COMPLAINTS OF AUSTRALASIAN WOOL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8541, 23 September 1907, Page 3

COMPLAINTS OF AUSTRALASIAN WOOL.

(From Our London Correspondent.)

LONDON, August 3rd. Complaints are being made by ♦'he

Bradford manufacturers that it costs -the .worsted trade in England £1,000,000 a year to get out of manufactured goods the vegetable matter contained in Australasian wool. Such an unnecessary tax is enormous, and it is maintained that the vegetable matter should not be allowed to get into the wool. The question of vegetable fibre in wool came up for discussion at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Bradford, on July 31st. Mr J. E. Fawcetfc, the Chairman of the meeting, said that determined efforts are being made by the Bradford Chamber of Commerce to cops with the matter, and added: "It is a very delicate matter because of the many interests connected .vith it. The temperament of the people on the other side has to be considered to a large extent, as unfortunately the person who,packs the wool is not the person who buys the canvas. But the committee determined to make a vigorous effort to improve matters, and it is proposed as far as possible to give a demonstration of the evil effects of the "mixture of canvas and string, so that those who might be able to influence the other side could do their best to keep the evil down as much as possible, Itis<juite clear from the remarks that have "been made by Mr Jowett —# gentleman from Australia who had conferred with the Wool Committee on the matter —that although the Chamber has been taking up the matter for some time all the harm that is being done has never been realised by the growers and packers. The previous week I was interviewed by a gentleman who has .influence over more than half a million sheep, and he lemarked that he did not see why there should be so much trouble, as surely all that is necessary is that the fibre should be extracted. When such crude notions as that are held by one of the largest growers in Australia, it is clear that there is a good deal of missionary work to do in order to convince growers and packers of the difficulties of the question."

The worsted trade appears to be very heavily ' handicapped, for, according to Mr Thomas Whitely, the ■evil has grown worse during the •past few years. In the opinion of the •manufacturers, "it is -an alarming ■thing," because so many more work■men are required for furring, and it •makes it difficult to get them for weaving and for other purposes. Mr -A. R. Byles put forward a letter he had received, from a New Zealand •correspondent, suggesting that ■samples of New Zealand crossbred wools should be sent out in various •stages of manufacture —from the raw -material to the finished article —as an object lesson for growers. The correspondent said that some of the farmers had no idea of what a top was. Mr Byles expressed the view •that the letter offered an opportunity for a little missionary work to be •done, as occasion could be taken to include a specimen showing the fibre evil. The Chairman thought there would be a difficulty in putting the idea into practice, and suggested ■that the specimens should be of wool, ;tops, and noils only. That would be "valuable, as he knew that many : growers found it difficult to realise the immense change that took place in the dirty, untidy wool in the -course of the first two or three operations it underwent. It would certainly be a good thing if they could -distribute the specimens among tne people they wanted to get at. Mr Whitely considered that it would be instructive to put in a piece a cloth free from vegetable matter, and also -a piece that was not free. Mr Byles having pointed out that cases of specimens couiil be sent to certain 'well-known woolgrowing centres, the -matter was referred to the Wool •Committee for consideration. As the Bradford manufactrers are deter--mined to continue the agitation -against the present mode of wool packing, this question deserves the serious consideration of all New Zealand wool growers. ' -