RESALE OF N.Z. WOOL

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23972, 12 June 1943, Page 4

RESALE OF N.Z. WOOL

SHARE OF ANY PROFIT MADE BY BRITAIN

QUESTION RAISED BY MR KIDD From Our Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, June 11. Arrangements made that New Zealand should receive 50 per cent, of any profit received by the United Kingdom for the resale of New Zealand wool was mentioned in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr D. C. Kidd (Opposition, Waitaki). He said that New Zealand was to receive its proportion afterfcthe war. What would happen to it? he asked. He thought he could guess what would happen to it. That was the last sheepfarmers would see of it.

Mr Kidd described the arrangement made by the Government to retain part of the 15 per cent, increase in the price of wool as “barefaced robbery.” He said that the value of non-trans-ferable bonds issued to woolgrowers was indicated by the refusal of the Government to accept them for tax payments. Mr Kidd said that last year the Minister of Agriculture appealed for 375,000 acres of oats, and farmers had responded to the appeal. Unfortunately, when the oats were harvested the Government said that it did not want the oats. The farmers were left high and dry. He wondered if the Minister was sympathetic to the farmers. It was not to be wondered at that the farmers moved votes of no confidence. If ever a sympathetic Minister of Agriculture were wanted, it was at this time. He suggested that the Minister should be more tolerant it he wanted the farmers to get behind him and produce what was wanted.