VEGETABLE FIBRE IN WOOL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9532, 2 July 1909, Page 3

VEGETABLE FIBRE IN WOOL.

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS. From the Committee established to inquire into the above very important question we have received the following report: — "The committee appointed to deal with the question of Vegetable Fibre in Wool again met on March 25th, 1909, at Messrs Dalgety and Co.'s offices in London to receive final reports from sub-committees and to draw up the recommendations which are to be issued to olonial growers and 'Wool handlers throughout the industry. There was a large attendance of the committee, representing every section of the industry, under the presidency cf Mr Reginald B. Jacomb. Discussion took place on the various reports and on the results of the experiments which have been made by the sub-committees. Each recommendation was thoroughly discussed and revised prior to its adoption. A unanimous vote of condolence was sent to Mr J. E. Fawcett, exLord Mayor of Bradford, expressing sympathy with him in his illness and appreciation of his services in the initial work of the committee. The statement and recommendations here following were unanimously adopted:— VEGETABLE FIBRE IN WOOL. 1. —Jn late years manufacturers and merchants have been greatly troubled with the increasing quantity of vegetable matter appearing? [in Worsted and Wollen Goods after they had been dyed. Under the impression that defective sorting of the wooi was the cause, they have blamed the wool merchant and the topmaker for not taking sufficient care. These latter people claim that quite as much and possibly more care than formerly is being taken. Investigation nas proved that loose fibres of jute from bagging 'or string has been the cause of the J trouble, When these are single or separated, it is impossible for the keenest eyes to detect them, and even minute pieces of canvas or small pieces of ravelled twine used in sewing the bags might get over looked owing to the colour of these being very simihar to that of the greasy wool. It has also been found where inferior bags have been used and the bale has been carefully stripped of its wrapper, that the exterior of the wool is covered with myriads of loose fibres of jute. 2.—The vegetable matter here alluded to must be understood to be altogether distinct from burrs. These are quite different in appearance and have to be treated by machinery, which process has been improved of recent years, but the straight fibres of which we speak can only be taken out after the piece has been dyed, involving tedious and careful labour by hand. It must never be imagined for one moment that the agitation about vegetable matter in wool has anything to do with trying to cheapenthe cost of sorting. Actual figures show that as much or more is now spent upon sorting wool as ever before, while the cost of burling, l or taking the white fibres out of the finished pieces, is ten times what it was a few years ago. Not oi!ly is it costly to take these undyed fibres out of the cloth, but when ! they are taken out, they naturally , leave defects m the cloth. I 3. —That there has been a deterioration, in the quality of the ' packing canvas or wool packs duri ing recent years, seems to be adt mitted no all hands, but this lower- ' ing)of quality has been so gradual ! that it has r.ot been noticed from year to year. J.t is only when ] comparing the bagging with that in use say ten years ago that the 'difference is seen. Moreover if is ' noticed that the weaving is more open than formerly, and the yarn is less tightly twisted. Both these I features cause the bagging to I "fray" more easily and thus liberI ate loose fibres of jute. This is especially noticeable wherever a cut lis made in the bagging such as is j done when wool is exhibited for I sale.' | 4.—Amongst the remedies for this evil which have been suggested to the Committee and carefully considered by them are:—■ The use of a superior quality of canvas and sewing string; of woollined bags; of cotton and paper linings; of dyed bags and dyed string; of wool^sew ing string; of singing the canvas bag; of using sized or glazad bagging; of using metal fasteners to close the lid of the bag; of cross-dyeing the finitished cloth, etc. s.—Quite apart from any of these remedies there are ways by which those who handle wool before it reaches its ultimate destination fould do something to mitigate the evils It would be a great advantage if every bag was Jcarefully turued inside out and shaken to remove casual pieces of bagging and string sometimes carelessly left in by the maker. The bag should then be turned back again. The greatest care should be taken in the shearing, classing, and packing sheds, and in the sale warehouses, that no foreign fibres, straw, grass, hemp, etc., should come into contact with the wool. 6.—With regard to a superior quality of jute cloth, much could be done by using tighter spun yarn to weave into the bagging, and also by producing a closer woven cloth. It is quite evident that botti these features would tend towards less fraying where the bag is cut, and that there would be less loose fibre in the wool as the result of the friction between I wool and bag. A lighter cloth so made would no doubt.stand the same strain of handling, and the cost of the bag need not be much more, as I the saving of weight would influence the price. The same will apply to the string used for sewing purposes, which, like the tares, should be dyed, as the colour (red or blue) often proves fugitive and stains clean wool. 7.—Cheap cotton lining to bags has also been suggested and alreadyadopted by some gruwers. There are dangers connected with this. When it becomes stained with grease it is of the colour of wool and should any small portion get overlooked it might work great harm. Of course, in the case of wool or cotton lined bags, it becomes possible to use a cheap

