SALE OF WOOL TO FRANCE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 8

SALE OF WOOL TO FRANCE

BUYERS’ REMARKS DISCUSSED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. “Remarks by French woolbuyers at yesterday’s sale must cause misgivings in the minds of all woolgrowers,” said the Dominion treasurer of Federated Farmers (Mr J. J.x Maher) in a statement to-day. They referred to the reluctance of New Zealand to take French exports and said this had not assisted their financial arrangements. “I am only a small woolgrower. My clip is only 60 bales, but as it comes off second-class country I am vitally interested,” he said. “I inquired about the trade position with France during the last six months and found that she took £2,500,000 worth of our goods, while we took £2500 Worth of goods in return—less than one farthing in the £. How can we expect to sell wool to them on that basis?

“I am apprehensive about the whole position,” said Mr Maher. “The watersiders are still holding up the wool for Spain, and we are doing our best to spoil our wool trade with our ally.” Mr Maher said he would like to see the comments on these matters of the chairman of the Wool Disposals Commission and the chairman of the Wool Bdard. He considered that on a question of this nature they should let the farmers know what they thought and what they had said to the Government The Government had had ample warning that the position with France was going to be difficult, and there should be some reply which could be given to the farmers.