SURPLUS WOOL

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 44, Issue 13605, 1 August 1918, Page 4

SURPLUS WOOL

DISCUSSION AT FARMERS' COM , *? FEEENCE. \

At the annual Dominion conference os, the New Zealand Farmere' Union ,:atj, Wellington yesterday, Mr W. D. LysmaiJ (Gisborne) moved the following *eßQ|* lution: — '''">;

"That this Dominion conference ' <aSf the New Zealand Farmers' Union sixes to make an emphatic protest agfc oinst the manufacturers in England, hsss ing allowed to make huge profits ou% ,o#; the Dominion Veurplus wool, which being sold for the civilian requireme.ii: •, to the trade at Home at practically eesij price, and much below its actual valuta and further, this meeting is of opirijfiß. that the Imperial Government only commandeer wool for tho period! of the war, but in order to make -tnv& wool contract co-terminus with the mesK}: contract, the commandeering ehould coin • tinuo for three months after the cloSJa of the war upon the existing terms. TI war ImperialAVar Cabinet have acknowledged that the purchase of tho New Zc-a«* land wool clip wae effected in 1916 aty practically 10 per cent below the markofc ruling price at the time. This meeting is of the opinion that the having satisiied ail Imperial requiie* meats for war purposes below actua| market values, are, in the trade inter-* csts of this Dominion, entitled to reaunisjt the ordinary marketing and control their wool as soon as possible, subjeeSf to any legislation the Imperial or JMCVJj Zealand Parliament may impose in ©iV dor to provide restrictions ' preventing our wool reaching any enemy or otfoesj country, as iv the opinion of this ing this phase can only be .effectually;; provided, against by direct legislationsand further, that this ineeting desires? to draw the attention of the -NutionaJt Government to the excessive retail that is being charged for the leavfflw and woollen goods, which are out of proportion to the cost of hidnsjand wool and would ask that Govern-,. incut take the necessary steps to sc# tliat the Cost of Living Commission jjjw vestigato the matter, and if there undue protiteering, then to limit the rs-« tail price to the consumer. , '

Mr Lysnar contended that there wast no probability of the surplus .\>r New>» man had his eye upon. There was au> hysterical wave of raise patriotism. TJiq position was not understood, and MjjiNcwmau's proposition meant that peo» pie would l)e deluded as to a which was not likely to be achievedL The actual facts were being ignored. Ifc, was absurd for him to be charged witli disloyalty because, he refused to be 'it public coward. He reckoned tliat ha \s'us performing a public duty in thtj way he had handled the question. point was, who was to be protected—< our own people or the speculators! Ai good deal was being said against tkm tanners at the present juncture abouti, the undue profits they, were but the'comments were undeserved. Th« most of the money was going to Knglisfe profiteers outside of New Zealand. The crucial issue now was whether the 3&jfft Zealand people were getting a fair flp. square deal. He had samples of wW for which penny per pound was paid, and which, before commandeering would realise 9d to 13d, and other woof at GUI. The least price the grower got; for the latter for four years before th« commandeering was and for the year preceding the war 15d per pound. The basis of the purchases was to be 5S per cent on the January prices in Zealand. It was important, therefore, to know what our wool was seiling fox; at Home. The London Chamber <ifi Commerce Journal for January, 191% stated that the price for tops wag 75c$ per lb for -±6's, and in the case of yarn, it was 200 per cent above the pre-war rates. Ho did not pretend to bo a wool' expert, but two wool experts had stated that if tops were sold at 75d, greasy wool would be worth, after certain deductions, 4s 3d. If they deducted 5d for expenses and the buyer gave Is Bel, that still left a profit of 2s 7d per Ifot The growers should get half and the Imperial Government the other half ofi that excess profit. On the basis of the Is 3d which the growers should get they were losing between £3,000,000 ans £4,000,000 a year on the New Zealafljjfc' quota sold by the Imperial authorit?B\ for civilian purposes. This was simply; going into the pockets of the manufacturers at homo.

Mr Allan Kobinson (Wanganui) ed as an amendment:-"That after the word 'value' in the first part of the motion, the following words should be sub-f stituted: 'And urges that all surplus wool should be sold by auction in tha usual manner by members of the Wooli Brokers , Association, so as to ensure; that full market value is obtained." Mr \V. E. Matheson (Eketahuna) see* onded the amendment. ■ The amendment was negatived. Mr Lysuar's proposition was then pufi and carried by a majority of 19 voteg to 11.