A PRACTICE OF WOOL BROKERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 158, 29 March 1919, Page 10

A PRACTICE OF WOOL BROKERS

EXPLOITATION OF THE FAEMER ALLEGED. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Palmersfon N., March 28. " The practice of the wool brokers in insisting upon--the allowance of 21b. CD each bale of wool purchased, was discussed by the executive of the.-Wel-lington Provincial District of the 1 armors' Union. Mr. Kobinson brought up the matter by pointing out that when wool was weighed out of store a deduction of 21b. per bale was taken off the weigh Is booked when they took it in. Ho said that he had brought the matter up at the Wangamir branch, and -when the Woolbrokers 1 Association was approached on the matter they denied that any'.such arrangement was in existence; but growers knew that it was, and this was proved by the fact that- brokers maintained that they were justified in their action, as wool increased in weight. When he was shipping his wool Home, he found that the weight ,in England was always greater than what the wool weighed before leaving his shed. He suggested that an officer should be appointed whose duty it should be to inspect wool, and have any bales weighed which he • desired. Although some of the'brokers denied that any deduction was made it was well known that it was the custom of the trade. The whole system of wool weighing, was ■unsatisfactory. It was another ease of the farmers being exploited. Sir James Wilson'produced rules under which the Imperial Supplies Department wais working which'showed that both inward and outward weights .were taken. A discrepancy was. of. courso liable to be found in the case of bales which had been cut for sampling. The Government did not pay on the inward weights but on outward weights, after valuation. This was distinctly unfair, and the attention of brokers should be called to.the fact that their rules acted detrimentally to the interests of growers, The question of paying 1 on portion of a pound should also be considered. Ho suggested that brokers be asked to pay on the inward weight. . ■ '

Mr. "Robinson said that it was monstrous that growers should be asked to Biibrait to the loss of practically half a crown on each, bale that was purchased ■by the Government. The chairman (Mr. G. Marshall) said ' that he understood that brokers were allowed eighteen shillings per bale for passing and handling wool, which, he thought, was.a very liberal amount, so ■that there was no reason why they 6hould be allowed to make any further profit. It was eventually decided that a circular letter should be 6ent to tho Woolbrokers' Association' asking if they would be agreeable to an officer being appointed by the Farmers'. Union having an op- . portnnity to check the weight of any wool wherever practicable.