WOOL DRAFT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1938, Page 10

WOOL DRAFT

OPINIONS OF AUSTRALIAN GROWERS. SOME PREPARED TO FIGHT FEDERATION. SYDNEY, June 1. According to the “Sun,” wool-grow-ers here are not concerned over the threat of the British Wool Federation to boycott the Dominion sales if the draft allowance is abolished. Prominent graziers contend that the federation is either bluffing or is extremely anxious to retain full domination. over the Australian auctions. The Australian, growers, it is added, are prepared to “call their bluff.” . The matter is to be discussed at a meeting next Monday of the National Council of the Wool-selling Brokers in Melbourne. Some brokers argue in favour of the continuance of the draft allowance. They declare that the time is not opportune to fight the federation. It is recalled that the Commonwealth Wool Federation in 1932 recommended its abolition, because of the irritation to the growers. Legislation was passed last session of Parliament abolishing, the draft allowance in favour of the purchaser on wool sold in New Zealand. It will become operative by proclamation. During the debate on the legislation in the House of Representatives the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, said that South Africa and some Australian States had passed similar legislation but had not yet made it effective. The remaining States of the Commonwealth were proposing to enact legislation disallowing the draft allowance. Mr. Lee Martin pointed out that had thQ draft allowance been abolished in New Zealand the previous season the additional return to woolgrowers would have been approximately £138,279. The deduction made by buyers is one pound weight for every hundredweight of wool bought, or approximately -3|lb. a bale. Mr Herbert Hill, president of the New Zealand Wool Buyers’ Association, received the following cable message, dated February 10, from the British Wool Federation, Bradford: — “A fully-attended meeting today unanimously passed the following motion:—

“That this meeting, consisting of colonial wool importers and buyers, having considered the contemplated legislative action which is being taken to change the terms on which wool shall be sold in future in the Dominions by the abolition of the draft allowance, desires to protest most emphatically against any change being made in existing conditions without, the full, concurrence of buyers’ organisations.

“Failing such agre.ement and the fullest consultation between buying and selling organisations, we agree to take whatever action this federation considers necessary to protect and maintain the interests of our members in this matter.”