Refusal Of Grant Concerns Board

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 20

Refusal Of Grant Concerns Board

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 28. The Wool Board is concerned that the Government has refused its request for a grant of $4.5 million for overseas promotion and research—and has expressed surprise at what it calls the Government’s “snap decision.”

“We made a reasonable request for assistance,” said Mr B. S. Trolove, the board’s deputy chairman, today. “Growers have contributed s2om in the last five years and everyone in the country has shared in the undoubted benefits resulting from crossbred wool promotion and research. “The future of wool is important to every person in New Zealand,” said Mr Trolove. “The grower is not ask ing for a subsidy, for he will continue to the same high rate of levy as he has done for the last four years, and at lower levels for the last 30 years.” The woolgrower would, in fact, continue to contribute more than ssm a year, as was his “rightful responsibility,” Mr Trolove said. “But what we were asking was for the country to lend a hand, to become a partner,

in our efforts to secure a more prosperous future for all of us.”

Speaking from Sydney, the board's chairman. Sir John Acland, said he was disappointed at the rejection of the request that the Government should join in the cost of research and promotion overseas.

“It is good to know that the work of the International Wool Secretariat is appreciated by the Government, but as 1 have already pointed out, we cannot continue to deplete the Wool Commission's funds,” he said. The Government’s reply would be considered by the board at its meeting in midSeptember.