RE WOOL REQUISITION AFTER THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 39, 9 November 1918, Page 3

RE WOOL REQUISITION AFTER THE WAR

Sir,—l was. amazed to rea'd in your last issue that our Prime Minister (the Hon. Mr. Massey) had intimated to the House yesterday that he was strongly of opinion the requisition- of wool should extend over one full season after the war. And because of the lack of unanimity on the part of the wool-growers he had been advised by the Crown Law Office that legislation would bo necessary, and that he would bring this down at an early date. .

In the first place: As the present wool season . has commenced, particularly in the north, this means this and next jear'e clip would be taken, which would include all wool; produced until June, 1920.

I would point out by the existing War Regulations, Act the Government have ample power to take any one or all wool growers' wool for war purposes nt a ; price if not agreed to, to be settled by arbitration, and,l ask in all. fairness what more should they require, except to force upon a large section of the farmers an arbitrary .contract to, in my opinion, suit commercial interests and profiteer-' ing, instead of war .requirements under the cloak of war legislation when the war is practically ending. . Upon the sth instant I forwarded to the Hon. Mr. Massey a.letter, together with copies. of correspondence I previously had with the Acting-Prime Minister , (Sir James Allen), upon the same subject, which disclosed the detailed particulars showing this. Dominion's meat and wool growprs were conceding and losing over .£16,000,000 per annum, mainly to the profiteers' advantage: This state-' ,'. ment has .not been questioned by the National Government, and I again challenge them to show it is substantially wrong, and unless they can I ask what right have the National Government, in face of euch.a loss as this, to force its continuance for two years after,the war. .. ."Before; any, member '.'.of Parliament decides, to vote for this extraordinary, aud unfair, legislation,- I would respectfully suggest that he first satisfies, himself" that he can. justify : his vote when he next conies before the electors, for every class of electors in this Dominion is affected by'this question, and I sincerely trust will sec their members explain their vote upon this important "Dominion question.—l am, etc W. DOUGLAS LTSNAE,' November -7.