“Wool Freeze Not Necessary”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30293, 20 November 1963, Page 16

“Wool Freeze Not Necessary”

(New Zealand Press Association) MASTERTON, November 19. Wairarapa farmers consider a light wool clip this year will offset the rise in price anti maintain there is no need for a “freeze” of part of this season’s cheque.

Earlier comment from some parts of New Zealand said the extra return from increased wool prices should be held in a pool and drawn in later years for maintenance and development. The president ot the Wairarape provincial district of Federated Farmers (Mr H. A. James) said this morning the financial return to Wairarapa farmers, from increased wool prices, would be offset by a reduction in the wool clip. The return to individual farmers, he said, would be about the same as in the previous two or three years. Stock and station agents in Masterton today reported that wool clips in the district showed a reduced yield of between 15 and 20 per cent. This, say farmers, is accounted for by a dry autumn and colder conditions in the pre-lambing period in early August. The result, shown in some samples of wool, is a poorer staple and reduced weight. Farmers say ewes, unable to build up their wool coat in the late autumn, later drew on their reserve condition to sustain their lambs and maintain warmth. This, they say, has had an adverse effect on the growth of the fleece. “On present prices,” said Mr James, “incomes will not be up substantially, if at all. on the 1962-63 season. “The reduction in yield will be particularly noticeable on hill country.” he said. Mr James said that in years of greatly increased wool prices a scheme of voluntary retention could have a number of advantages.

It would allow farmers tn retain funds for maintenance and development when they were able to perform uie work—after the current taxation year. It prevented the sudden introduction of additional money into circulation and the consequent price increases which would affect the whole community. It prevented the generation of “artificial” prices for development work and materials which could he caused by a rush demand from a large proportion of the farming industry.