THE WOOL QUESTION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 882, 7 December 1916, Page 2

THE WOOL QUESTION.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES

DISSATISFACTION; OF GROWERS

In connection with the commandeering of the New Zealand wool clip by the Government, committees foil each .district arc to be set up to consider disputes likely to arise in connection with the valuation as assessed by the Government valuers, and other matters. These committees arc to be appointed by the vari011$ A.' and'P. Associations, Farmers' Unions, Sheepowners' Associations, and kindred bodies, and are to consist of six representatives chosen from these bodies.. Yesterday .afternoon a meeting, convened by the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union,was held for the purpose of appointing a committee for the Christehurch district, representatives of the Canterbury A. and P. Association; North* Canterbury Farmers' Union, and Ihe Sheepowners' Union being in attendance. Mr \V. F. Parkinson was in • the chair. Nominations were received as follow: —Messrs L. C. Gardiner and H. D.'Aclahd (Sheepowners' Union), D. Jones and R: Evans (Fanners' Union), C. 11. Ensor and Geo. Gould' (A. and P. Association). I Mr P. 11. Loehhcad suggested that She members of the committee should be drawn from different parts of the; district. All those nominated be- i long Io Christehurch. j The chairman pointed out that! things were moving fast those days, j and it was necessary that the com-j mittee should be able to get quickly! into touch with the various questions! likelv to be raised.

Mr Coop objected to the process of electing member* It appeared to him that the election had already been settled by' Ihe various bodies interested. As there were no other nominations, the gentlemen named were elected, - WOOL-SCOURING INDUSTRY.

The meeting endorsed the following resolution passed the same day by the Sheepowners' Union:—"Thai in view or the extent of the scouring industry and the number of men employed therein; it be a recommendation of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union that the Government be requested to make provision in the interests of the wool-scouring industry for. at least as much wool to be treated by local works under the requisition scheme as has been treated in the past:" : ,

' A GONDII lON OF CHAOS. Mr C. H. Ensor,, as one of the delegates to.the wool conference at which the deal was made,, outlined the proceedings which led up to the Government's final offer being accepted. The committee which had been appointed had to look after the interests of the Sellers, who included a large number of fanners. The committee wished to gather any suggestions that those present might like to offc,r. Mr Coop said that farmers,came to the meeting like a pack of fools, just as farmers, always did, without knowing anything about the business. The brokers were handling their stuff; yet there was no information forthcoming concerning the methods that were being adopted. There wa"s 100 much hole-and-corner business going on. BROKEN AGREEiMENTS.

Mr D. Jones said that the information he had gleaned was not encouraging to the growers of wool. The Government had' absolutely broken every agreement' that had been entered into as regards valuation. The Government, wanted two. steamers loaded, and, instead of there being uniform valuation, several valuers had been operating; with the result that the valuing was by no means uniform. There was a difference in sortie stores of 3d a lb. Furthermore, no arbitrator had beeii* appointed as had been agreed upon. Wool growers ought to strike and refuse to sell their wool until a proper basis of valuation was arrived at. There was far tod much secrecv,'so far as the brokers were concerned. It ought to be made public that growers had a right to refuse to sell their wool. All the Government could do was to prevent its being shipped. There was much dissatisfaction among the brokers themselves. It was extremely difficult to obtain any information whatever, but lie was confident that the whole position was extremely unsatisfactory, and that things to-day were in a state of chaos. A CONCILIATORY ATTITUDE. Mr J. A. Pannett deprecated taking the step suggested by Mr Jones. This war lime, and every endeavour should be made to settle the business satisfactorily and to obtain a failworking basis for the agreement that had been entered into. Mr Coop said that those present were all in the dark. He suggested that the meeting adjourn until the values placed on the wool be ascertained.

Mr Jones, with reference to Mr 1 annetJ s remarks, said he did not advocate the taking of drastic steps. lie did not intend his remarks to be interpret* d as a threat. It was simply a question of asking the Government to do an they had agreed to GROWERS' PROTESTS.

n if Jl Enso , r ■ S! " d lh; " certain Bradford buyers had been appointed bovernment valuers. As the woo] not required by the Imperial Government would go to the British Woollen Mills there might possibly pe an inducement for such valuers lo keep down prices. Mr \V. Nosworjhy, M. P., said thai the meeting* would be perfectly within its rights in demanding adequate protection for farmers and in asking the Government to fulfil the conditions which they had agreed to carry out. If farmers were onlv linn enough with the Government and shake them up" lliev would get a area! deal. It was wrong for any wool to lie sent on a ship for the imperial Government before an arbitrator was appointed in order thai larmers might get a fair deal. If tne Government did not adhere (oils arrangements the position would never be satisfactory. He advised sending a telegram of protest to the Government.

Mr W. Bailey said the position seemed lo he that the Government had appointed their valuers while the brokers had taken it upon themselves to act for the growers, without reference to their wishes.

•' MrjD. Jones said that Ihe position as far as ho could see was that the owner was not being advised as to the valuation before the sale was effected. Mr] Ensor said that he had refused hi give pei-inission for his wool to bj sold before he had had an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the values. INDEPENDENT VALUERS, -y MriD. (i. Wright moved thai it be a recommendation to the committee to appoint competent valuers to check valuations, -the cost to be borne by the producers, pro rata.

|Mr L. C. Gardiner did not think that Ihe producers would tigrce "to sliare the financial responsibility involved 1 in Mr Gai'diner's recommendation.

Mr Wright's motion was carried

Mr Jones considered that if growers were satisfied with the arbitrator appointed things would be satisfactorily settled. There would, he fell sure, be no grounds fo. complaint if the Government carried out ils share of the agreement. Mr Wright pointed out that many growers were not wOol experts and would not know whether or not they were being fairly treated. The valuers he had suggested would, as experts, be able to safeguard growers' interests.

MR BOYIJvS REMARKS.

At this stage of the proceedings Mr A. Boyle (president of the Canterbury Wool Growers' Association) arrived. He said that on Saturday the association got notice that the valuers were coming to commence wprk on Monday. Three buyers and supervisor (Mr Neltlelon) had been appointed valuers for Christehurch. The brokers thought that they would confer with Ihe brokers' valuers and that an arbitrator would have been appointed. To their surprise this arrangement was not observed, and 12 valuers, two to each store, commenced operations simultaneously. In certain grades of wool the valuations were assessed as being higher than fixed by the brokers, while in other grades they were lower. There was not a great discrepancy between the two lots of valuations. The valuers were perfectly fair. There were 52 grades of wool involved and Ihe valuation was worked Out on the Bradford system. Growers had to remember that they were saving -J-d a lb in the matter of expenses that were now being borne by the Government. He was satisfied that the growers were getting a fair deal, although the valuations did not exactly correspond with the prices of 1914-15 plus 55 per cent. The meeting then went into committee to allow Mr' Boyle to proceed.

APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT. Upon resuming, the meeting passed the following resolution, proposed By Mr W. Nosworthv,' M;P., and seconded by MrR. 0. Dixon:—"That the Government be ; urged to' appoint, as soon as :possiblo,> as promised to the wpolgrowers* an arbitrator to act iii cases of appeals on questions of valuation of wool, and that such arbitrator should be approved of by all parties interested." This resolution, as well as the others passed by the meeting, was telegraphed last, night by Mr W. F. Parkinson to the Minister of Agriculture.