Wanted: A Wool Board

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 280, 23 August 1944, Page 4

Wanted: A Wool Board

Sir,—You published in Tuesday s Dominion” a letter signed, by Mr. L. 1. Daniell, Masterton, which I cannot allow to pass without comment. Mr. Daniell states: “The woolgrower is allowed no voice in present negotiations and no voice in post-war wool disposal. When the lengthy negotiations took place between the New Zealand Government and the British Government for the sale of NewZealand wool to the latter Government, all the recognized leaders of the wool.industry were invited to meet the 1 rime Minister, the Minister of'Finance and the Minister of Agriculture to discuss the terms of the Agreement for Sale. Lae Wool Council, the Farmers Union, the Woolgrowers’ Federation, the Meat Board and the Wool Brokers Association were all fully represented and numerous meetings were held at which the price of wool and all the conditions of sale were fully discussed, and no point was finalized without the full agreement of the wool industry's representatives. . The present agreement is for the period of the war, and one clip after. Obviously if the contract is to be extended proposals for same would be made by the British Government to the New Zealand Government, and Mr. Daniell has no reason to suggest that the New Zealand Government will not again fully consult the wool industry’s representatives before agreeing to an extension or alteration of the present contracts with Britain. His sarcastic reference to some imagined business between Mr. Nash and myself is unworthy of comment except to point out that in stating “the Minister does as he likes without consulting us, Mr. Daniell overlooks the fact that till he became a member of the Wool Council under a year ago, he knew absolutely nothing of past negotiations, and is therefore not competent to judge. The same comment can be made regarding his "opinion of my experience, I take very strong exception to what Mr. Daniell refers to as “the trip Mr. Christie proposes to take to London in November.” Any proposal to send a representative or representatives to London will be decided by the Wool Council, of which Mr. Daniell is a member, and he knows the Wool Council and not I will decide who is to represent it. As this matter is still under consideration by the Wool Council, it is a definite breach of confidence for Mr. Daniell to refer to it publicly, and I consider it out of keeping with the sense of responsibility which could reasonably be expected of a council member. I believe the Wool Council should have the same powers as the Meat Board, but Mr. Daniell should know that the Meat Board cannot use its full powers while the present sale contracts with Britain exist. It should be obvious to any thinking person that the British Government can only deal with the Government of the country from which, it makes bulk purchases. Mr. Daniell appears to have overlooked the fact that most of the surpluswool stocks have been paid for and are the property of the British Government, and it will certainly not be dictated to by any woolgrowers’ representatives as to how it is to dispose of same. However, the British Government can be relied upon to arrange for the distribution ot surplus wool in a manner which will cause the least economic disturbance to Dominion producers and the industry generally.—l am, etc., H. M. CHRISTIE, Chairman, N.Z. Wool Council. Wellington, August 22.