NEW ZEALAND WOOL PACKS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21224, 21 September 1940, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND WOOL PACKS

With the beginning of the shearing season in New Zealand have come reports that increasing prices of Indian jute are likely to be reflected in higher prices for wool packs. Interest has consequently turned to New Zealand flax wool packs and the endeavours of the Government to make the Dominion self-supporting in that regard. Because 700,000 to 800,000 packs are required each year, a difference in price of a shilling or two a pack is a matter of some importance to the industry. In addition, a large sum of money is* involved in overseas exchange when packs are imported and up to perhaps nearly six shillings each. Last year firms dealing in packs were required to sell one flax pack for every two of jute sold. Since then the Government has been developing the Foxton flax and pack-making mills, and it is expected that this year it will require the use of a larger proportion of flax packs. The cost to the woolgrower will probably be the same as for the imported jute pack, but there are manifest advantages to the country if the demand can be supplied from New Zealand mills. The Government has taken power to expend £200,000 on the project and is installing the most up-to-date machinery available. From the wool industry’s point of view the packs have apparently been an outstanding success, the only complaint, and that not very serious, being that owing to the rather open texture of the packs, dirt is liable to be admitted when the bales are being handled. An announcement of the Government’s policy is expected shortly regarding the proportion of New Zealand packs to be used and the price to be charged. Each season for some years the proportion of flax packs has been increased, and it is now believed to be possible to make the ratio about seven flax to ten jute. The Government and the sheep farmers will be disappointed if in the near future it is not found possible to supply the whole demand from the Foxton mills. If New Zealand flax can supply all the packs required, worth today upwards of a quarter of a million pounds, something worth while will have been done towards rehabilitating an industry that once promised extremely well but which in recent years has been declining steadily.