WOOL AND SKINS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 14

WOOL AND SKINS

Dealers’ Licences To Be Cancelled

NEW SYSTEM INTRODUCED

All current wool dealers’ and skin dealers' licences are to be cancelled as from September 30. and a new method of issuing licences anti controlling dealing is to be introduced. Making this announcement yesterday, the Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Lee Martin, said that applications for new licences must: be lodged with the Primary Industries Controller, Department of Agriculture. Wellington, not later than September 10 so that due consideration could be given to the granting of comprehensive licences to operate from October .1 in time for the new season. 'l’lte Minister said that' applicants would be-promptly notified of the conditions attachable to the new licence. In future only a. limited number of licences would be issued by the Primary Industries Controller, which would allow the holder to deal in wool (other than sliped or scoured), sheepskins. hides, calfskins and oddments. Under the terms of the licence, dealers would be required to keep bn a prescribed form records of all purchases and receipts, together with name and address of the person for whom the purchase was made. Reasons For Change. Explaining the reasons for the new system, the Minister said that the New Zealand Government had sold to the United Kingdom Government the whole of New Zealand’s wool production for the period of the war and one year afterward. For the purpose of purchasing the wool, and to meet the requirements of the United Kingdom Government, contracts had been made with the wool buyers, wool brokers, and wool scourers’ associations to carry out their normal work, and regulations had been passed to give the necessary control.. “As the controlling authority, it is the duty of the Government to protect both the United Kingdom Government as the purchaser and. the New Zealand sheep-farmers as the sellers,” said the. Minister. “So far, most of the arrangements have worked as smoothly as can be expected in such a big scheme, and the Government has received the full co-operation of all concerned. Oddnicnt Dealers. “Many wool and oddment dealers supply a useful service by collecting and properly preparing for sale wool skins and oddments which for various reasons would otherwise be allowed to deteriorate. It was considered, however, that some control over dealing was necessary, and accordingly regulations were passed making it illegal for any person to deal in wool, skins and oddments without a licence. Licences to deal in wool were issued by the Primary Industries Controller, and to deal in sheepskins by the Sheep skin Controller. “The war has made it-necessary to economize in the use of petrol and oil, and iu a number of services it has been found necessary to zone areas to bring about the desired result. In the case of wool dealers, it is believed that many are operating without a licence, and'that there are more dealing than is necessary and desirable. Unfortunately, it has been found that many dealers are failing to comply with the conditions of their licences and are also not keeping proper records of their purchases. “Following representations and some complaints which have been made, the whole matter has been carefully considered, and it has now been decided to introduce the new method of issuing licences aud controlling dealing.”