Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 1937. THE WOOL CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 3 February 1937, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 1937. THE WOOL CONFERENCE.

Mr H. M. Christie, M.P., who attended the wool conference in Australia as chairman of the New Zealand delegation, has made public the proceedings at Canberra. There were three woolgrowing countries represented— Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa —and the main decision was to set up a highlypaid secretariat in London to administer the Wool Publicity and Research Fund, which is to be £SO,OUU per annum, New Zealand’s share being 19 per cent, of the total. A council is to be set up in each of the three countries, and internal publicity and research are to be administered by each council. Publicity and research are to be commended for the marked benefits each should confer on the industry if carefully administered. Advertising and similar propaganda shoufd undoubtedly cause a material increase in ttie consumption of wool wherever practised. Research into the possibilities of improving the quality of crossbred woof will be very desirable, and many vitally connected with the industry have realised that this is so by supporting previous movements to inaugurate a research fund. In Australia and South Africa wool production is the main objective, but in New Zealand we grow sheep for meat as well, both industries bulking large in the national economy. Because of this we have a preponderance of crossbred sheep, while Merino sheep predominate in Australia and South Africa. The chief world demand is for fine Merino wool.

The conference recognised that wool was a world commodity, and while prices were, at present, on a satisfactory basis, although not on a very sure foundation, still no attempt would be made by the publicity and research campaign to raise prices. Wool, however, being a world commodity the prices will be subject to world conditions. Restrictions which hamper international trade were the subject of a strong resolution by the conference. Yet both Australia and New Zealand impose restrictions on international trade, for the artificial rate of currency exchange and the sales tax have that effect. Fortunately, the bulk of the wool goes through the United Kingdom, and the ramifications of its overseas trade enable it to minimise the effects of restrictions. Again, it is necessary to point out that Argentina and some of the other South American republics are wool - growing countries _ and should be requested to contribute to the fund; in any case those countries will share in the benefits that may accrue from the operations of the Publicity and Research Fund to be provided by three British countries.