TO WOOL GROWERS.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 394, 25 January 1879, Page 4

TO WOOL GROWERS.

}t]u. \V . Andcisuii, a well-known wool broker m ImiKiim Ims addressed the iodowing letu.-r to the Otago Paily 'fanes “ liv the lost "Frisco mail I. lutvn received' advices from my friends in Fngland announcing tlio arrival in London of several vessels with consignments of wool from me. They complain bitterly of some clips being instillieieiitly skirted, and of a plentiful supply of daggerings bring left on the lleece. 1 his is a very serious fault on the part of farmers an if wool growers, and ought to be put down with a strong hand. In examining wool in our local auction rooms, it is impossible lor buyers in all ■cases thoroughly to satisfy themselves that the fleeces are fairly skirted and docked, the objectionable matter being invariably wrapped inside the fleeces, but the consumers on the other side find it out, to their cost, when the sortingboard is put into requisition. Wool growers here may flatter themselves that they are doing a very pretty trick by this dishonest practice, by obtaining more money for their wool than they would otherwise receive. This is an extremely short-sighted policy, because although they may succeed in deceiving buyers for one season, the marks are carenoted for future guidance, and the price regulated accordingly. So prejudicial is "the ofleet of one season’s fault on the character of the clip from this particular that although ■ the wool-grower from remorse of conscience or other motive may afterwards bo induced to treat bis wool honestly before sending it to market years will probably elapse before his stains can possibly be recovered, and consequently the money which has wrongly become possessed of in the first instance will be sacrificed threefold, before lie can again command a fair market for his wool. Some years ago this evil of false packing prevailed extensively in England and Scotland, until it was taken in band by the Iliad ford Chamber of Comnun-eo, at a full meeting of which body it was resolved to print, and distribute throughout the country, a circular, calling the attention of farmers and wool-producers to the Act of Parliament, by which a Severe penalty (1 think £SO) was exacted for its infringement.. This bad an immediate and most salutary effect; ami if no similar law exists in this Colony, I think it high time some such protective measures were adopted.”