A MATTER FOR REGRET

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33384, 16 November 1973, Page 7

A MATTER FOR REGRET

The decision of the Government at this time to reduce its contribution to the International Wool Secretariat for 1974-75 from s4.Bm to s2m is regrettable. It is understood that the Government is currently reviewing the activities of the secretariat but it has seen fit, ahead of that review being completed, to cut its contribution. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle, has been reported as saying that the Wool Board had sought Government’s intentions for the 1974-75 period and he had given it to them. It would surely have been more sensible for the Government to have continued its present contribution for 1974-75 pending the outcome of the review. The

Government would seem now to be in the position of having made a decision in advance of the full facts being known—a questionable procedure to say the least. The Minister has alleged extravagances on the part of the secretariat—flying models to a promotion in Rome from most of the major purchasing capitals in the world. Seeing that they came from the main purchasing areas the exercise could have made good sense. He has also urged that New Zealand needs to be careful that its coarse wools are getting promotion equal to this country’s contribution and has suggested that the secretariat is very fine wool oriented. It should be remembered that after

the slump in coarse wool prices in 1966-67 the secretariat mounted a special effort in support of the coarser wools and it seems likely that the results of this were an important factor in the recovery of the market for these wools over the last two years.