COTTON MILL DECISION

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29742, 8 February 1962, Page 14

COTTON MILL DECISION

“Courageous Action”

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Feb. 7.

“At a time when we are looking to the United Kingdom Government to enforce rules of fair play in international trade, the recent cotton mill decision is tnnely,” said the chairman of the dairy section of Federated Farmers. Mr R. Woolerton, today. It meant that New Zealand was not prepared to keep out the cotton textile products of the multitude of British mills which sold to this country’s market. “If the establishment of a cotton min had proceeded here, this would have happened. It was a courageous action by the Government and was undoubtedly the right one." said Mr Woolerton.

A drastically - reduced range of textiles at substantially higher prices would have resulted had the mill project gone ahead “I hope the cotton mill episode will be a lesson to any political party which tries to throw away the rights of the people, and what is worse, do it secretly. “Sooner or later the truth wall emerge, however confidentially the documents are treated.

“If our democratic way of life is to continue, I am certain these disclosures will occur inevitably. So long as our people value their democracy they will never approve ot any government conferring a special privilege on any person or organisation.

“Any political party which thinks this is not so in digging its own grave.” Mr Woolerton said.