WOOL PRODUCTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9615, 8 October 1909, Page 4

WOOL PRODUCTION.

WHERE CARE SHOULD BE SHOWN. VIEWS OP A VISITING WOOLS BROKER. The arrival from En«ztand of members of woolbroking firms in the Dominion should b3 welcomed by oijf wool growers, for it not only indicates that they are desirous of advancing their own particular business, tnd that our wool production is becoming more and more of growing importance, but also that such firms take; a live interest in their clients' welfare, These representatives should! be doubly welcome,' when as is the case, they are ready and willing to impart information as to the best and most up-to-date manner in which the farmer should manipulate his wool, and make it attractive fur the

market. Settlers should remember that London woolbrokers act as af-'nts and "sellers'" for the farmers. It should therefore be evident that it is to the brokers' interest to obtain the very highest value, and exploit the most suitable markets for their patrons' produce—henc ? their concern in advocating the improvement in the quality of stuck reared in the Dominion, and the wool which the animals produce,, together with the treatment such produce receives preparatory to being bailed and packed for export g , A member of one of the Idlest woolbroking institutions operating in London, has recently been visiting clients and others in the Wairarapa. A firm, by the way, which in the 1908 season dealt with over one hundred thousand bale 3of the New Zealand clip, a large quota of which was crossbred wool, a class which they make a speciality of, hav< ing a large connection with that ever growing American market, which purchases so largely our finest and lightest .crossbred qualities, the growing of which our soil, pastures and climate is so pfe-eminently silted to produce. Interviewed by a representative of the Wairarapa Age, this gentleman very courteously tendered some interesting information of a general character in regard to New Zealand wool. In reply to a question: Is the quality of our crossbred wool improving? He stated that there is no very marked improvement and that in 3ome descriptions • the reverse was the case—-a very large proportion of Lincoln wool was going bark in character, a great quantity of it being so short in staple as to be of little value for spinning purposes. Deterioration in our wool might be put down in some measure to the disposal of the large flocks (many of which were of even type), brought about in conaequence of the subdivision of estates.

) The next 1 query was: ''ls there any 1 marked improvement in the get up of New Zealand wools of late?" "No," was the answer. The classing in many cases is defective, in grading as to quality, and the general preparation of fleeces heing carelessly done, particularly witn regard to such points as skirting, and the removal of dirt. The subject of vegetable matter in wool was then touched upon. and the information elicited that insufficient care is exercised to prevent its inclusion among the fleeces. A good deal of this could be avoided by having the wool packs, before being used, turned inside out and thoroughly swept, or singed, care also being taken to prevent pieces of hemp, or ends of twine* becoming mixed among the wool.