PUBLICITY FOR WOOL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 6

PUBLICITY FOR WOOL

Levy Up to 6d. a Bale Approved RAYON PROPAGANDA Approval of the suggested levy on wool fop publicity and research purposes was expressed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Sheepowners' and Farmers’ Federation yesterday.

“The necessity for some action by Empire wool producers to combat the harmful and misleading propaganda re cently used in the interests of manufacturers of fabrics having a vegetable origin, and the necessity for further research in the interests of the wool growing industry, has at last been actively recognised by Australian woolgrowers, at whose request the Commonwealth Government has recently passed legislation providing for a levy on wool of 6d. per bale for this purpose, and the committee to allocate the funis collected is, with the addition of one Government representative, to consist of six members, to be representatives of woolgrowers,” the annual report stated. “This news will be gratifying to members in view of the general opinion expressed by our branches favouring the collection of a levy from New Zealand woolgrowers for similar work, provided other Empire wool producers bore their proportion of the cost Copies of the. Australian legislation have come to hand, and a draft of the New Zealand Act is now being prepared, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Director-General, agreeing with the executive that it is desirable that as far as possible the New Zealand Bill should conform to the Australian law. in order that Australia. South Africa and New Zealand, with Great Britain, may collaborate in an Empire scheme of publicity, and if possible, research also, in the interests of the sheepowning Industry throughout the Em pire. Advice is to hand that the Australian Act is quite satisfactory to the sheepowners’ organisations there. The executive has every confidence that when finalised the New Zealand legislation will prove equally satisfactory The need for the committee to be fully representative of woolgrowers, with one representative of the Government, has been stressed throughout by the executive, and it is gratifying to note that this principle has been given full effect to in the Australian Act.” “Australia has at last passed the ne-

cessary legislation to provide funds by way of a wool levy for research and propaganda in the interests of woolgrowers,” said the chairman, Mr. H. D. Acland, speaking to the annual report. “Our Government is now preparing a draft of legislation for a similar purpose, and I am convinced of the necessity for funds to be provided to enable New Zealand to bear its share of the cost of this work on an Empire basis. The rayon manufacturers are spending millions each year on propaganda of a most elaborate and convincing kind, and as a result the increase in output has been enormous over the last few years. The great English firm of Courtaulds alone employ directly 78,000 workers, while the output from competing countries has also been ■ increased out of all knowledge. “I trust that our Government will follow the lead given by Australia, and provide in our legislation for the allocating committee to be composed of woolgrowers' representatives, with one Government representative.” The conference unanimously approved of the principle of a levy up to 6d. a bale and decided to urge the Government to make the New Zealand legislation similar to that in Australia.