WOOL REALISATION.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 2789, 28 May 1921, Page 2

WOOL REALISATION.

MR A K. MAUIX .RETURNS.

A RETORT TO THE. GOVERN

M KNT

Air A .E. Ma-bin, who lias been representing New! Zealand en the negotiations. with the British-Australian Wool Roalisaioii Association, returned to Wellington recently aboard the IVc strati a. He \v t to A ust ra li a several weeks ago in consequence of the decision of the iiroduecrs’ tonl'crenoo early in April that a representative with full Goveri’meTi.t * rccognition, should be sent to Alt 1 bourne to. (Conifer with ft he dj rcn ftjbr s of the 11.A.W. Ri.A. His first task was to ascertain tlio terms, on which New Zealand could become associated with H.A.W.R.A. in the* realisation of wool stocks. His re{K>rt was placed beforo the Producers’ Committee in .Wellington early this month, and after the committee liad decided agaiinst the transfer of control of New Zealand wool to H.A.W.H.A., but in favour of co-ojm- ration with that body, lie remained to dijscuss the details of this, arrangement with the Australian, directors. He wiLI now make a report to the Alinis.ter of Agriculture, anil in the tear future ho will meet tin* Producers’ Committee and 'inform it of the outcome of his discussions. In ik brief conversation with a Dominion) reporter, Air Alab’n said that lie did not feel at liberty to make any genera! statement regarding Iris misKiou until li© TTaii presented his offrelai report to the Minister. He had Intcii in Australia at a. very critical

and interesting time in the history of tlu l ' wool trade, and he had done liis lvest to represent New Zealand in-

terests and to gather all the information that would be of value to the country. He had dealt cl lie fly with Kir .folia H.iggiits the head of H.A.W.R.A. in the Commonwealth and he had been very much impressed by The business capacity of this gentleman. The ©rganisatin was fortunate in having the guidance oT s>ir John Hjggius in dialing With many problems that confronted it. Tb© wool situation in Australia

certainly had improved to some extent lately, a,d»k il AI r Alabin. But this improvement related chiefly to the line wools, oi which Australia. had •something like a monopoly, and he could not profess to Ixi vi'ry ft «<* about tin l ? outlook for crossbred! wool. There was an enormous accumulation of this, wool, and its disposal was Itound to be a matter of great difficulty. Co-operation among the countries producing ooars© wool appeared to be essential and this might '.involve mutual sacrifices. These were jHiirvts that ho did not wish to discuss an detail before lie had met the authorities here. Mr Alabin made it clear in the course of brief comment that be believed the H.A.W.R.A. organisation had done good work for Australia. When he first reached Melbourne the woM market was in a most critical bttn.to, and nobody could say exactly what was going to hnp|H v n A complete collapse was feared in some quarters, and the uncertainty a.s to the value of wool was having n most disturbing effect upon. the Commonwealth generally, since wool was men more important factor in the national life there than in New Zealand. He had the advantage of being in close touch with the men who were handling this problem. The Australian Government i-iv-ojk rated boldly wvth the rupriysent.atives of the wool interests, and today the B.A.AV.R.A. reserves ar© being enforced by law as far a.s Australia was concerned. But* then Australia, as has been said, has tin* advantage ot controlling a commodity that the markets are demanding, that is, line wool. New Zealand, which produce* very little fine wool, i-. in a more ditfii'ult situation.