Plan To Sell Wool Direct To Europe

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31462, 31 August 1967, Page 22

Plan To Sell Wool Direct To Europe

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, August 30.

A second Dutch marketing consortium is interested in the plan of the Waikato Federated Farmers to sell wool direct to European markets through a central agency.

The provincial president of the federation, Mr M. G. Hewitt, said today that the firm had written to him opening preliminary discussions regarding the proposals suggested by Mr Hewitt last month.

The Waikato Federated Farmers proposed to “go it alone” to sell New Zealand goods in Europe.

The letter from the Dutch firm said:

“Our company, which has its main office and stores in Holland, with representation in the majority of European countries, would be interested in acting as Continental agents for Federated Farmers

for the sale of their wool clip direct to woollen mills and other users.”

Outlining its initial proposals, the company said: "The wool of any farmer wishing to sell through us would be shipped to a central European port, say Rotterdam or London, and be held there in storage.

“Our company would actively engage in the sale of the clip on a commission basis to be negotiated. “Our company also deals extensively in seeds, and a similar arrangement could be

looked into for this commodity.” The firm believes that a direct liaison between producer and customer created a keener awareness of market potential. Mr Hewitt has asked the firm for more details on the various classes of wool that would be in demand, the total quantity necessary to supply a spot demand, the rates of storage and commission expected and any estimate the firm could give of the relevant floor prices for some specific classes of New Zealand wools.