Australian Wool Levy Acceptance Likely

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30286, 12 November 1963, Page 25

Australian Wool Levy Acceptance Likely

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BRISBANE, Nov. 11. The chairman of the Australian- Wool Board, Sir William Gunn, today predicted that Australian graziers would accept the increased wool promotion levy. In the last 10 days Sir William Gunn has visited grazing centres in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. This week he will visit Tasmania and Victoria, and will visit New South Wales next week. Sir William Gunn said in Brisbane last night that two things had helped tip the

scales in favour of the levy increase. They were:— The decision last Wednesday by the Austdalian Wood Industry conference in Canberra to base the levy for wool board purposes on percentage of the money paid tor the wool instead of a per bale basis. The decision in Longreach on November 2 by a meeting of Central and Northern Graziers’ Association delegates who voted in favour of the increased promotion levy. Influential Body

Sir William Gunn said a big body of grazing opinion had been in favour of the levy on the percentage basis. The decision by the powerful Central and Northern Graziers’ Association had. tipped the scale in Queensland, and was a help on an Australianwide basis. The final decision would be made at the wool industry conference in Canberra on January 7. “I am confident they will be in favour," Sir William Gunn said. At present prices, worked on a percentage basis, the levy would be no more than 2 per cent, of the value of the total wool clip, he said.