BULK PURCHASES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23486, 25 October 1939, Page 11

BULK PURCHASES

DAIRY PRODUCE AND MEAT PRICES NOT YET DECIDED NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRITAIN [by TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER J WELLING TOX, Tucsda ? Negotiations between the New Zealand and United Kingdom Governments for the purchase of the Dominion's exportable surpluses'of dairy produce and meat are still in progress, and no firtalitv as to prices has yet been reached. The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, said to-night that cablegrams were still being exchanged on the' subject, but he had had no recent advice. Although the Now Zealand Government has announced the guaranteed prices for dairy , produce within Now Zealand, it is not yet known whether the British Government's price will equal the amount of the guarantee. A hint that a discrepancy was possible with a consequent loss in the Dairy Industry Account, was given last week by Mr. Nash. The price at which the United Kingdom is prepared to buy New Zealand's wool has already been announced, but the Government has yet to reveal details connected with the appraisal and handling of the wool in New Zealand. So far, there has been no indication of the trend of the negotiations in regard to meat and the prices to be paid to the New Zealand producer. POVERTY BAY WOOL POSSIBLE LOSS TO NAPIER [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] NAPIER, Tuesday The diversion of the Poverty Bay and East .Coast wool trade from Napier to Gisborne as a result of a reorganisation by the Government under "the scheme for the purchase of the entire New Zealand wool clip by Great Britain would result in a loss to Napier of £50,000, according to Mr. D. B. McCrae, president'of the Hawke's Bay Storemen and Packers' Union. This figure, lie said, when commenting on the claims put forward by Poverty Bay farmers for the establishment of an appraisement centre in Gisborne. included loss of wages to union members. carriers and others who would be affected. "The Government desires the quickest possible despatch of the woo!," lie said, "and it is not going to have a convoy held up by boats scattering all over the coastline for wool." Unofficial advice that Gisborne would bo listed as an appraisement centre' for the wool clips of the district during the war period was submitted to a meeting of the Poverty Bay provincial executive of the Farmers' [Tnion. Strong exception was taken to an attempt bv-Napier interests to eliminate Gisborne.