WOOL BUYERS’ THREAT

Evening Star, Issue 19175, 16 February 1926, Page 2

WOOL BUYERS’ THREAT

CRISIS OVER WANGANUI SALE LIMITATION THE CAUSE COMMITTEE EXTENDS ALLOCATION [Per United Press Association.] ./ WANGANUI, February 15. One of the most extraordinary developments in connection with to-mor-row’s wool sales took place yesterday, and probably never in the history of the wool industry has there been such a remarkable occurrence, the overseas wool buyers having threatened the Wool Committee that they would not buy another bale ot New Zealand wool unless the limitation of W anganui’s allocation of 12,000 bales was extended to 15,000 or 16,000 bales. It appears that when in Christchurch the buyers, who form a travelling contingent of fifty or sixty strong, heard that the Wanganui allocation w r as only 12,000 bales, though more than 20,000 bales were in store.

To learn the position they telegraphed to the Wanganui Woolbrokers Association, and were informed by telegram that the allocation was 16,000, not 12,000. Quite satisfied, they came on to Wanganui, only to learn that a mistake had been made in the telegram, and that only 12,000 bales were on offer. The result was general dissatisfaction among the fifty-three buyers. The buyers, after considering the matter, left no doubt as to their feelings on the question, and developments were quick and sensational. The buyers decided on drastic action, and immediately issued an ultimatum to the com'mittee in Wellington. They informed the committee that, unless the Wanganui allocation was increased to 16,000 bales, they would not operate to-morrow, nor buy so much as a bale at any of the succeeding sales, including Auckland, Napier, and Wellington, which follow. The whole of the New Zealand wool trade is thus involved in the present extraordinary situation. HOT A DAY'S WORK

Although it was the unintentionally misleading telegram which brought the havers here from Christchurch and transferred the scene of their protest from the kmthern city to Wanganui, the buyers state that their quarrel is not with tho Wanganui Woblbrokers’ Association, but with the official committee in Wellington. Among the members of that committee, which the bn vers consider has outlived its usefulness, are Messrs W. Perry (Mnsterton), B. E. H. Tripp (South Canterbury), A. E. Mabin (Wellintgon), and W- S. Bennett (Wellington). The chief complaint of tho buyers is that 12,000 bales does not represent a respectable day’s work. “It was not worth our while to come from Christchurch for such a small offering,’’ said one of them Just night. He stated that the. Wool Committee's idea was to distribute the wool evenly over a longer period, thus extending the season by artificial means. Of tho 24,000 bales now in store _in Wanganui practically half were being withheld for tho March sale. This restriction on the February offering was not only irksome to tho buyers, but was also disadvantageous to the growers, as by March the season would be waning, and the overseas _ buyers would have already, begun their seasonal drift homeward.

“ With onlv 12,000 bales there is not ejiougli. wool t« go roinul,” said a buyer. “ There' are fifty-three of us, and such an offering does not give enough variety and choice to make the sale worth our while. Had we known only 12,000 bales wore offering we would not have come here. The position is now that things have reached a climax, and we are firmly determined to bxiv no more wool until the Allocation Committee relaxes its attitude.” All interested were on tenterhooks all day over the matter, and the mayor (Mr Hope Gibbons) and the chairman of the Harbor Board (Mr A. G, Bignell) sent the following telegram of protest to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture, and also to the Wool Committee: — A serious situation has arisen in ■connection with to-morrow’s wool sale, owing to a limitation of the catalogue to 12.000 bales. The buyers will not operate, either here or elsewhere in Now Zealand, unless the catalogue is extended to at least .16,000 bales. Double the quantity is in store here, and the action of the Wool Comrtiittee in reducing the catalogues is adversely affecting the farmers and the district generally. We feel that we are not being treated fairlv, and strongly protest against the ‘continual limitation of W anganui’s catalogue. Me would be pleased if you would look into the matter with a view to remedying the position, otherwise serious complications will ensue.

This evening word was received from Wellington that the allocation had been increased to 15,0U0, and, as the augmented offering satisfied the buyers, the sale will now proceed as originally intended. A big crisis has _ been averted, and it is a case of “ All s well that ends well.” It would have been disastrous to the woolgrowers of New Zealand had such a delicate situation not been most carefully handled. WOOL COMMITTEE'S STATEMENT CONCESSION CORRECTS MISTAKE. WELLINGTON, February 15. Regarding the position which has arisen in connection with the Wanganui February wool sale, the New Zealand Wool Committee passed the following resolution at a special meeting held to-day : —■

This committee has very carefully considered the unfortunate position which has arisen in connection with the "Wanganui February wool sale, and, taking into consideration the fact that buyers have been misled by a mistake which occurred in a telefram sent to them in Christchurch y the Wanganui Woolbrokers’ Association, on which, no doubt, the buyers’ arrangements have been based, the committee resolves that, under the exceptional circumstances, the allocation for February bo increased to 15,000 bales. . The committee would, however, point out most emphatically that the allocations originally adopted by it provide Wanganui with its full quota as compared witli other centres in the dominion. The committee never had any intention of limitinig the March offerings. Further, the committee would point out that an invitation was extended to the Wool Buyers’ Association to send representatives to attend the meeting of the Wool Committee when the. allocations for the present season were arranged, but this was not taken advantage of.