breeders eveii under adverse conditions; may V.'e not therefore look to them with eonlideiuie .'to meet Uncertain requirements of the coming years by giving to the woild increased supplies of that, raw material which during the war proved to he one of the greatest, assets of tin- British Empire? . .