TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 475 
The principal arguments for and against such protection were advanced, and 
then the first question was left sub judice. ; 
In dealing with the second question the relative advantages of ‘ bounties’ and 
protective duties were considered, and a decision reached in favour of the former. 
The practical difficulty of using bounties was however admitted, and this diffi- 
culty was found to consist principally in the lack of a general understanding of 
economics. This led to a further discussion of the difficulties in the path of 
scientific protection. It was shown that ignorance has led protectionist nations 
on to wrong lines, and has produced unduly complicated tariffs, whose results 
cannot possibly be gauged with exactitude, but are probably, in the main, evil. 
It was suggested that if protection be practised, more simple methods should be 
employed—that the attempt to protect everything at once should be abandoned in 
favour of a concentration upon one industry at a time. 
4, Rural Industries, By G. Fimrcuer. 
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18. 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. Lhe Development of the Wool Industry. By T. H. Moorr. 
Whilst all sheep are descended from the six preserved by Noah from the Flood, 
climatic and other influences have brought about great variations throughout the 
world both in carcase and covering. Probably quite 80 per cent. of to-day’s wool 
supply is obtained from the merino, from the heavy English sheep, and from crosses 
between the two. 
Spain was originally the home of the merino, but Saxony, Silesia, and France 
(Rambouillet) all effected great improvements in the breed, and the magnificent 
flocks of Australia are chiefly descended from the German improved stock. The 
merino was first imported into the Cape by Mr. Michael Breda, of Swellendam, in 
1787, and ten years later Captain McArthur obtained from the Cape the first 
merinos seen in Australia. The South American flocks are descended from sheep 
originally introduced by the early Spanish settlers. 
The world’s supply of wool in 1904 is estimated by Messrs. H. Schwartze & Co. 
at 2,129,000,000 lbs., contributed as follows :— 
United Kingdom . : - : - . 6:20 per cent, 
Continent of Europe - : : 7 e214 é 
North America 4 F 3 : . 14:33 rf 
Australasia. < a 5 » “ . 2411 + 
South Africa . " . 5 . ; «38D - 
South America ‘ , ‘ i . 22:23 x 
Other sources . 5 ° . . . . 864 5 
100-00 
The home supply of the United Kingdom is decreasing, that of the Continent 
of Europe remains stationary, North American does not increase. The South 
American meat trade may develop the crossbred article still further, but merinos 
there must be near the maximum; Australia, now the prolonged drought is com- 
letely broken up, will probably increase its production 50 per cent. South Africa 
is eminently adapted for large increases of merinos, and no fear of over-production 
need be entertained. There never was, and never can be, too much wool grown. 
The consumption of clean wool in Europe and North America last year was 2} lbs. 
per head of population, Half a pound increase would represent one million bales 
of Cape wool. Farmers should hesitate before attempting cross-breeding, but by 
judicious selection much may be done to improve the merino where acclimatised, 
