WOOLLEN GOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 303, 22 December 1932, Page 10

WOOLLEN GOODS.

JUSTIFICATION OF PRICES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. , In reference to the reply by the Right Hon. J. G. Coates to a statement by the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association regarding the prices of woollen goods, a further statement has been prepared by the a-ssociation. This says: "At the recent wool sale held in Christchurch the high prices paid by New Zealand mills provided the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association with a valuable argument in showing how the farmers were assisted by the woollen manufacturers. This aspect has been overlooked in the criticism to which the woollen industry is subject."

After other observations the statement concludes: "The influence of tariffs on unemployment must also be taken into consideration. If it could be shown that a 20 per cent tariff increase on certain classes of woollen goods would increase employment in that industry by 1000 workers, increase the local purchases of better wool and decrease the price to the consumer on account of the greater turnover, would Mr. Coates he prepared to vote for such 20 per cent increase?

"In conclusion, we repeat that no member of Parliament is entitled to make such damaging statements as Mr. Coates made in the House of Representatives on November 8 without complete and accurate information on the subject under discussion."