§ THE EARL OF MANSFIELD asked His Majesty's Government if they are aware of the great loss of wool caused by the useless practice of colouring the fleeces of sheep with indelible dye, usually yellow; and whether they will make an order prohibiting this wasteful procedure. The noble Earl said: My Lords, the question I now raise is a small one, but in these days when economy of material is so important it has, I think, a certain weight. It is desirable that the imports of this country should be limited to the greatest possible extent. It is also desirable that the utmost possible use should be made of everything we can produce here. For years past there has been a growing and unfortunate tendency to dye sheep for the purpose of shows. It is not my intention to take up your Lordships' time with the pros and cons of this question. The pros are few to my way of thinking, and the cons very numerous, but the result has been that a great many sheep each year have their fleeces rendered permanently unsuitable for industrial purposes owing to the fact that the dye employed upon them is of a non-soluble character.
§ Furthermore, a great many sheep are marked by a red or blue mark, usually on the shoulder or rump. In this case only a small portion instead of the whole fleece is affected, but the result is equally serious, if not more so, because the number of sheep so marked is very much in excess of the number of those whose fleeces are entirely bare. The net result is that every year many tons of wool are completely wasted. Surely that is undesirable at any time, and completely inexcusable at the present time. I beg His Majesty's Government, therefore, at least for the period of the war, to consider making an Order in Council rendering it illegal to apply any dye to the fleeces of sheep which is of a non-soluble character —that is to say, which cannot be washed out by the use of some agent which, while removing the dye, will not damage the quality of the fleece.
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE DUKE OF NORFOLK)My Lords, I 248 am aware that the colouring of the fleeces of sheep is not uncommon and that dyes are used which cannot be removed in the process of scouring. I am informed, however, that, whereas the noble Lord says the wool is a complete waste, it is not actually wasted, but it is greatly depreciated in value and the wool can be used only for an inferior type of cloth. The farmers of this country have been consistently advised against colouring the fleeces of their sheep with indelible dyes, and the Ministry of Agriculture have also, through publicity, urged them in every way not to continue this undesirable practice. From the information at present before them, however, there is no need, so far as His Majesty's Government can see, why they should introduce an Order prohibiting the dyeing of these fleeces because the amount of wool affected is not considered to be sufficient to warrant that course being adopted. It is hoped that the farmers' good sense will respond to the publicity which has been given to this matter.
THE EARL OF MANSFIELDMy Lords, arising out of the noble Duke's reply, may I ask him if he considers it satisfactory that at the present time even the smallest amount of wool should be wasted seeing that in his reply he has admitted that a number of farmers are still continuing this harmful practice?
THE DUKE OF NORFOLKI can only say in reply that I wish to make it clear that the wool in question is not wasted but is made into slightly inferior material.