Worries over wool research funding

Press, 23 March 1985, Page 3

Worries over wool research funding

A substantial increase in the funding contribution of the Wool Board to the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (W.R.0.N.Z.) will still not meet the urgent needs of the New Zealand wool and textile industries, according to the chairman of the board, Mr J. D. Mcllraith.

In announcing a 14 per cent increase to $1,892,000 in the board’s funding of W.R.O.N.Z. for 1985-86, Mr Mcllraith said, “The increased level and pace of response to market demand required by the wool and textile industries has necessitated a sacrifice of strategic research in favour of applied research.” He said that the increase

in the board’s funding will considerably assist quicker W.R.O.N.Z. development of new test methods and approaches necessary to complete the objective specification of New Zealand wools. “This specification is vital if we are to respond to market needs and encourage further wool consumption within the domestic and international textile industries against increasing synthetic competition, he said.

“Even then, the additional funds provided by the board will only enable W.R.O.N.Z. to procure the hardware and additional staff necessary to respond to immediate needs.” Mr Mcllraith said, how-

ever, that applied research needed to be based on, and develop from, longer-term strategic research.

“It is of considerable concern to the board, that strategic research at W.R.O.N.Z. now only accounts for an estimated 10 per cent of expenditure compared with about 90 per cent 15 years ago.

“As the world’s dominant coarse wool producer, New Zealand must take its own initiative in the research and development of its products. Yet the level of total research expenditure here is well below that of competing . international producers,” said Mr Mcllraith.