Why Gisborne Sale Boycotted

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1947, Page 2

Why Gisborne Sale Boycotted

.CHRISTCHURCH. Thu. (P.A.)—'The reasons why the New Zealand Wool Buyers' Association has decided not to recognise Gisborne as a selling centre were given in a statement from the association issued by the secretary (Mr J. M. Hargreaves) yesterday. The association expressed the opinion that the commencement oi sales in Gisborne would create a precedent, and thus strengthen representations for the holding of sales in such small centres as Camara and Blenheim, and add tc- the already heavy burden and cost of wool buying in New Zealand. "Frequent representations have been made to the association over a long period by interested bodies to have Gisborne recognised as a selling centre, but after very careful consideration of the issues involved three full general meetings unanimously decided to decline this request,” said the statement. "The decision was made known to interested parties as far back as February, 1940. EIGHT CENTRES “There arc already in New Zealand eight widely separated centres for tne disposal of' about 800,000 bales, compared with New South Wales, which lias three centres covering 1.100,000 bales. “Already the cost of travelling about 10,000 miles a season is disproportionate to the amount of wool sold. "The actual strain of so much travelling, mostly by train and bus, and using hotel bedroom, as temporary offices for the large amount of clerical work involved, already exceeds reasonable limits, and any additional tra- 1 veiling would be an insupportable burden. "Gisborne is so situated geographically that a sale cannot be held there on the way to another centre, except from Napier to Auckland, which would involve 150 miles by rail, followed by a 12-hour journey over difficult mountainous roads. “Gisborne is a roadstead port steamers standing' out at sea and being served by lighters—and the overseas shipowners’ allotment committee has decided that. Gisborne wool will in future be shipped or railed to Napier and there loaded on overseas steamers. "With the poor coastal steamer service available, and the acute shortage of rolling slock, this would undoubtedly lead to shipping delays, and aggravate further the already slow turnround of overseas vessels. LONG ABSENCES “The Gisborne district would normally produce about 55,000 bales a season, of which possibly 25,000 bales were shipped direct to London before the war. "For the wool trade this was a desirable teature, since it provided a certain amount of spot wool. In practice. it has been shown this season that Napier can competently handle the entire Gisborne production, in addition to wools from the Hawke’s Bay district, and. since Gisborne wool must eventually be shipped irom Napier, the association can see no reason for holding sales in Gisborne. "Cne of the greatest difficulties in buving in New Zealand is the long period for which buyers are absent from their offices. "Anv additional selling' centres must obviously prolong such absences and decrease efficiency.”