outside bag. The Committee however, after careful consideration, which has been confirmed by many outside opinions and protests, are compelled to depreciate use of calico linings. 8.-0(5 the other hand exhaustive experiments have been made with paper lined bags. In the case of ordinary 'thin paper, which has been but loosely attached with g>ue, the experiments have not been satisfactory.f Specially prepared packs of a closely woven texture have however been produced with a thick corrugated paper lining, and the reports have been so unanimously favourable from buyers that the Committee have no hesitation in giving these a high recommendation. 9.—Singeing the ebth to remove all loose or superfluous fibres seems to have advantages.

10.—Sizing the cloth leaves the impression that it is an expedient which has more appearance than merit about it. In the rough usage of transit, etc., the glaze is apt to be rubbed off .or dissolved. Sizing alone is an altogether insufficient remedy, and the Committee considers the suggestion inadequate. 11.—Metal fasteners for closing the mouth of the bag have been suggested While this is a step in the righ direction, it does not get over the difficulty at issue, and does not materially assist in the solution of the question, besides introducing an element of danger in the handling. Moveover, they render the bale more easily liable to pilfering during transit.

£ 12.—D.ved bags and dyed string have on the surface something to recommend them if all goods made from wool had eventually to be dyed black or dark colours, but as some of the fault arises from the rubbing of wool in the bagging, and as these bting single fibres could not be picked off, it follows that dyed fibres going forward into light-coloured goods would be a much greater danger than light hairs in dark goods, and the Committee considers the suggestion quite impracticable,. Coloured strikes on the bales are also considered objectionable. 13.—1s is of course well known, that vegetable fibres will not dye with wool, and the question of cross-dyeing, i.e., once for vegetable and one /or animal fibres, is also impracticable.

CONCLUSIONS. In conclusion, the Committee desire to record its extreme gratification with the manner in which a large number of Colonial growers have already interested themselves in this question; the response in the way of improved tares which have come on to the market during the present seaso.i has been as surprising as it has been gratifying. Many tares, including cottonlined, paper-lined, Pinged bags, and tares of improved quality, have come under the notice 'A buyers, and already there has been a marked improvement in the packing of many of the best clips. The interest of buyers has also been stimulated, and it will be advantageous to sellers who use approved tares to have the fact stated in the catalogues. It is obvious that the advantages of packing the wool in a satislactory manner accrue to the grower, as a clip which has the confidence of users always has a preferennce over one not so well favoured. There may be a mjnute extra cost of packing, according to the desires of the users, but it appears' to be more than compensated for by the advantages of goodwill, and further it is most improbable that anyone who takes a pride in his clio ,will send it to the anything but the most merchantable form. In'* deed, it could scarcely be imagined thatj any trade would send for ard to market its commodities in any but the most attractive fomn to the buyer. . Doubtless many buyers of good wools would not object to share an the extra cost if some equitable way could be found for this, but eo far no feasible plan has been suggested. Many manufacturers continue to give additional testimony to the enormous extra expense entailed by the presence of this vegetable fibre, and whatever may be the difference of opinion as to the methods and division of the small t-xtra rust, the crower may be absolirtdy certain that in the ultimate reckoning, this extra cost of treatment is always a tax on the value ot the raw wools, which falls ultimately on the grower. I The Committee desires to urge that all growers will continue to assist in the efforta to obtain so very desirable an end. They would however emI phasise once and for all, the i fact that cotton linings constitute I an equally serious element of danger,

in fact, the cotton threads are liable to fray and are more difficult to eliminate than pieces of jute string. The question of wool linings for • packs has met with an unexpected check owing to the fact that 25 per cent duty will have to be paid in Australasia. This mesns a cost of about Is 7d each landed, but of ' course the cheapest packs may then be used as outer coverings. It is hoped, however, that the Government of the Commonwealth may see its way to cancel this, and negotiations are in progress with that object in view. Meanwhile, in the opinion of the Committee, the wool lining furnishes a real remedy provided that the growers can find an easy and convenient method of mani ipulating these linings in the piocess ', of packing. The various efforts made with paper-lined packs as previously stated have proved eminently satisfactory. The essential features are that the canvas should be sufficiently strong and not too thin; that the paper should be of the thick and corrugated type, which does not fracture; and that the paper be thoroughly attached to the pack. Packs of this character, which have already been under the notice of the Committee, are such as can be thoroughi ly recommended, and the extra cost • I of such a paper lining is estimated t not to exceed 9d per bale.