WELLINGTON NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS.

TAR MARKS IN WOOT,. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, August 2:1. ll there is one thing that Bradford importers of wool detest it is to find tar in wool, for it means considerable loss no matter how careful they may be. This is not a grievance of recent origin, for it is claimed that as far back as the eighteenth century the manufacturers of West Riding petitioned Parliament to pass a law making a penal offence to mark sheep with tar. No doubt sooner or later it maybe, necessary to pass legislation in this connection, ft was generally believed that New Zealand woolgrowers bad entirely abandoned the use ol tar for ■ narking sheep, but this apparently is not tin* case, ior " Ihe Wool Recojd and Textile World ” of July .?Lh says: “ One of the largest importers in Bradford recently invited the writer to inspect some bales of New Zealand wool which were being sorted, and no lower than four good-sized samples of the brands were taken out ol diflerent bales. Out of wool hough t in Wellington one bale yielded Lib of tar-brand-ed material, and another gave lib. while from one bale bought, in Dunedin there was (lb of tar-branded wool. By exercising the greatest care the sorters hoped to remove the whole of this ruined wool and so save the bulk.” It is claimed that it is almost impossible to take out the whole of the damaged material.' Minute particles frequently puss undetected, and when the wool passes through the scouring bowl and goes on to the carding machine these tar-marked particles are distributed in the form of specks which show up with startling distinctness in lightcoloured goods. Tar marks cannot be wholly eliminated in the scouring process. as some sheepmen think. Even if one particle of far remains in the wool it: will cause a blemish in the finished article. By no known process can the tar mark he eradicated when the wool is being scoured. It is the bugbear of manufacturers of lightcoloured felts for hat making, and the presence of the specks on tops and noils used in the production ol white flannels, cream costume cloths and other light-coloured fabrics means damaged goods and considerable loss to the makers. Probably more will be beard of this matter, in the meanwhile it is a subject that should receive the attention of tho Farmers’ Union and the Sheepbreeders’ Association. The most effective step that can he taken is to pass legislation prohibiting the use of tar for marking sheep under penalty. ANOTHER BRADFORD COMPLAINT The same journal quoted above, in its issue of July 1, directs attention to a case of alleged false packing of wool. This j ournnl states that a Bradford importer was surprised recently to' find a fleece of no more than ,‘l2’s quality carefully wrapped up in the middle oT a hale of New Zealand greasy lialfbrod wool. The. hale was bought at the Wellington sales, and the mark is being sent hack to the firm’s representatives with instructions for the matter to he taken up with, the auctioneers and the grower. The journal adds: “We lmve never heard of a similar ease, and we are satisfied that such ialse packing is quite exceptional in New Zealand wool. Australian and New Zealand growers have a high reputation for straightforward dealing, and their method of haling fleeces is perfectly honest. It is well known, however, that there are black slieen in every thick, and apparently an odd man here and there cannot resist to the temptation to stoop to a .paltry swindle.” If, as stated, the mark of the hale alleged to he falsely packed is being sent hack to New Zealand the buyer will soon learn in. whose lot the hale was sold, as under the conditions of sale tho buyers have tho right to obtain from the auctioneers the name of the vendor of such lot. The buyer may possibly claim on the unci ioncers who in turn will claim on the vendor.