Believed Cheaper To Import Woolpacks

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30264, 17 October 1963, Page 6

Believed Cheaper To Import Woolpacks

Wooipmids could bo imported at haK ttx coot Rjey couSd be meoutectured in New Zeatand, aaid Mr T. H. Bvena at yeeteaday’a meeting of the meat and wool section of Nectti Oantecbunr Federated Farmn. X ail wooipacks were imported it would save the wiooi®no<werw £239.000, be aaod.

“With the amouncement of the pooled prtce for imported jute and local Oax packs tor the eontang aeeeon there has been diaaipated aogr hope that the Government

might apply to the flax pack industry the same rules ae were laid down Bor the dairy termer by the Special Commission of Jhtpnry—that the local article ebouid not coot more than the overseas price,” said a letter from the Dominion meat and wool section of Federated Farmers.

The letter aaid that the prices of wodpecka to merchants in the 1900-01 season were Sax 17s Od, Jute 9a ltd and the pooled price to users was 128 Bd. In the 1901-02 season the correapondtog figures were 17s Od, 13s 9d and 15s 10d. In the 1902-03 season they were 18s, 10s Od and 13s 6d. The figures tor the 1963-04 season were 17s Od, 9s 9d and 13s «.

Merchants were now required to take five flax pecks for every nine jute packs as against the previous season’s ratio of three flax pecks for every eight jute pack*.

The Government’s insteting on the retention of the protection of the looai manufacturer was costing the woolgrower nearly £239,000. The Government received yearly from that industry by way of dividends and interest on caffls in advance £10,500. The New Zealand production, expensive though it was in comparison with jute, was costing no more now than it did in the 195758 year, the letter said.

Mr W. N. Dunlop, chairman of the meeting, said Federated Farmers had been thrashing this for years and making no progress.

Vbr T. G Mmcwctt snd there sbouid be some action. Tbe subsidy to toe, fibre industry should be borne by the Consolidated Fund and not by the farmers. A meeting might be arranged with toes! members of ParlianMnt to dtoouaß the matter.

Mr J. H. A. HoUa arid he had heard a very sound case put up for tbe fibre industry. At one stage it was eubtidimng jute. “We don't aay 'wipe the industry.’ B toe charge to be on foe former or foe

OounfodMed Fund? That ti the only point at issue,” attid Mr Dunlop.

Mr Maxwell moved that a committee be formed to take the matter up with local members of Bariiament This was seconded by Mr D. G. McGrath and carried. The committee appointed by the meeting comprises Messrs Dunlop, Maxwell and R. E. Hiatt Infra-red Light Bulba The following remit from the Hbrorata branch was carried: “That owing to the Shortage of infra-red light bulbs, head office be requested to investigate the cause of the shortage and to ask for an increase in the import allocation of these light bulbs.” These intra-red bulbs were being used extensively all over the country. They all came from the United Kingdom, said Mir Evans, moving the adoption of the remit. These bulbs were used for domestic purposes as well as by the poultry industry and by termers for warming up cold lambs. The motion was seconded by Mr R. Oliver. Mir Dunlop said Federated Farmers had been assured that in cases where a product was vital to production an application would get a sympathetic hearing. Personal Mr Dunlop referred to the death of Mr A. J. Blakely, sen., and a motion of sympathy with the relatives was carried.