"SURPLUS PROFITS."

Otago Witness, Issue 3438, 3 February 1920, Page 10

"SURPLUS PROFITS."

As country readers no doubt will remember a scheme was launched in 1918, whereby New Zealand wool growers were invited to allocate their share in any surplus profits on Dominion grown wool purchased by the Imperial Government, for the benefit of dependants of the sailors of the British Navy and Mercantile Marine. Surplus profits, it may be explained would seem to comprise half share in the amount realised on wool sold to civilians, over and above the price paid to growers for wool under the commandeer less charges. Owing to the long delay in handing over any profits which may have accrued, and to the fac that the majority of wool growers did not respond to the appeal to subscribe to the allocation of unknown profits the minority may be excused if they feel sore and indignant at the delay. It is one tiling to make a contribution under supposedly well-understood conditions, it is quite another thing to find one committed to subscribe to a fund which may be over-flowing with shekels. In the circumstances which exist to-day" it would seem wise if the trustees were to review the conditions and discuss matters as they are, in so far as com paratively few wool growers are affected. The matter will not perhaps interest the large wool owners to the same extent as the small sheep owners, but the former, in any case, are well able to fight for themselves. In the interest of those who perhaps fear that they may be accused of repudiating their undertaking the matter should be reopened and finality reached on the matter which is of ever-increasing interest. We have it on record that the Prime Minister says that the amount of 50 per cent, of tho profits clue up to March 31, 1918, would probably be determined and available immediately, and that they were expediting the completion of the returns to March 31, 1919. Well, it may be so, but we fail to sec how it is possible to get very fax on towards the completion and realisation of the commandeered wool, for a year or two yet, and are of the opinion' that the position to-day warrants

tree and full discussion amongst those interested in the allocation of those surplus "wool profits."