Opposition slates S.M.P.

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 12

Opposition slates S.M.P.

PA Wellington The Opposition has attacked anomolies and distortions in the Supplementary Minimum , Prices scheme after the Wool Board warned growers that they might face financial penalties for turning in inferior wool. The scheme reached its state through “pure stubborness and stupidity,” the Opposition said.

The Wool Board's chairman, Mr Doug Mcllraith, said after meeting Ministers at Parliament that there could be changes to the S.M.P. scheme, meaning a substantial drop in short wool prices. He said the price for short wool was artificially high. The Labour Party said this underlined “the clear fact” that the scheme had not been

thought through. The Labour spokesman on primary production, Sir Basil Arthur, said the Wool Board’s proposal would only tinker with the problem. If the precedent of dealing with one problem at a time was set it “could lead to a bureaucratic nightmare,” Sir Basil said. “Until inflation is brought

back to realistic levels farmers will need the support of the taxpayer through some sort of scheme, but if the Government carries on in this foolish manner it is in danger of alienating the taxpaying public from the farmer. “If that happens, the country will be divided right down the middle.”