BOARD MEMBER’S VIEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26793, 9 June 1948, Page 6

BOARD MEMBER’S VIEWS

If a permanent system of wool marketing was to be set up in the future for the benefit of woolgrowers in New Zealand, they would have to be prepared to bear its cost. This statement was made to the wool and meat section of Federated Farmers yesterday by Mr H. J. Wardell, of Kurow, a member of the New Zealand Wool Board.

Mr Wardell said that the Minister Of Finance, Mr Nash, should be given some credit for the arrangement of the wool disposal system in New Zealand. It was much ahead of those operating in Australia or South Africa_ If there were to be a permanent scheme, growers would probably consider that they should have an equal share in the marketing organisation. If they were to take part in such a scheme, however, they would have to put up the money to enable it to operate. It had been estimated that about £10,000,000 would have to be put up by the growers. Mr Wardell added that when the work of the Joint Organisation came to an end, the surplus money held Would go to the growers. The New Zealand Wool Board also was in favour of a permanent marketing scheme, although there was no intention of having an account such as the Meat Account set-up. Reviewing the work of _ the Joint Organisation, Mr Wardell said that last season the stocks in New Zealand were reduced to the point which the organisation had estimated would be reached in 1953, so that progress in the Dominion was well ahead of schedule. The stocks of “critical types!’ of wool in New Zealand had also been reduced to a large extent, and at the end of last season.all the values were 100 per cent, above those ruling between 1934 and 1938. Although pressure had been brought to bear on New Zealand in London to reduce its crossbred values, and the Dominion’s delegates maintained that this would not assist the milling position, the reserve prices were comparatively unaltered in the finish. Mr Wardell said that the stocks of wool in New Zealand had been reduced by 47 per cent, in two years. At the close of this season it was expected that the stocks remaining would be about 3,000,000 bales. Taking a long view, he said that growers could look forward to another good season as America was operating freely, and Japan was expected to enter the market again next year.