WOOL VALUING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20074, 21 October 1939, Page 10

WOOL VALUING

GISBORNE CLAIMS “NO NEED TO WORRY” NAPIER “INDEPENDENCE" FARMERS’ UNION VIEW “COLOSSAL CHEEK" Unofficial advice to the effect that Gisborne would be listed as an appraisement centre for wool clips of the district during the war period was submitted to a meeting of the Poverty Bay provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, when action taken by the president, Mr. J. E. Benson, and the secretary, Mr. C. Blackburn, in pressing the district’s claims were outlined and when strong exception was taken to the Napier attitude in urging the elimination of Gisborne.

Mr. Blackburn reported that on October 2, after consultation with the president, he had written to the Dominion secretary of the union asking him to interview the Minister regarding the district’s claims to have wool exhibited for valuation similar to when the previous commandeer was in force during the Great War.

“Facilities are even better to-day for tlie exhibition of w-ool,” the letter added, “and we trust you can get early advice from the Minister that Gisborne will be placed on the rota. “I understand that an effort is also to be made to have a valuation held at both Talaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay. Whether they have the necessary light in their wharf sheds I do not know, but we shall be glad if you will also mention these two additional places and let us have early advice as to what the Government proposes doing.” Accordingly, representations were made by the Dominion secretary to the Minister of Marketing, who replied:— “Tlie suggestions you have outlined concern matters coming under the control of the Minister of Agriculture, whose department is responsible for the appraisement and delivery of wool to whatever point of purchase may be determined. I am, therefore, referring your letter to the Minister of Agriculture, and you will no doubt receive an early reply from him.” “Considerable Hostility”

Under date of October 17, the Dominion secretary reported that he had been working quietly on the matter, but there was considerable hostility in certain quarters that had considerable influence. “It has occurred to me,” the Dominion secretary added, “that it would be an excellent move for the Coast people to combine and consign their wool through one of the small shipping companies, say, to Wellington, where they probably could arrange with their ordinary agents to have an appraisal made in one of the wharf sheds.

“If this were done the agents concerned probably could arrange for the use of the shed and for the cataloguing of the wool, and representations could be made to the Government that this procedure" would decrease their cost as compared with having to cart the wool from a Gisborne shed to the wharf and ship it. “It also would result in considerable economy of both petrol and manpower. The Government could then be expected to make an allowance to the growers concerned because of the saving.

“I pul this suggestion up to you for what it is worth, and would point out that any woolgrower can ship his wool wherever he desires for appraisal. In any case, it is well worth while that a representative committee of the growers concerned should examine the cost of the various methods.

“The Government may decide to have an appraisal made at Tokomaru Bay, but I am very doubtful of it, and there appears to be no chance at all of having an appraisal made at Tolaga Bay.” Assured of a Place Mr. Blackburn said that after the receipt of the letter he had a telephone conversation with the Dominion secretary, who had stated that Gisborne was assured of a place on the rota.

In a telegram on October 18 the Dominion secretary stated: “I cannot obtain a definite statement regarding Gisborne until a full announcement is made by the Minister, but you have no need to worry.”

The president said that the matter was of vital importance to the district, and as soon as he heard whisperings regarding the danger of Gisborne being omitted he had asked the secretary to write immediately to the Dominion secretary. This action had been justified, in view of the more recently announced action of Napier interests in endeavouring to secure all the Gisborne and Coast wool.

“To put it in my own language,” Mr. Benson added, “I think it is colossal cheek and impudence on the part of the commercial firms of Hawke’s Bay to try through their own member, the Speaker of the House, to get all of our wool. They say they want payment for the facilities they have provided, but who has to pay for it? A member: The farmers.

Mr. Benson moved that a letter be written to the Minister of Agriculture, through the Dominion secretary, asking that Gisborne be a centre for the valuation of wool. No Confirmation Yet

Mr. R. W. Coop said he understood that Gisborne had been already gazetted as a valuing centre. The secretary said that a certain firm had unofficial advice that Gisborne would be a centre, but no definite announcement had been received yet.

Mr. Coop urged that the union should write to the Hawke’s Bay mercantile firms protesting against their attitude. Mr. T. R. Jones commended the president and secretary on the prompt action they had taken in the matter, which was an important one in the revenue of the district. It was agreed to write to the Minister on the lines proposed by the president, and the president and secretary were thanked for their prompt action.