LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 38, 8 November 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE WOOL PURCHASE TANGLEA WAY OUT. Sir,—l am glad to see that the Farmers' Unions have taken up some' of the points which you have been good enough to allow me to ventilate in vour widely-read paper, and which so serio'usly aflect the financo of tho Dominion as well as tho interests of tho primary producer. Many, I observe, now begin to understand the origin of the "infinitesima," greasy wool surplus, and some, I daresay, will not forget that they have been misled into assigning it by people ignorant of the true position.. But I stilL think it would save many political heartburnings, and facilitate an early settleJiient of the sum Bhort paid, if Mr. Massoy wouf.d take the matter in hand and ask the Imperial Wool Commissioner to correct tho mistake, which ho has drawn attention' to in his report of June. 191S, either'on the terms conceded by him to the owners of elipe wool, or, failing that, to accept his original offer of 45 per cent, over pre-war Loudon prices.

I hold that it will be found not only ilksome, but quite impossible, to render correct accounts to the grower as to the outcome of his clip, and to discriminate between what has been used for military and civilian purposes. The farmer whose wool was used for the former gets no return, whilo his neighbour, whose, clip proved unsuitable for soldiers' clothing and requirements,- chiefly on account of its fineness, and sold for civilian use, will receive a- pleasant surprise in the shape of a fat cheque. Would it not be better, therefore, irrespective of what the surplus may he, to trent. all of ike by selling outright at tho price the Commissioner intended us to receive for greasy wool or on the basis of the slipe wool sale, rather than wait, it may be for years, until this, promised surplus has been arrived nt. Such a settlement as I propose would, I fancy, be welcomed J>y the Imperial Government, ns it would leave them free and untrammelled to dispose of the wool as they thought fit, and I am sure would Iw acceptable to woolgrowers, while the large majority, instead of cue-fourth only who have assigned tho surplus, would willingly contribute a percentage to the Mercantile' Marine Fund, so strongly supported by Mr. Newman, M.P. TJie lort; payment is computed to amount to about, seven and a half millions sterling per annum, or twentytwo and a half for the three yearsi which' would more than provide for the i soldiers' bonus.—l am, etc., WOOL GROWER.