WOOL POSITION

Timaru Herald, Issue 170300, 20 August 1920, Page 5

WOOL POSITION

IMPORTANT INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE GOVERNMENT Per Press Association. A\'ELLINGTON, August 19. A large meeting of wooJgrowers, together with representatives of wooli.'iujicis aud freezing companies, was li'-Jd on Wednesday at taw Dominion j.'iu-iiiord' J.nstitiute, Sir James Wilson, president of the Board of Agriculture, j.i the chair. Tho meeting was cuileu.' by the Boaxd of Agncul Line at wie instance of the Primo Minister, in. order to consider important lniormatioii regarding tlio -wool position which hud beeu received by the Government. 'J ho I'rime Minister and tiio Minister «f Agriculture attended the meeting. Mr Massey gave in full, the iniorniation fie had received from tne imperial Government regarding stocks of wool on hand, in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and the comments of tho Home autuorities 011 this position. This allowed that the unsold .stock of New Zealand wools heid m England in July ou British Government's account was 28,300 taules, wuile tho total unsold stocii of Australian mid New Zealand wools amounted to i.'.500,000 bales, tho market conditions ;i t the time. being unsatisfactory. Iniormution was also given as to shipments of wool arranged for from New Zealand, this snowing that only comparatively small quantities will be shipped during thei .next four months, and that in consequence a, considerable quantity of Government-owned wool (about '112.U00 bales) will still remain in New Zealand when tho new clip comes in. Special attention wus drawn to an exceedingly severe clause intended to be added by the shipping companies to bills of lading for private wool shipments, this clause reading aw follows: "Consignees undertake immediately on arrival oi a steamer within a. porti of discharge to ba ready forthwith to receive this cargo as fast as the steamer can discharge from the ship's tackJ cm wherever she may be lying, and in event of the consignees failing from any cause whatsoever to so take delivery the, shipowners are at liberty, at the merchant's risk and expense, to discharge into craft or to laaid in any available storage place, not withstanding that i,t may not be the usual place lor discharge of such goods, or that the goods may not be stored under cover, the same 'oeing at merchant's risk absolutely from the time of leaving the ship's tackles, anything iu this bill of lading to the contrary ncit withstanding."

It would appear tliat the object of this clause is to discourage consignments on private account while storage space in Tingland is badly congested as nt present. _ In fact the Director of Raw Materials in England states that storage is practically unobtainable. A further important matter for dismission was an invitation I'rom the' Homo Government for New Zealand to appoint two representatives to con-

i'er with and to bo associated with the authorities in London in dealing with, the marketing of accumulated wool blocks in the hands oi : tiio Imperial Govorifment. The discussion which ensued was characterised by an optimistic feeling as to the outlook, in spite of the undoubtedly serious difficulties which, have to be faced. The conference finally decided that in the matter of marketing wool in the hands of the Homo Government, and the appointment oi : New Zealand representatives to act in London in conference and in association with tile authorities them, tlie High Commissioner should make a selection alter conferring with Sir Thos Mackenzie, Messrs W. D. Hunt, Douglas McLean, B. Tripp, and other representative New Zealanders in. London, whoso assistance would be valuable. Matters at this end were left in the .hands of the Advisory Committee to the Government appointed by the producers at a conference held on 27th May, two woolbrokers' representatives being added to it in order that the interests of producers and of the Dominion as a whole might be assisted by the valuable commercial knowledge of these gentlemen whenever wool matters were iieing denlti with.

In addition resolutions were carried to tli? following effect:— That the Imperial Government be urged to provide the utmost number of refrigerated ships to lift meat and other refrigerated produce, and that wool be shipped if sufficient other general cargo be not available. Thanking tlio Prime Minister for his attendance and for information given and trusting that the Government will be able to assist wool growers who may have to hold over their next season's wool, and to finance upon it when in need of such assistance.

To request the Imperial Government to lend all possible assistance in enabling woollen mills on the Continent of Europe to increase their output, and at the same time ask whether there is any way in which, the New Zealand Government can be of assistance in this.

Strongly condemning the draft on wool, and requesting that further efforts be made to secure its abolition.