Wool levy, I.W.S. cutback discussion

Press, 17 June 1983, Page 8

Wool levy, I.W.S. cutback discussion

The announced reduction in New Zealand's contribution to the budget of the International Wool Secretariat will be the subject of several remits at this month’s annual conference of the Dominion Meat and Wool section of Federated Farmers.

Mr Owen Symmans, meat and wool executive officer, said' the remits received from provinces fell into

three groups. A substantial number called on the Wool Board to provide more detailed in-

formation on its budgeting, levy collection, production estimates, I.W.S. funding and likely promotional outbacks. However, the board directors and staff have been diligent in the weeks since the March I.W.S. cutback announcement in explaining to farmers; groups and through the media the reasons for the decision. Indeed, as the chairman of the board, Mr J. D. Mcllraith, explained in

March, part of the reason for the announcement of the delayed funding outback was to “test the water” of grower opinion on a possible levy increase. Thus the board would be hoping for a more positive indication from the Dominion Meat and Wool

conference rather than a request for detailed information which has been largely already met.

In this respect voting on the two other broad groups of remits will be watched with interest.

One group seeks an increase in the levy to enable New Zealand to satisfy its I.W.S. budget obligations and the other seeks to leave the levy at 3 per cent. The conference will be in the new Wool Board conference room, in the new Wool House, on June 29 and 30. The chairman of the Meat Board, Mr Adam Begg, will also give his first address following his return from a current world tour.