‘Pressure Tactics’ On Wool Imports

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31096, 27 June 1966, Page 1

‘Pressure Tactics’ On Wool Imports

(Neu> Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, June 26. Pressure groups were urging the Government to lift licensing barriers against woollen piecegoods, the secretary of the Canterbury and Westland Woollen Knitting, Hosiery and Carpet Trades Union (Mr G. S. Ray), said tonight.

The latest move is a decision by the meat and wool section of Federated Farmers to make representations to the Government, he said.

Mr Ray said the pressure groups were using all means of propaganda to harm New Zealand mills, and were trying to force the Government to promise to increase imports of woollen cloth so that woollen mills would lose orders. “They are trying to prevent the mills from producing light-weight cloths by having them exempt from import licensing and tariff protection,” said Mr Ray. This would be a direct blow at the Timaru Woollen Mill, which specialised in fine worsted cloth. Mr Ray said wool interests had penetrated divisions of the National Party and were trying to get resolutions passed to put New Zealand woollen mills back where

they were a dozen yean ago —“in the red and subject to dumping from Europe and low-price competition from Hong Kong.”

Struck By Car.—After he was struck by a car in Cathedral square about 6.40 p.m. on Saturday. Cyril Shaw, of 152 Idris road, was treated at the Christchurch Hospital