WOOL RESEARCH WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1934, Page 6

WOOL RESEARCH WORK

OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSED LEVY. MONEY GOING FROM COUNTRY. Strong objection to the -ending of money out of New Zealand for wool research was expressed by Mr. J. Woods, Huiroa, at a meeting of the Stratford subprovincial branch of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday. Mr. Woods referred to a proposed levy on wool to provide funds for research work. “I object to money, say about £lO,OOO, going out of the country for research work at Bradford, for example,” he declared. “If it is spent in New Zealand I think it will do a lot of good. It could be used for the direct improvement of flocks. It is not for the benefit of stud breeders only, however.”

Mr. J. B. Norris: I am against any levy at all. We are taxed enough now. Mr. M. P. Ford (Makahu): It seems unfortunate that farmers invariably oppose any form of taxation, whether it is for their benefit or not. Farmers had expressed opposition to the levy on wool before endeavouring to discover whether or not the levy would be of benefit to the wool industry, continued Mr. Ford. “As a wool grower I am not against the levy,” he said. “We cannot allow the industry to go on in a haphazard way.” In the past not enough attention had been paid to careful breeding and selection. Mr. Woods moved that any levy imposed on wool be spent in New Zealand for the improvement of flocks. Mr. Marfell: If this money is to be used in combating, stock diseases, why should not a contribution from the Meat Board be used? Let those fattening stock pay as well as the wool-growers. Mr. Marfell’s suggestion was approved by Mr. Norris, who moved as an amendment to Mr. Woods’ resolution that money for research work be taken from the funds of the Meat Board. Mr. Woods: Do you object to the money going out of New Zealand? Mr. Norris: We don’t care where the money goes. The Amendment was carried, only those members directly interested in wool growing exercising a vote.