Farmer Spokesman Lacking

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31530, 18 November 1967, Page 14

Farmer Spokesman Lacking

fN Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 17. Amazement that there was no recommendation for a representative of Federated Fanners to sit on the committee which is to consider implementation of the Wool Study Group’s report was expressed tonight. The chairman of the Dominion Meat and Wool Council of Federated Farmers (Mr F. Spackman) said that the report would be “great assistance to farmers in their deliberations on the future of the industry." “The report will be before the council at its meeting in Wellington next week and this particular aspect will probably be discussed,” he said. But he criticised the report for its failure to include a representative of Federated Farmers on the committee which is to consider the report and frame legislation to implement them. He said the wool marketing

authority proposed by the report seemed to be very similar to the British Wool Marketing Authority. “Growers will have to have a very close look at the effects of this proposal, but such a system would undoubtedly assist in evening out price fluctuations," Mr Spackman said. “It must be noted that the proposed system, in times of falling prices, would require financial accommodation from the Government" The president of the New Zealand Wool Merchants Federation (Mr H. J. Dewe) said, that he had just received a copy of the report and would not comment yet. Present Channels The chairman of the Wool Commission (Mr E. L Greensmith) said It was a very interesting report and one that would be carefully studied by all sections of the industry. “It is to be noted that the proposals are based upon the continuing use of the auction system and the present channels for the disposal of wool,” he said.

“The commission will study the report carefully but it will be some time before the industry can decide on what action to take or before we

can comment on it in detail.” The chairman of the Wool Board’s Electoral Committee (Mr F. E. Humphreys) said his personal thoughts on the report were that it would be a great help. “I am very much in favour of the marketing authority it recommends and the stabilised prices to the grower that will go with it,” he said. “But we will have to look at this proposal very carefully to assess any obstacles that appear at first reading to be absent. Stable Prices “The marketing authority would certainly be the only way to get stable prices right throughout the season and from season to season.” He said the uniform classing and selling by sample would be a big step toward cutting costs in production. The wool merchants and wool marketing co-operatives would tie in quite well as any changes that would result from the implementation of the report would probably be covered in the legislation that would be introduced to amend the Wool Commission Act shortly. This would enable growers selling outside the auction system to receive the guaranteed 25c per lb.

He said the practice of wool being sent to the London auctions for sale on owner’s account would probably be curtailed, but the report did not seem to deal with this aspect. This would have to be studied.

Mr Humphreys said the loss of control by owners up to the point of auction would be compensated by guaranteed prices that would permit good budgeting. Stability “Ideal”

Mr R. A. Stokes, president of the New Zealand Woolbrokers’ Association, said in Dunedin tonight that any effort to stabilise prices for wool at payable levels was a worthy motive which should be encouraged by everyone in .the industry. Although stability of wool prices at payable levels was the ideal, whether or not this could be achieved was another matter. “After all the fundamental factor was still a question of world demand, irrespective of what method of marketing was used. “So far no better method has been devised than sale by auction, and this has been supported by the study group,” he said.