WOOL DRAFT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 152, 16 March 1918, Page 10

WOOL DRAFT

"CORRESPONDENCE WITH PRIME MINISTER. The long-standing grievance against the lib. per cwt. draft in wool shippedto the London market was raised by the farmers at the Hide and Skin Conference last week; but as the conference was convened for a special purpose no discussion was permitted. The .representatives of the farmers' who attended the conference, however, held a later meeting and passed a resolution ■which was forwarded by letter to the Prime Minister. Following is a copy-of the letter, and the Minister's reply:— Wellington, March 6,1918. Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, P. 0., Prime Minister, ; Wellington.

Dear 'Sir, —The following resolution , Ivas passed yesterday by a meeting of .''the. representative's of the farmers of New Zealand:— .That the representatives of the farmers make another protest against the system ofdraft on wool and meat in London and a few other ports.' In the case of meat the British farmer is selling his meat to-day in the Smithfield market and paid for the net weight; ■we ask that; the New Zealand faN r ■-.■ mer be placed in the same position" The total cost of draft to the New ; Zealand producer amounts to about / £400.000; we, therefore, request the Premier'and Treasurer that when they reach Home, they will ', .. make another vigorous effort to have their old unfair system abol- / . ished." - (

The foregoing resolution was passed As,a consequence of information being received to the effect that Smithfield Market- salesmen had decided to abolish the rebate allowance in weight in regard to Home-grown meat. The enilosed extract from the "Pastoral Re- V view" of Jauuary 16, 1918, bears this But. -.

. Commending the resolution to your earnest attention. .... I am, dear Sir, Yours respectfully, ' . (Signed) JAMES, G. WILSON.

Extract From "Pastoral Review." '.:':. . ~ , .BATE. ; "It will, be news of some interest 'to Australians and New Zealandors that Smithtield market salesmen have after all theso years decided to abolish the rebate allowance in weight which has been made with regard to Homegrown meat. A firm of colonial agents, Messrs. Gilbert Anderson aiid Co., who record this fact in their market circular, make-the brief. comment tha.t <jfJwts by certain colonial agents for New Zealand and Australian meat to be similarly treated, have rot', however, been successful, the bateon Government-con-trolled meat still being given away in .London."

. Prime Minister's Office, : Wellington, March 7, 191 R. ■ Dear Sir,—l am in receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, forwarding resolution passed by a representative committee of. farmers protesting against the draft ou wool and meat in London and other ports. In reply, I beg to inform you that I am in full accord with the' request for the abolition of the rebate'allowance in weight, and shall be glad to make further representations on the subject in the event of my going to England. Yours faithfully, W. P. MASSEY. Sir James G. Wilson, President, N.Z. Farmers' Union, P.O. Box 715, Wellington.