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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 61

Wool

Wool.

Wool is the principal export of New Zealand, yet it seems to be less a subject for this essay than almost any other product.

This may seem a paradox, but the reason will shortly appear. In 1883 there were 13,384,075 sheep in the colony. The value of the wool exported in 1883 was £3,014,211, against £3,118,554 for 1882—a decrease of £104,343; yet the quantity exported in 1883 exceeded that of 1882 by 2,826,723lb., the difference in value being occasioned by the fall in price. In 1883 the weight of wool exported was 68,149,430lb., against 48,848,735lb. in 1874—an increase of 21,300,695lb. Besides these large quantities must be added 2,000,000lb. utilized per annum at the woollen manufactories; and it is in connection with these latter industries that the wool product is of the chief importance to our subject. As a mere matter of export wool provides less employment to population, in proportion to the money returns, than almost any other industry. A few shepherds tend many thousands of sheep; a migratory class of shearers perform the annual clip. With railway communication the labour of transport is reduced to a minimum; enormous areas of land are desolate of life, save sheep life; it becomes a question of mere interest on capital. And in too many cases for the true welfare of the colony the real proprietors and beneficial owners are absentee capitalists and financial institutions. In the course of a few years the richest provinces of the colony—namely, the wool-producing ones—will be the poorest from a practical population-supporting point of view, unless the changes mentioned before take place in proportion to the growth of the rest of the colony. Magnificent as some of the Canterbury runs and flocks un- page 42 doubtedly are, the want of space can never enable New Zealand to compete with Australia as a wool-producer. Still, much can he done to utilize her exceptionally-favourable climate and land by careful production of superior breeds, and by making up in quality what is lacking in quantity. For many years to come the supply of wool must far exceed the quantity required for home consumption, and our growers must depend upon the world's market for their prices; and they have fortunately long since obtained the highest reputation for their wool, and especially for articles of American manufacture, and for articles requiring bright and fast colours. The great improvement effected in breed has had a most favourable effect; and the breeding of stud rams is an important factor in the flockmaster's profits. Still, if it be true, as has already been assumed, that as population increases sheep-farming will not extend in proportion, but will rather have a tendency to lessen, and considering that the industry can only now be carried on by those who have acquired the right to the land, and have the command of the necessary capital, and that, practically, it is not an occupation of the people of New Zealand, it will be admitted that the product of wool pure and simple is not by any means the most important of the industrial resources of New Zealand. The topic involves the most important political question of the land laws; but full discussion of the point would necessarily compel the introduction of matter foreign to this essay. Still, it cannot be altogether ignored, and in treating practically of our industries we must look to the near future, when the leases at present existing in Canterbury and Otago will have expired, and the momentous question to the runholder will have to be considered, whether sheep-farming will pay on privately-bought land. We must remember that sheep-farming in New Zealand commenced with colonization, and developed rapidly; because the natural grasses afforded immediate feed, and the land was then otherwise worthless; but every day the mere surface area becomes more valuable, and will require to be utilized fully in order to make the result profitable; and with respect to sheep-farming this can only be done by the introduction of English grasses, which generally thrive admirably and repay the outlay. Land surface is becoming too valuable to allow of three or four acres to a sheep; the change must be made to three or four sheep to the page 43 acre. Labour must take the place of seignorial rights over immense tracts of country. The necessity for cultivating grass of the best description will entirely alter the mode of sheep-farming; labourers will be multiplied tenfold; there will still be great proprietors, but they will be more than lords of sheep: they will be large employers of human labour. "The land question "—says Mr. Stout, in the debate on the Land Bill—" is the great question of the future." It is too large a question to enter into here, and we must fain leave it to be settled in the stormy arena of politics; but in the meantime let our flock-masters remember that their legitimate and best market should be at home, and that, by combining with manufacturers for the production of woollen fabrics for home consumption and for export to countries where a flourishing trade may yet be established, they will render their occupation a perpetual necessity to the colony and a perpetual source of profit to themselves and to thousands of factory hands.

I venture to quote the lines of the American poet Emerson—

And what if trade sow cities
Like shells along the shore,
And thatch with towns the prairie broad
With railways ironed o'er;
They are but sailing foam-bells
Along Thought's causing stream,
And take their shape and sun-colour
From him that sends the dream.