Nelson Cotton Mill

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 7

Nelson Cotton Mill

Sir.—Mr Giles suggests that sinister vested interests are being mobilised against his proposed Nelson cotton mill. May I add to his list the humble housewife, who will continue to seek the best quality of cotton, goods, in tie widest range and at the lowest prices? If these happen to originate in the Orient she will no doubt appease her conscience by the thought that they will be paid for in New Zealand’s primary produce. As for the “fair average price” promised by the politicians, how can we be guaranteed that this will be based on today’s ruling prices and from this year’s sources of supply? With you. sir, I would agree that the principles involved deserve the attentions of a Royal Commission.—Yours, etc, HOUSEWIFE. November 13, 1961.

Sir,—Britain imports raw cotton and processes it; this employs directly and indirectly a large proportion of her population. She sends the product round the world to us. This certainly helps to make a market for our primary products. Now surely if the English mill was transferred to New Zealand, the market created here would take the same proportion of our farm products. This would be an advantage to our primary producers, because the taxes levied would go to our Government and not to outside countries. We all know that India and Japan, with their cheaper labour costs, can undercut British values by 30 per eent. or so. If we turn to Japan and India and have to compete on their levels, it may weU mean reconstruction here and many bankruptcies, both urban and rural.—Yours, etc, TFEBRD GENERATION. November 13, 1081.