LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 284, 20 August 1918, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WOOL SURPLUS AND NAVY

Sir,—l beg to hand .you a letter which. I have received from Mr. C. dc V. Teschemakcr-Shute, chairman of the Dominion Woolgrowers' Advisory Board, covering' a resolution pitssed by that; board with reference to my proposal that; surplus profits on wool commandeered, by the Imperial, Government should be. devoted to a fund for tho benefit of the .dependants of our sailors of the Royal. Navy and mercantile marine who havo given their lives for the Empire during tho war. As the views expressed by tho board are likely to prejudice the scheme, in spite of its expression of sympathy therewith, I beg loavo to refer to the three points made in tho letter and. resolution. •

Tho first is: "That the committee lias, no power to ■ deal with tho proposal.'" This, of course; is correct, and, bearing' in view the object lor which the money is wanted, a resolution to that effect would have been a sufficient reply in the matter. But tho committee was not satisfied with that—it addW to the resolution that "while tho object of the proposal is deserving of tho supoort of; everyone, it would 'not act famy to individual woolgrowers." It requires a. more trained and subtle brain than L unfortunately possess to reconcilo these, statements, I hn,ve, however, no desire, to split straws with the committee, but I would like to ask tho chairman to explain how tho fact of my suggesting to an individual woolgrower that lie should give his surplus profits to the Sailors? Dependants' Fund would act unfairly tot him. It might bo so, if it were suggested', that legislation should bo passed to makothe contribution compulsory, but no 6uch proposition has teen made, Tho contribution proposed would be a voluntary one, cach of us woolgrowers payixK bis fair 1 quota, and would bo given as ru: expression of out recognition of our debt; to the seamen by whoso exertions and', sacrifices, often even unto death, we have, rested'in security during tlie war, arid', aro now enjoying unprecedented prosperity. In spite of the opinion of the Dominion AYoolgrowere' Advisory" Board, I am confident that th'o Ei'eat bulk of tho woolgrowers of New Zealand have sufficient generosity to admit this obligation and I propose that before we are donei with it, each farmer will havo an oppor-' tunity of expressing his opinion on tliei subject, Sir. Teschemaker-Shuto concludes his; letter with the remark that while all. are sympathetic, thero must bo a great, difference of opinion as to ''the way'! in which it (I assume ho means relief to tho sailors' dependants) can be carried out, I can assuro him that I aud tho=(\ favouring my proposal are not wedded! to any particular scheme. If ho willl kindly, and as early as convenient, inform us "tho way" that ho favou.ru, wb> will give it careful consideration, andL will support it if it is better than tli& proposal now boing discussed. All w& desiro is to discharge 6omo of our ob-; vious debt to the 6ailors of fche.Navj* and merchant service, and to make sura that the responsibility of providing fof the wives aud children of these bravo men is not entirely thrown upon tho Mother Country. To speak plainly, wo> .consider it will be ti disgrace to us it* wo do nothing more than wo havo donai in this direction.

May I point out further that our portion of tho surplus profits is practically a gift from t'ha Imperial Government. Wo have received nothing iu the past. Mid anticipated nothing in the future. The woolgrowers would have gladly accepted last year's prices again withoulj any surplus profits, but. the Imperial authorities have offered us half of ths .surplus profits, and it will surely require no great strain on our liberality to devote them to so worthy ail object a* thai which is now suggested.—l am, eto.„ EDWARD NEWMAN. Marton, August 19. Blenheim, August 7„ Edward Newman, Esq.) 11.P. ,Aly Dear Sir,—On August 2 the Do* minion Woolgrowers' Advisory' Board, met in Wellington. I placed your letter ol Julj 16 contaiuing the proposal to donato tho surplus wool profits "to tho. dependants of the bravo sailors of the. Royal 'Navy and the mercantile marine." v The question was fully discussed, resulting in the resolution I enclose. I am. sorry that it- docs not meet your views,, but a subject 6ucli as this, while ail ara sympathetic, tfhero mustT be a great difference of opinion m to tho way in which it cull be carried out.—l am, etc., C. de.V. Teschemaker-Shuts.

Advisory Committee Resolution (Wellington, August 2):—"That this committee has 110 ipowor to deal with the proposal made by Mr. Newman. That,, while it considers the object that Mr. Newman lias in view is one deserving' the support of everyone, Jiis proposal to give all the surplus wool profits to< the Sailors', Fund would not act fairljr to individual woolgrowers."