A.L.P. Has Reserve Wool Price Plan

Press, Volume C, Issue 29674, 18 November 1961, Page 11

A.L.P. Has Reserve Wool Price Plan

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, November 17. A Federal Labour Government would put a reserve wool price plan before growers, Mr R. T. Pollard said tonight. Mr Pollard, a member of Labour’s “shadow Cabinet” and Minister for Commerce and Agriculture in the Cbifley Government, was explaining A.L.P. rural policy in a national broadcast Mr Pollard said that a Labour Government would: Seek constitutional amendments to permit more effective, nation - wide, orderly market facilities Reduce interest changes and widen credit facilities of the Commonwealth Development Bank. Review t>he wheat stabilisation plan when it expired at the end of the 1962-63 season and make any amendments needed. Restore the £3 a ton subsidy on superphosphate and related payments on other fertilisers. Reject the subsidy abolition recommendation of the Dairy Industry Committee and continue subsidy payments of at least £13,500.008 a year unless a highly unlikely rise in export prices made such a rate unnecessary.

Use import restrictions and tariffs to protect the timber industry. Develop the beef cattle industry by creating a Ministry for North Australia and setting up a North Australia Development Commission. Balances Problem

Mr Pollard said that only increased exports of primary, secondary, pastoral and mineral products could solve the grave national problem of overseas balances In eight years Australia had accumulated a deficit of £1.373 million in its international transactions. This enormous debt bad to be paid and the economy reshaped to meet International accounts more promptly.

United Kingdom negotiations to enter the European Common Market on yet undefined terms created a new threat to export trade, Mr PolHrd said. “A Labour Government would fight to the utmost to preserve our traditional markets and be prepared against the possibility of losing them in whole or In part." he said The ALP believed growers favoured establishment of a statutory wool market-

ing organisation providing for a reserve price auction system similar to the joint organisation’s wartime wool surplus disposal plan. After submitting a draft plan to grower organisations, a Labour Government would hold a poll of growers. Growers would have a majority on the marketing organisations. The Commonwealth Government would guarantee up to £25 million and a grower levy of 5 per cent, would operate while prices did not exceed cost of production. If necessary, the levy would be increased to not more than 7j per cent., he said.