Price claim disputed

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33113, 2 January 1973, Page 11

Price claim disputed

(N.Z Press Association) TIMARU. Jan. 1. “The president of the Textile and Woollen Mills Association (Mr B, A. R. Spence) should know better than anyone how little the price of wool affects the price of the end products,” the South Island interim chairman of the Sheep and Cattlemen’s Association (Mr J. D. McIlraith) said. “If this is not so, could I ask him what, percentage reduction his firm made in its prices between 1963-1964. when the New Zealand average price was 45.89 c per lb and in 1967-1968, when the New Zealand average price fell to 22.87 c per lb?” Mr Mcllwraith was referring to a statement by Mr Spence last week that the move by the Government to stabilise wool prices was an excellent action. “Mr Spence is reported to say further that the cost to the consumer will be kept down. Would it be fair to ask Mr Spence if he agrees that if all members of the Textile and Woollen Mills Association were acquired by a socialistic corporation much greater efficiency would be achieved by larger production runs and curtailment of unnecessary duplication, thereby greatly decreasing the cost to the consumer?” Mr Mcllraith asked.