STABILISATION ISSUE

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

STABILISATION ISSUE

BOARD PREPARED TO FIGHT The opinion that there would be no stabilisation of wool if a contributory charge account were operated by growers was expressed by Mr H. J. Wardell, of Kurow, a member of the New Zealand Wool Board, in answer to a question by the president, Mr S. Sim, of Heriot, at the meeting* of the wool and meat section of Federated Farmers yesterday. Mr Wardell said that pressure had been brought to bear both on the Wool Board and the Joint Organisation to reduce the amount of this account, but stabilisation could be met if growers agreed to an increase in their contributory charges. He agreed that the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, had met with some opposition from other members of the Government for failing to bring wool under stabilisation, but added that the Government had never fought the Wool Board, and he believed that it wds the duty of the board to meet the Government as far as possible. Mr Wardell said that the matter had never been discussed by the Wool Board, but if there were any suggestion that wool should be stabilised, the board would fight it to the last ditch. Mr J. E. D. Roberts, of Middlemarch, earlier in the day said that there might be something in stabilisation if it actually held down prices. He claimed, however, that no attempt had been made to stabilise the cost of tractors, fencing wire, fertilisers, and the equipment necessary in running a farm. He said that farmers did not know what stabilisation was costing them, and suggested that they should employ an economist to investigate the position. He added that farmers should try to have all commodities brought back on to a free market.