THE WOOL INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1929, Page 8

THE WOOL INDUSTRY

AN EMPIRE WIDE INVESTIGATION

'I lie British Research Association of Uio Woollen and Worsted Industries lias lately embarked upon a. scheme o! investigation which has for its object the study of problems confronting every section of the wool industry. The research is intended to embrace all the wool-producing countries of the British Empire, and in order to get all possible data in regard to the production of the raw material, the association has secured the services of Dr. J. E. Nicholas, of Bradford who is at present on a two years’ tour of the dominions. Dr Nicholas arrived in Dune Jin Dunedin from Southland last week and twill he in the city for a few days before he eomences on his tour of thr-shcop-raisiing districts of Otago. In conversation with a Daily Times reporter last evening, he said' that a grant from the Marketing Board had made the present project possible. Tf was intended that the tour of the wool producing countries should occupy twr years and of that period two and a-half months would be devoted to New Zealand. Hi« work involved a thorough survey of the agricultural and pastoral conditions under which the sheep were Bred and the many problems that types of sheep. Throughout his irav vels lie was of course, paying particular attention to stud flocks. I here weie defects in the various wools exported from New Zealand, and his present investigations concerned certain specific faults, hut hi l Imped to find out for the association a.t Home whether these were the result of natural o’. \ l l - omnent or whether Uipv could he r\oieomc. Dr Nicholas said lie had not seen a great deal of New Zealand a.s yet. huv. mg only visited Canterbury and csoutl land, but from what he had seen he realised that the sheephreeding indm trv in this country was in a state o r flux. Sheep that, had served the ioun try well were discarded in favour o' others, and he felt sure that in a lev years the type of wools produced in tin Dominion would have changed consul orably. It was his task to ascertain whether the change was likely to he for the boter .from the point of \ iew of wool production. Mutton and land must always he important factors ii the exports of > T ew Zealand, and the association in Britain, realising tlii fact wanted to bo assured that the efforts to increase and improve the supplies of these commodities were not going to* have a detrimental effect in the wool..

Dr. Nichols was not disposed to say much about tlm sheep industry in New Zealand .as he considered that he l'.su not yet covered enough of the country to make reliable comparative values possible, but he stated that he had been struck by the widespread evidences of lack of heavy culling in flockThis was one of the impressions be brought from Canterbury. The numerous varieties and types to lie found in one breed and in one flock indicated that the question of culling was not looked upon as seriously as it was ii some of the other countries lie had visited.

Speaking of Southland lie said the country impressed him very much. There was a great deal in that province to interest him as tar as pure bred sheep were concerned. The stock appeared to be the same quality a the land, very good. He remarked pa: tieularly on the wide hold that iag wort appears to be getting on some o: the best land in the district. Lt seemed to him that tlm weed was being al lowed to flourish almost unchecked in some places.