MARKETING OF WOOL

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32296, 14 May 1970, Page 6

MARKETING OF WOOL

Call For Govt Action • (N.Z. Press Asitociafion) WESTPORT, May 12. “Clearly another case of the Australians doing while we are talking,” said the member of Parliament for Buller (Mr W. E. Rowling) the Labour Party spokesman for development and trade today, when commenting on the announcement that Australia intended to seek a direct selling arrangement with Japan instead of the present auction of wool sales. As far back as November. 1967, the Wool Marketing Study Group released a comprehensive report advocating a substantial re-structuring of New Zealand wool marekting methods. Since that time “reactionary groups," both inside producer organisations and more particularly, entrenched marketing interests, had raised every possible obstacle to any significant change, Mr Rowling said. “With unit returns to growers actually lower today than those prevailing in the muchtalked of 1967 season, it is about time the industry's leaders and the Government came together for decisive updating of our marketing procedures." Mr Rowling said. “Bilateral arrangements and direct sales to end users must be brought into proper perspective. Failure to act will be at the cost of both the industry and the country," he added.