“Rabbits for Profit” Proves False Cry

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 758, 3 September 1929, Page 1

“Rabbits for Profit” Proves False Cry

NO FORTUNES MADE “PRACTICALLY WORTHLESS” Less than two years ago the slogan, “Breed Angora Wool Rabbits for Profit," was made commonplace within the Dominion. Allegedly high profits were forecast by theorists, and company promoters became busy. Today hundreds of small breeders throughout the Dominion look in vain for a market. Hundreds of breeders of the Chinchilla rabbit, caught by a similar slogan, also face the prospect of a lower rate of profit than they first expected. Three years ago there was an undoubted demand for the wool of the Angora rabbit in England and on the Continent. It was the vogue in certain circles and, as such, no price was too high for the restricted supply then available.

Rabbit-breeders rushed to meet the demand, but fickle fashion transferred her attention to other commodities and small breeders all over the world were left with rapidly reproducing rabbits which had only a carcase value. That is how the position appears at the moment. The case in regard to the Chinchilla rabbits is not bad. Although the market for the skins is not as high as the theorists and company promoters alleged when the industry was launched in this Dominion last year, there is a steady demand with prices ranging from 4s to 10s, according to the quality of the pelt.

Auckland hide and skin brokers interviewed by a Sun representative report that they have been inundated with inquiries regarding a market for Angora rabbit wool, but, to date, have not been able to do business. As there was a definite market for Chinchilla pelts overseas, however, they were accepting lots for consignment. Advice received by the Northern Export Company in regard to Angora wool was to the effect “that ‘ the fur clipped from the New Zealand white rabbit, or Angora, is practically worthDalgety and Company advise clients that “there is absolutely no demand for Angora wool at the . moment. Reporting on the outlook in London foe the Chinchilla pelt the London principals of this firm state that, while the Chinchilla breeding industry may become well established, the> would advise clients to go into it with caution. It is so easy to dye and imitate now, continues the report, that the natural skin does not command the premium of a few years ago. “Fashion plays a big part in the demand,” states the report, and high prices are often followed by a slump m va’ ues, owing either to over-production or a change in the prevailing mode. Something like that happened to the Angora wool which was the vogue for a long time and, at the moment is a' most unsaleable, except at prices which are quite unpayable to the prod “Another broker’s report on the Chinchilla rabbit pelt, regarding the purchase Of skills, states: There is a demand for these pelts, and we are informed values range from 5s to 10s each depending on qualitj. As in the case of the wild rabbit, freedom “ m spots on the pelt is an mdicamany off-season skins