WOOL SURPLUS

Evening Star, Issue 16822, 26 August 1918, Page 7

WOOL SURPLUS

Mr Edward Newman, SEP., writes to us as follows : j I b«j to hand you a tetter which I have received from Mr 0. De V. TcschmakerShiue, chairman o! the Dominion Woolgrowers' Advisory Board, covering a resolution passed by that board with reference to : my proposal "that surplus profits on wool ' commandeered by the Imperial Government ' should bo devoted to a fund for the benefit : of the dependents of our sailors of the Royal : Navy and mercantile marine, who have given their lives for the Empire during the war. As the views expressed by the board are likely to prejudice the scheme, in spite of i their expression of sympathy therewith, 1 beg leave to refer to the three points mado in the letter and resolution.

j The first is. " That the Committee have no power to deal with the proposal." This, of course, is correct, and, bearing in view tha object for which tho money is wanted, a resolution to that effect would have been a sufficient reply in the matter. But the committee were not satisfied with that. They added to the resolution, that "while the object of the proposal is deserving of the support of everyone, it would not act fairly to individual woolgrowers." It requires a mere trained and subtle brain than I unfortunately possess to reconcile these stat». ments. I have, however, no desire to split, straws with the committee, but 1 would liUe to ask the chairman to explain how the fact of mv suggesting to an individual woolgrower that he should give his surplus protits to the saiiors" dependents' fund would act. unfairly to him. It might bo so, if it were suggested that legislation should be passed to make the contribution compulsory, , but no such proposition has been made. The ! contribution proposed would be a voluntary ' one, each of us woolgrowers paying his fair quota, and would be'given as an expression u: our recognition of our debt to tho seai men, bv whose exertions and sacrifices, often I even' unto death, we have rested in security ! during the war, and are now enjoying unpreI cedented prosperity. In spite of the opinion 'of tho Dominion Woolgrowers' Advisory \ Board, I jim confident that the great bulk o: the -woolgrowers of New Zealand have sufficient generosity to admit this obligation, ; and I propose that before wc are done with i it, each farmer shall have an opportunity of ' expressing his opinion on the subject. Mr Tsaclimt.kir-Sht.itc concludes His letter with the remark that, while all are sympathetic, thero must be a great difference of ; opinion as to "the way" in which -it (1 assume he means relief" to the sailors' dependents) can bo carried out. I can assure him that I and those favoring my proposal are not wedded to any particular scheme. If he will kindly, and as early as convenient, inform us "the way" that he favors, we will give it careful consideruton, -and will support ; it. if it is better than the proposal now beng j discussed. All we desire is to discharge I some of our obvious debt to the sailors of the Navy and merchant service, -and to' ma.ko sure that the responsibility of providing for I the wives and children of these brave men is '■ not entirely thrown upon the Mother Couutrv. To speak plainly, we consider it will bea disgrace to us i: we do nothing more than we have done in this direction.

Hay I point out, further, that our portion 1 of the. surplus profits is practically a gift ; from thr, Imperial Government. "We have received nothing in the past, and anticipated ncthinsr in the future. The woolgrowers would "have gladly accepted Inst year's prices again without any surplus proiits, Vat theImperial authorities have offered us half of ths surplus profits, and it will surely require no great strain on our liberality to devote them to fa worthy an object as that which, is now sug-gosiel.

A-roiulak-, Blenheim, August 7, 1918. Mr Edward Newman, M.P.. Marion. Sir, —On August 2 the Dominion Woolgrowers' Advisory Board met in Wellington. I placed your letter of July 16, containing the proposal to donate the surplus wool profits "to the dependents of the breve sailors _of the Royal N'avy and mercantile marine." The question was fully discussed, resulting in the resolution I enclose. I am sorry that it does not meet your views, but on a subject such as this, while all -aro sympathetic, there rnti'' be a great difference of opinion as to the way ,in which it can be carried out.—o. De V. Teschmaker-Sliute.

Advisory Committee Resolution. —"That this committcs have no power to deal with the proposal made by Sir Newman. That, while they consider the object that Mr 'Newman has in view is 011 a deserving the support of everyone, his proposal to give all the surplus profits to the sailors' fund would not act- fairly to individual woolgrowers."