N.Z. WOOL

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1927, Page 3

N.Z. WOOL

AMERICAN BUYERS’ COMPLAINTS

WELI.NIGTON, Aug. 15. Learning of the conference of Dominion woolgrowers, under the auspices of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, at which growers’ attention was called to the aspects of the industry detrimental to wool users and Jikei’y to influence, buying, the Boston Wool Trade Association lias forwarded its testimony in a letter received by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union.

After discussing the question with many large importers the executive committee of the Association states its belief that American buyers will be forced to discriminate strongly against clips which are poorly bred, irregularly classed, and carelessly put up. The Boston Association complains of the present tendency of breeding and methods of marking sheep, classing, and shipping wool'. The indiscriminate use of the Romney ram in breeding, it i.s stated, has resulted in fibres of uneven length and quality in the same staple. This makes close sorting of wool impossible, with the result that the wool must he valued at the lowest of the qualities that are apparent. The largest American importers and users of New Zealand wool prefer Leicester and Lincoln strain because they produce long staple, more lustrous and better spinning wool than Komncv. The desire for mutton carcase has brought about the use of rams which have a tendency to produce bi’ack hairs in the fleece of the offspring. It is impossible to sort out these black hairs, with the* result that the value of the wool i.s depreciated. Also, since the War, in American opinion, New Zealand wools have not been classed ns carefully ns previously, and it is pointed out that extreme care should be taken in wool-classing, if active American competition for wools Is expected., The hope is expressed that new methods of branding sheep will he devised to reduce the big losses of manufacturers. and that new packing methods will’ replace the present hemp burlap, fibres of which, in spite of every possible precaution, are constantly getting mixed with tho wool.