WOOL FOR PATRIOTIC PURPOSES.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15464, 17 December 1915, Page 5

WOOL FOR PATRIOTIC PURPOSES.

A WAIRAEAPA SUGGESTION. Early in November tho Wairarapa ; sheep owners suggested to tho Minis-« j tor of Internal Affairs that every bale of wool should supply one fleeco to be J set aside for patriotic purposes, for j the special benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers. Tho Hon. G. W. Itussell passed the suggestion on to Sir J. G. Wilson, president of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union, who considerjed tho proposal should be taken up lin Otago, Canterbury. Hawkc's Bay, | and Poverty Bay. Tho Canterbury Sheep Owners' Union considered a voluntary scheme would not attain its object, and they strongly recommended that power should be given to local bodies to levy special rates for patroitjc purposes, otherwise not much would be obtained in tho manner suggested. That opinion was forwarded to the Minister, who said that such a levy could not bo sanctioned except by Parliament at its next session. A well-known North Canterbury sheep farmer wroto the following letter to the president of the Sheep Owners' Union at its last meeting with regard to tho one fleeco per bale:—"l quite^approve of your reply to the Hon. G. W. ltusscll. I would suggest that the wool-buyers be asked to gjvo tho lib per 100. which i s not theirs —and as wo don't get it wo should not miss it—to tho war fund, or else Is Gd for every woolpack, also taken from us. ; Tho buyer of grain pays for sacks, the wool-buj'er gets not only bales, but | also 1 per cent, as a present. No I wonder they aro well off!" '