ACTION ON WOOL REPORT DELAYED

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31704, 13 June 1968, Page 10

ACTION ON WOOL REPORT DELAYED

An expression of view on the Wool Marketing Study Group’s report will be delayed by the meat and wool section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers until the Wool Board’s marketing committee has made a recommendation.

The chairman (Mr A. F. Wright) said at a meeting of the section in Christchurch yesterday it was obvious that Federated Farmers could not obtain a majority decision at this stage. Farmers did support it generally on the question of improved presentation, but a unanimous decision on the method of sale could not be obtained. The Wool Board’s marketing committee had been advised that Federated Farmers would delay an expression of opinion until the committee had made a recommendation. Earlier, a request had been made that the date for submissions be extended, but this had been declined.

The branch vice-president (Mr B. H. Palmer) said that the closing date for submissions was much too soon. The Wool Study Group’s report was explained at tbe Lincoln farmers’ conference on May 22—22 days after the closing date for submissions.

He agreed with the decision to wait until a recommendation had been made. He thought this would be about August. Wool Imports

A manufacturer told the section that the cost of buying materials through wholesalers, rather than by direct importation, was adding $6.50 to the price of a coat. In a letter, the manufacturer—whose name was requested not to be used—said he used 23,800 yards of New Zealand-made materials a year. In addition he obtained 3518 yards. Or 8 per cent of his requirements, by import licence. From wholesalers he obtained 10.420 yards 23 per cent of his usage. This was adding $6.50 to the cost of a coat.

He asked for the support of Federated Farmers on the question of licences for importing woollen materials. The chairman (Mr A. F. Wright) said the information in the letter would play right into the hands of a remit that the section intended to put forward at Dominion council level. Mr A. G. Van Asch said he thought this was a broad field and that the letter could be only one of many cases that could be brought to notice. The meeting decided that its wool committee should call on the manufacturer and report back.