WOOL MARKETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26026, 14 December 1945, Page 6

WOOL MARKETING

Sir, —Your correspondent “ Liberal ” flounders in the mire in regard to the purpose and necessity of .the wool marketing scheme. If it were not in the best interests of the wool-producing countries to protect the wool market, it would not be done. If wool is so valuable a commodity as to justify its denial to enemy countries at so great a cost in war-time, seeing it is used only for warm clothing, it can be taken for granted that it is equally valuable in time of peace. If the millions of people who are threatened with death for lack of warmth had the surplus wool it is safe to say this terrible threat would be greatly reduced if not eliminated. It is no fault of the wool grower that his valuable commodity has been denied the mills of the world so that the accumulated stocks have grown to so great proportions that it will take 13 years to bring them to normal proportions. The large wool growers have suffered greater hardships than any other class of farmer. The wool was taken at too low a price on the ground that costs would not be allowed to rise. What is the story? Costs have risen out of ail proportion to the price paid for ,'wool. While a great many people, including sections of the workers, have too much cash for their own good, the wool growers have been in a number of instances carrying on at a dead loss. The wool grower should not be penalised because it was necessary to deny an otherwise valuable commodity to the enemy. Because the Allies have destroyed so many homes and rendered millions cold it seems only right that all the surplus wool should he given to them without delay. If this is not done the " have nots ” are provided with a fertile ground for future war.—l am, etc., 1914-1915 S.ar. Queenstown, December 12.