REQUISITIONING WOOL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2931, 17 November 1916, Page 6

REQUISITIONING WOOL

* FREEZING COMPANIES MEET

DETAILS OF THE SCHEME

AWAITING MR. MASSEY'S REPLY.

A hurriedly convened conference of representatives of freezing, companies was held yesterday to discuss with the Minister of Commerce (the Hon. AV. D. S. Mac Donald) the terms on which wool handled by these companies is to be requisitioned by the Imperial Government. These companies ha.vo always for sale considerable quantities otilshpe wool and scoured wool. The growers at one stage of their meetings considered the advisability of fixing up a scale for these wools, but it was agreed that the freezing companies ought to be consulted. Many of the growers., however, had the idea that I tho .chief concern was theirs, arguing that the companies would regulate the prices to be paid to the farmer for his stock according to the prices to be obfor wool. The companies' representatives had two meetings yesterday, and after general discussion a committee was /appointed to arrange details with the Minister in the event of the requisitioning of wool being finally decided upon. The prices to be paid will bo based on those eventually fixed for tho main bulk of New Zealand's wool export. There are details to be provided for in the requisitioning of slipe and scoured wools, which are not fully covered by the proposals for the handling of the season clip. Ordinarily the freezing companies do not sell their wool in catalogues at the seasonal sales. They have their own arrangements for the disposal of the wool in England. The requisitioning scheme, if applied to their wool, will out across all these companies' usual lines of procedure in disposing ,of this wool. It is said that even tho valuing of slipe wool is a very different business from the valuing-of fleece wool. Much of the slipe wool is Very short, because stock are often sent into the works, within a few weeks of shearing time, and wool of this class is useful only for special purposes. These are some of the details that the committee appointed will have to take into consideration. . No agreements have yet been concluded between the Government and the brokers, or the Government and the buyers. If the scheme is .finally embarked upon the Government will then treat with the brokers and buyers as to ferms. Both buyers and brokers have held meetings and have made proposals to the Government. The brokers have submitted a Hat rate'offer, and have as an alternative minimised the charges for storing, listing, insuring, and so on. The Government may choose between ■the overhead- charge of a. definite amount per pound, and the payment of tho charges for the separate services. In some centres tho charges by this latter method of computation will be higher than in others. Tho buyers have also made proposals to the Government, submitting terms on which they are prepared to-value wool. Tile Minister has asked them to Submit their offer, and they finally made it to him last evening. One of tho concerns of theso Home buyers is that many of the men on the staffs aro eligible for military service. Some are badged men at Home, but exempted onl.y until the end of the wool season. These men do not waut to bo taken in under our compulsion scheme, but it can_ safely be said that their fears on this scoro are groundless. They aro business visitors to New Zealand, and not resident here, and not liable for compulsory service, and in any case they could rely on getting exemptions here on the score of their special value as experts ait least as easily as in England. No more is likely, to be heard of the negotiations generally until Mr. Mas6ey replies to Mr. Mac Donald's cablecrams. It is expected that this ieply may bo here within a few days, possibly on Saturday. Mr. Mac Donald says that tho need for hronrpt action is Urgent, as there is danger of congestion in stores and-at railway stations, unless some line of action is agreed upon forthwith. Indeed, some congestion has occurred already.