CONFERENCE DECISION

Evening Post, Issue 122, 26 May 1933, Page 8

CONFERENCE DECISION

A SCHEME ADOPTED

MR. RANSOM'S ASSURANCE

(From "The Post's" Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. Proposals of. a far-reaching nature, having as their objective the raising of the standard of crossbred wool and the sheep-breeding industry in the .North Island, were adopted by a large and. influential meeting of sheepbreeders held at the Regent Theatre, Palinerston North, .today. Over 300 breeders attended. There were also present the Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Eansom) and the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. ;C. E. Macmilla.u). Briefly, the conference decided that to finance >a sheep and wool improvement scheme the Government be asked to pass legislation enabling the imposition of a levy of not more than 3d per bale on all wool grown in tho North Island, or in tho Dominion if the South Island wishes to come into the scheme. Further, that tho Government be asked to pass an , empowering clause to tho Meat Board Act giving the board discretionary power to subsidise any such levy to an extent that may be rendered necessary by circumstances. It was decided that the total sum accruing be administered by a committee set up by the Sheep Farmers' Conference; also that no further time should bo lost in bringing into force some suitable scheme, preferably of a voluntary nature, for the certification of sires, and thai the Bomney Marsh Sheep Breeders' Association give the matter serious consideration and approach the other breed societies on the subject. Mr. Hansom assured the conference of the support of the Government, stressing the value to the Dominion of its wool. Ho said that a penny per pound on wool meant £1,000,000 to the Dominion. There were 15,000,000 sheep in the North Island. At Is per pound wool alone was worth £12,000,000 to the Dominion. ' ■ Discussing tho 3d levy, Mr, Ransom said that tho average grower with less than 1000 sheep would pay only about 5s for twenty bales.- One penny rise would mean 8d per sheep, or about £33. He emphasised that while studying wool, they must not neglect to study the class of sheep for mutton and the fat lamb trade. He also outlined possible improvements in classing and binning, and emphasised that much wool was exported without grading as against other primary products, which were graded for export.' At present1 much competition from Continental, American, and Japanese buyers was lost for badly-classed lines. Under a national system the growers, brokers, and buyers would know what was meant by a particular description. The Minister stressed tho desirability of widening the markets, and said that' the Dominion must sell to thoso countries from which she bought. He. hoped that the tariff revision and the World Economic Conference would bo fruitful. Professor Peren, of Massey College, outlined ways and means' of improving the quality of sheep and wool. Dr. Marsden also spoke- regarding research. In the course of a general discussion, Mr. J. C. Field, of Gisborne, remarked: "Tho Meat Board is sitting tight on £100,000 levy money, and it should be made available for this research." The conference was unanimous in its attitude, and a committee was set up to -T-rry its. wishes out.