WOOL PRICE INCREASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 June 1942, Page 4

WOOL PRICE INCREASE

GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSAL OPPOSED BY GROWERS. MINISTER ISSUES A WARNING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 17. The suggestion that ’a portion of the 15 per cent, increase in the price paid for the 1942 wool clip by the British Government should be retained by the New Zealand Government to safeguard the sheep-farming industry in the event of difficulties from the war was strongly opposed by members of the North Canterbury provincial branch of the Farmers’ Union at a special meeting. Meetings of the meat, wool and emergency committees also passed a resolution opposing the Minister’s proposal that the New Zealand woollen mills should not pay the 15 per cent increase on local wool. In a circular addressed to all provincial executives asking them to take urgent action on the Minister’s proposals, the Dominion president. Mr W. W. Mulholland, revealed that at a conference held in Wellington last week to discuss the payment of the increase the Minister had st stated that if the sheepfarming industry was not prepared to set aside a reasonable reserve fund along the lines suggested it might be necessary for him to recommend to Cabinet that in subsequent seasons the Government should purchase meat at the f.o.b. point only. Also, in the event of a serious shipping hold-up the sheep-farming industry could not expect the- same measure of assistance from the Government as was available at present and which reasonably might be continued if the industry itself was prepared to create a reserve fund. WANGANUI MEETING A STRONG PROTEST MADE, (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, June 17. A strong protest at the suggestion of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Barclay, that half of the 15 per cent, increase on the price of wool purchased by the United Kingdom Government next season be placed in a pool for emergency purposes, was made when 100 farmers representing the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation met in Wanganui today. They came from all parts of the Wanganui, Rangitikei and South Taranaki districts.