Woolbuyers’ ‘Ultimatum’ Over Cold Napier Hall

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 10

Woolbuyers’ ‘Ultimatum’ Over Cold Napier Hall

(New Zealand Press Association)

NAPIER. May 26. Woolbuyers have refused to attend Napier May and July sales if they are held in the Napier Centennial Hall in McLean Park. On the two days of this week’s sale the buyers have huddled in overcoats and shivered in the cold hall. A spokesman for the Woolbuyers’ Association said today the association was sending a letter to the Hawke’s Bay Woolbrokers’ Association informing it of the buyers’ decision. After complaints bv the buyers the brokers’ associa.

tion tried to heat the hall first with braziers and later with electric heaters. Still the interior of the hall remained cold. Today’s cold snap brought matters to a head.

"We come here to buy about £2 million worth of Hawke’s Bay produce and we deserve better treatment than this,” said the buvers’ spokesman this afternoon. It is understood the buyers told the brokers' association that unless alternative accommodation was found for the sales during the winter months the buyers would value the wool in Napier and ask that it be sold in Wellington.

The chairman of the Woolbrokers’ Association (Mr A A. Roberts) and the Mavor of Napier (Mr P. Tait) declined to comment this afternoon. The Centennial Hall is owned by the Napier City Council.