WOOL RESEARCH WORK IN THE DOMINION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1004, 21 June 1930, Page 31

WOOL RESEARCH WORK IN THE DOMINION

Establishment Of Definite System Is Advocated 1 ADVOCATING I,he need for a definite system of research into the "wool-producing industry of the Dominion, Dr J. E. Nieliolls, of Leeds, who visited New Zealand last year as part of his survey of the conditions of wool-production within the Empire, on behalf of the British Research Association for the woollen and textile industries, suggests, in his report, that a central institution devoted solely to the interests of this phase of primary production should be established. New Zealand, he considers, would appear to be particularly suited to the conduct of research investigations upon wool. Many -breeds, many sets of environmental conditions, and the enthusiastic support of breeders add strength to this view.

His remarks on tlic question arc taken < from the Journal of Agriculture, which | publishes extracts from his report, which has Just been released. Repeated criticisms of New Zealand; wools in the Press have directed the breeder’s attention to the fact that all is not well with ins wool, he states. Quite apart from the question of how far many of these criticisms are justified and how far they may have originated in a lack of sympathy between those who huv and those who sell, the position has been reached that, generally speaking, the nreedcr is peculiarly anxious t<> improve his wool products. He has, however, been prevented by the lack of precise information which may be of assistance to him gin his j breeding methods and procedure. This information can only be made available j by education in those principles wnicli j have been established by research. Present Educational Field. Until recently the educational field lias been occupied by - instruction in wool-classing and preparation of the clips for sale, by the instructors of the local educational authorities in technical schools, and by courses to tlie sbudents at the Lincoln Agricultural College and at the farm schools, who have had the advantage of practical work in shearing and handling wool. The Department. of Agriculture has a sin cep and wool expert who is available: for advice. to farmers, and who has conducted instructional classes for farmers at various local centres; at these classes also lectures have frequently been given by individuals who have made a study, in their private capacities, of New Zealand wools. These lectures and demonstrations have produced excellent results in focusing the minds of the breeders on particular points in breeding sheep for wool-production; hut it can he stated with some assurance that information desired by the breeder has only in part been provided. Lately the Massey Agricultural College has secured the services of a zoologist with experience in wool research, and a research programme has been embarked upon. It would seem that an educational system whereby the breeders could have access to the latest information on scientific work conducted in other woolproducing countries should be established. There is a genuine feeling that rapid improvements could be made in the general standard of the clip if the defects in stock, preparation in wool, etc., could be pointed out to the breeders as a community. This would involve, for early results, the instruction, preferably by demonstration, of the present generation of breeders. The question of the personnel of such a system is difficult. It is recognised that, further information can only lie obtained by further careful research, and it is suggested that both services would lie handicapped if the research workers were called upon to conduct extensive lecture campaigns and demonstrations. Consideration of Other Factors. New Zealand vroulrl appear to be particularly suited to the conduct of re- ■ search investigations upon wool; many breeds, many sets of environmental conditions, and the enthusiastic support of the'breeders add strength to this view. At the same time it is questionable whether the Dominion can afford a complete research institution in which all tlie different aspects of sheepbreeding can he contemplated and the character of the clip in relation to its manufacturing uses be examined. The study of wool-production must be closely identified with the consideration

lof mutton and fat-lamb production, ! since she dtp husbandry in the Dominion I is organised towards the exploitation of j the dual capacity of the sheep. In this ' direction the study of the sheep must | he conducted in close association with workers engaged upon the pastures, soil, and other problems cf the country. It would seem that general empirical experiments on the profitable type of husbandry lor given districts is urgently required, and economic study of the conditions of production, particularly in the good wool districts. In wool-production the breeder is called upon to strike a balance of those characters in his fleece which are of manufacturing value with the characters which he can most readily cultivate and maintain in his flock on his own particular land. Assistance can only come from close co-operation with j institutions engaged in the study of i manufacturing conditions and probj Icms, so that the breeder may be aided I in his attempt to balance the characters j conceited by the correct weighting of : their values to him. Raw Materials and the Industry. It is*also important that those persons who are to conduct the research on the production of New Zealand wools should have a training sufficiently comprehensive to enable them to work with a perspective realising the position of their raw materials in reflation to the industry as a whole, and also in such contact with work in progress in other countries and institutions that they may inure readily he able to view their own problems in the light of other experience. Again, the question of personnel presents itself. It is suggested that—<l) Immediate steps lie fake 11 to secure the co-operation of. the British Research Association for the Woollen and Worsted Industries in the examination of New Zealand wools by the techniques already established and in the light of work conducted in other countries. (2) Immediate steps be taken to extend the training of post-graduate, research workers in the field of agriculture, zoology, and genetics into the fields of wool research by means of scholarships or fellowships to the above institution for periods of not less than two years., with guaranteed employment on completion of training. (J) A provisional appointment be made of an officer to visit that institution and familiarise himself with work in progress and the uses of New Zealand wools in manufacture, anu to act subsequently as a lie Id liaison officer in New Zealand with that institution and the New Zealand students in training. (4) Until the training of the above work is complete, no definite scheme be embarked upon for the establishment of any actual slicep-breeding research institution. (5) The work already in progress in New Zealand be encouraged, and that field demonstrations of the economic aspects of wool and meat production be undertaken. (6) The establishment of a central institution of similar constitution to I that of the Dairy Research Institute be contemplated, it being desirable Hint research on sheep-breeding should not be allied to or obscured in relation with educational institutions or programmes, and should be conducted in an organisation with independent control of il» experimental material. Such an organisation would serve for co-ordination of effort, as the depository of information, with definite powers of co-operation with bodies such as the British Research Association, and as the advisory nucleus io educational campaigns.