WOOL PURCHASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24536, 19 March 1943, Page 4

WOOL PURCHASE

TERM OF AGREEMENT "EXTENSION INEVITABLE" (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday "I have always regarded such a step as inevitable," declared Mr. H. M. Christie, chairman of the New Zealand Wool Council, when asked to comment on a reported request by Australia to Great Britain for an extension of the wool purchasing agreement for a period of up to seven years after the war. Under the present agreement New Zealand, after providing for its own requirements, sells its surplus wool production to Britain, and that procedure holds good only as far as the end of the war and the next clip thereafter, Mr. Christie said. New Zealand had made no similar request for any extension, but it was generally regarded that some extension would be necessary. ! Post-war Stabilisation Touching on the effect of the extenI sion of the selling agreement on producers, Mr. Christie said such a longterm purchase plan would result in stabilisation during the very difficult period of post-war reconstruction. There would, of course, have to be safeguards to ensure that New Zealand, for in- | stance, was in a fair position compared i with other producing countries if and ! when suph method of bulk purchasing was terminated. After the war many difficulties would be encountered in making supplies available to countries devastated by war, such ;>s France, and some form of bulk purchasing would have to be continued for a period after the war. One aspect vitally concerning New Zealand was distribution. Mr. Christie said he felt that if an extended agreement was made with Britain an Empire committee or council of some kind would have to be set up, with possibly United States representation as well, to supervise the position. Financing Countries If the United States were asked to bear a share of the cost of bulk purchasing for distribution, such representation would be necessary to protect the interests of the Dominions or the producing countries concerned. Other questions requiring consideration were how the wool was to be distributed and the long-term effect it would have on industry. An agreement would have to be so drawn that when it terminated the producing countries would not be at any disadvantage. It must be borne in mind that the devastated countries must be rehabilitated and must be in a position to buy raw materials. The financing of this under some scheme must be done mainly by Britain and the United States. Consequently, as financing countries, they could not be expected to enter into open competition in the ordinary auction system of selling, although it might be possible to release a given quantity of wool production for open selling by the producing countries. SALES TO RUSSIA NEW ZEALAND EXPORTS (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Thursday The United Kingdom took the largest quantity of wool, 326.804 bales, from New Zealand during tho year ended July 31, 1942. Canada was the next best customer with 126,497 bales. Russia. however, took more than the United States, Australia or Tndia. The respective figures were: Russia, 72.526 bales; United States, 40.042; India, 31,396; and Australia, 3061. During 1940-41, 583,437 bales were exported. During the last period under review, according to the annual report of the Export Division of the Department of Marketing, the total had been increased to 600.326 bales. LAW IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTIONS BY SOCIETY (P A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Regret that the new code of divorce rules for the Supreme Court, settled by the Rules Committee in 1941, had not been promulgated, was expressed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Law Society to-day. A motion was carried urging that it be done without delay. Further, that the society respectfully suggested that when a body charged with tho legal duty of framing such rules asked that they he given effect to there should he no delay in gazetting them. Mr. O'Learv said it was a matter of some discouragement that little or no notice was taken of representations by the society to those whose duty it was to consider logislatioi. and its amendments. One of the principal functions of the society was to consider and propose desirable changes and improvements in the law as suggested from time to time by the district societies and members of the profession. Suggestions were not prompted by political considerations, the society being a non-political body, but their practical experience as lawyers enabled them to know what changes or amendments were desirable, Mr. O'Leary continued. In spite of disappointment it was the duty of the society to persevere in its efforts and assist by putting forward from time to time as the necessity arose practical suggestions for improvement of the laws of the Dominion.

PUBLIC BEQUESTS

Public bequests have been provided for in two wills of which probate has been granted. After private bequests and life interests have been satisfied, Mrs. Rebecca Stoupe. of Papatoetoe, has left £25 for the maintenance of St. John's Presbyterian Church. Papatoetoe, and a seventh share in the residue of her estate to the St. John Ambulance Association. Mrs. Stoupe died on January 27 leaving an estate valued at under €2BOO. Miss Annie Keehan, whose death occurred on December 25. has left £25 to the Roman Catholic parish of Onehunga, £25 for the education of students for the priesthood, and £25 for the Roman Catholic Maori Mission, conducted by the INI ill Hill fathers.