H.—3Bb

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We submit for the consideration of the Government that the valuation points shall be Auckland, Gisborne, Napier, Wellington, Christchureh, Timaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill ; and we strongly urge that it should be confined to those centres alone, by reason of the fact that proper wool-stores for the display of wool, with the necessary lighting, are available. To obtain satisfactory results in the direction of valuing it is imperative that wool should, only be shown in properly lighted stores. Valuing. —The brokers will have available the officer upon whom the valuation devolves in ordinary seasons, and we suggest that the valuing be conducted by that officer in conjunction with a valuer appointed by the Government. Further, that an umpire be appointed in case, of dispute. Should this commend itself to the Government we estimate the following valuers will be required ; Auckland, 1 ; Gisborne, 1 ; Napier, 2 ; Wellington, 3 ; Christehurch, 3 ; Timaru, 1 ; Dunedin, 3 : Invercargill, 1 : together with L umpire for each centre, making a total of 23. Commission. —The brokers offer to conduct the business in its entirety in consideration of the payment of a consolidated rate of fd. per pound, tho services rendered to include commission and the following : — Store. —Receiving, weighing, stacking, cataloguing, grouping, opening and displaying for valuers, valuing, rcsowing, rebranding, outweighing, delivering, and cartage to railway or port store, and fire insurance while in store until paid for. Office. —All usual clerical work entailed in drawing up specifications and weight-slips, invoicing and account-saling, and settling with growers. In centres such as Christchureh, Dunedin, and Invercargill railage from brokers' store to port to be paid by the Government. Extra Storage. —Should the wool not be removed within fourteen days from date of valuing, storage to accrue at the rate of 4d. per bale per week. Repacking. —On bags, bales, fadges, and lots of wool delivered to brokers' stores not in shipping condition, or bales of mixed description requiring repacking, the broker to be allowed to charge the grower Id. per pound for the extra work involved, plus cost of new packs, if supplied. I take the opportunity of reiterating that the wool-brokers will be only too pleased to render you every assistance at all times to carry out the scheme, and we are confident that the business can be conducted to the satisfaction of all concerned. I am, &c, W. S. Bennett, President, New Zealand Wool-brokers' Association. The Hon. the Minister of Agriculture. Telegram from the Acting Prime Minister, Wellington, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister of New Zealand, London. Wellington, 15th November, 1916. The Minister in Charge of the Imperial Supply Department met representatives wool industry, including growers, buyers, brokers, and others, on the 14th and 15th November. Conference was representative. Minister placed terms of proposed requisition of Imperial Government before those present. Conference divided itself up into committees representing separate interests and has lasted two days. Firstly, conference decided to accept the offer of Imperial Government for merino wool, but there is none likely to be available for export. Secondly, conference declined to accept proposal of Imperial Government to pay 45 per cent, advance on average prices realized for each quality of wool, season 1913-14. Thirdly, a resolution was unanimously adopted by the conference offering all fleece, piece, and lambs' wool of all classes to the Imperial Government at the January, 1916, sale prices in New Zealand. Resolution embodies the appointment of valuers to determine the value of the wool. Fourthly, the average sale prices for January, 1916, for the different classes of wool' are as follows : Super half-bred, 19}d. ; medium to good half-bred, 17d. ; inferior half-bred, 14d. ; super crossbred, 18}d. ; medium to good crossbred, 16}d. ; inferior or crossbred, 13}d. ; Lincoln and Leicester, 15fd. ; lambs, good, 16fd. ; lambs, medium, 13fd. Fifthly, conference was unable to deal with fellmongers and slipe wool, and meetings will be held on 16th November to consider this matter. Sixthly, considerable quantity of wool has already been purchased by wool-buyers, and if all sales are to be cancelled as advised it is represented that buyers will be entitled to consideration, and this will, I think, require to be taken into account when counter proposals are being dealt with. I anticipate no difficulty, and probably can bo dealt with on lines adopted by Imperial Government in Great Britain. Seventhly, arrangements can be made with brokers and merchants throughout the Dominion so that the business will be allowed to follow the ordinary channels. Brokers offer to conduct all business from store to f.o.b. at a consolidated rate of §d. per pound. Eighthly, in so far as the valuation of the different classes of wool is concerned there is at present time about fifty accredited .wool-buyers in the Dominion from whom a selection of valuers could be made. Ninthly, it is urgently important that a decision should be furnished as speedly as possible, otherwise there will be serious congestion at railway-stations, wool-stores, &c. Tenthly, in connection with the increase on crossbred wool appearing in the counter-proposal in comparison with proposal of Imperial Government, it will be remembered that pre-war rates on crossbred wool were very low, and that the importance placed upon them for military purposes is responsible for the increase.