REQUISITIONING OF WOOL

Nelson Evening Mail, 20 November 1916, Page 4

REQUISITIONING OF WOOL

-AMEN.DED OFFER- BY IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT... ON A NEW BASIS. The Government has received a cable ■miessago fro mi the Prime Minister (Mi - Mnssey) in> which- ho conveys tho terms of an amended offer on- ibehalf o'C the Imperial Government for the purchase of New Zealand wool, says the Dominion. The terms r>f this offer are at present confidential, but they am doubt be communicated! to the wool-growers in dine course.

The first offer of tho Imperial Government, an advance of 45 iper cent on 1913-14 values, was rejected on the ground! that it was inequiita-ble. It has not been alleged that iib was inadequate or ■mean, although some growers at the conferoce who voted to reject it may have had th'is idea in mind', 'but that the basis of values was unfair. Prices of last season 1 indicate that for war purposes wools classed as: "inferior" are of not very mnch less value than, the finest w r ools, for the differences' in values between high .ga-ade and low grade wools have tended! to diminish. Tho offer of a; 45 iper cent, increase on pre-war prices dtkl not provide for this. Payment on that scale wouldi have preserved or even accentuated pre-war differnces in value, and the growers of the less fine wools, if they arc right in. assuming from thti prices paid' that their product is of proportionately more value to the Eaniplire as compared' with finer wools than before, the war, have, some justi.ficat on for their decision to reject the Imiperia.l Govern'moit's offer. The new offer .is. on a. different basis, which may proye more acceptable . It is understood, however, that the proposals made by the wool-growers in conference have not been accepted 1 hy the Imperial Government. ' " ". . •