The Daily News WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1933. CO-OPERATION REQUIRED.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1933, Page 4

The Daily News

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1933. CO-OPERATION REQUIRED.

OFFICES: NEW PLYMOUTH. Currie Street. STRATFORD, Broadway. HAWERA. High Street.

The discussion in the House of Representatives in regard to suggested legislation enabling a compulsory levy to be made on exports of wool to finance the cost of research was not very illuminating. The somewhat acrid interchange of personal opinions between the Prime Minister and the member for Stratford, Mr. W. J. Polson, who is Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, showed amongst other matters that there is a decided lack of unanimity in regard to the need for such legislation or, indeed, for a general scheme of research. Apparently the suggestion submitted to a Parliamentary committee was that a levy should apply to North Island exports of wool, it being considered that improvement in quality was more essential for those exports than for wool raised in the South Island. Mr. Polson maintained that if the scheme were necessary it should be a national one, and there is much force in his contention. If improvement is brought about in wool exported from the North Island the good effect will have repercussions throughout the industry, whereas if low quality exports are allowed to continue retardation of values will also be felt by all woolgrowers, except perhaps those who are producing the finer varieties. The question whether a new authority should be set up to control wool research and collect the levies is of less importance than that of co-operation throughout the industry. Mr. Polson urged.that the existing Meat Control Board, which is closely concerned in the sheepfarming industry, might well take over the duty of organising aijd controlling the wool research plan if it is decided upon. Unfortunately there is much dissatisfaction with the system under which the Meat Board elections are held. It is considered to give certain interests undue control, and that under its peculiar franchise any reform of the board is almost impossible to bring about by a change in its membership. Then there is the distrust of any further “control” authorities, a distrust that recent happenings and proposals in regard to dairy produce have certainly not diminished. The sheepfarmer during three disastrous years has maintained the principle of “meeting the market.” He has seen his wool sold at less than the cost of production, but he has seen the cheapness of raw material open up new usages for wool and ultimately an increased demand for wool products. This year he is reaping the benefit of his refusal to try any artificial stimulus of the market, and his hesitancy to join in any scheme which seems to introduce the thin end of the wedge of control can be well understood. The other side of the question was put very clearly by the Prime Minister. Three years ago the Yorkshire manufacturers of woollen goods drew his attention to the urgent need for improvement in New Zealand, wool. So urgent had that need become that it seemed quite possible that the market for much of the' Dominion’s lower g/ade wool was rapidly disappearing. However, research on the manufacturers’ side and individual effort on the part of the grower have brought about some improvement, and an increased demand for the coarser wools. Mr. Forbes considers there is still need for much greater improvement and he was right in maintaining that co-operative effort is essential if the necessary research is to be undertaken. If by such co-ordinated efforts the

value of raw wool can be raised sheepfarming will have a greater share in the closer settlement of the Dominion than has been the case hitherto. Such a result would remove some of the difficulties which confront those who see in land settlement the most promising way of eliminating unemployment, but who are concerned at the prospects of such settlement if based upon returns from dairy-farming alone. It js to be hoped the woolgrowers will find a way of co-operation in what is undoubtedly worthwhile research.