Selling Wool

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31881, 8 January 1969, Page 10

Selling Wool

Sir, —In a recent New Year’s message we have been told; “Get out and sell.” Some time ago we had the vigorously expressed view that we should make everything we could right here, regardless of cost, and maintain or increase our import protective devices. We also know that, contrary to the British Labour leader, Mr Kirk favours increased benefits to social security recipients and generally abhors any curtailment of free spending, necessitating stringent import controls, which are clearly abhorrent to our prospective trading partners. So it all adds up to exactly nothing. As for bilateral trade treaties, that was the policy of Mr Nordmeyer, specially applied to Japan. We all know what happened to him. Those with long memories

know that Labour originally conceived the import control system to shelter a whole gamut of non-competitive industry. Is Mr Kirk recanting? —Yours, etc., V. WILKINSON. January 7, 1969.

Sir, —From some 50 years in commerce and from experience I have learned that markets are sensitive things. It would Indeed be dangerous to seriously interfere' with the system of disposal that has been built up by the New Zealand wool industry over the years. To talk about getting out and selling by knocking at other people’s doors could result in disaster. Once you nominate a price then all buyers know what you are willing to accept. This, in fact, becomes your ceiling price. Moreover, you will antagonise your traditional buyers who could easily partly boycott your sales. Finally, it is all very well to talk about bilateral trade, but it is a sure method of arousing resentment in our present outlets, most of which, except Australia, have unfavourable trade balances with- New Zealand. Mr Kirk would serve New Zealand better if he devoted his time to showing his supporters in the militant trade unions the harm they are doing themselves and the country by the continual strikes, stopwork meetings, and other labour disturbances.—Yours, etc., BUSINESSMAN.

January 7, 1969.