EXTRA WOOL PRICE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 20, 19 October 1942, Page 6

EXTRA WOOL PRICE

Retention Criticized In Parliament OPPOSITION VIEW Full Payment Advocated The payment to the woolgrqwers of the full 15 per cent, increase given by the British Government for New Zealand wool was advocated by members of the Opposition during the second reading debate on the Finance Bill (No. 2) in the House of Representatives on > Saturday. The discussion was initiated by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, who said that throughout the country there was an increasing amount of discontent at the action of the Government in withholding this money. “The Government’s decision to retain 10 per cent, of the farmers’ money is a grave injustice that should not be allowed to continue.” said Mr. Holland. "The British Government has increased the price of wool by 15 per cent, or twopence a pound. It has in effect lifted the price of wool throughout the world.” . Mr. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn) : Would you give the soldier an extra 15 per cent.? Mr. Holland: The soldier does not come into this. The Minister of Marketing, Mr. Barclay: Everybody does. Mr. Holland, said he was prepared to give consideration at any time to the question of soldiers’ pay, but he was not going to have the present issue confused by raising it in connexion with the payment for wool. He added that the increase, which was originally given ‘to compensate the British woolgrower for the increased price of wool in the United Kingdom, had been paid out in full in the United Kingdom, Australia and Africa. Agent For Fanners.

“The Government is merely an agent for the New Zealand farmer,” said Mr. Holland. “This extra money belongs to the farmer; it is not the Government’s at all. When increases were granted to the workers there was no suggestion that any part of them should be retained. One can imagine what would have been said had any portion of the workers’ extra wages been held in reserve. Since the 15 per cent, was granted labour costs have increased, but there is no suggestion of withholding the farm labourers’ or shearers’ wages. If there were I would object.” The Minister of Public Works, Mr. Armstrong: Have the shearers got the benefit of the 15 per cent.? Mr. Holland: Yes, the money is already in their pockets. That is the cruel part of it. It has not been suggested that the shearers should go without their increase. The shearers have had their wages increase by the equivalent of the 15 per cent, and the money paid out this year. The suggestion that portion of the proceeds of the increase should be earmarked to keep down the price of woollen goods manufactured in New Zealand was also criticized by Mr. Holland. He added that he hoped before the session finished it would be announced that the extra money belonged to the farmer. He did not wish to make a threat, but he could sav that if the money were not. paid out the agitation would continue. Mr. Barclay: Will the farmers go on strike? Mr. Holland: No, they are too loyal for that, but at the first opportunity they will deal with the Minister of Marketing. Not the Government’s Money. Mr. Polson (Opposition, Stratford) declared that the 15 per cent, was the Imperial Government’s (money and now the New Zealand woolgrowers’ money, not the New Zealand Government’s. If the Government maintained that it was not the farmers’ money it should be returned to the Imperial Government. He believed, however, that the Government was well aware to whom the money really belonged, and that ultimately it would be handed over to the woolgrowers. The Government gave the dairyfarmers their increase because, it was their money. That also was the position of the sheep-farmer in respect of the 15 per cent. It was entirely improper that the New Zealand Government should withhold portion of the increase, said Mr. Polson. He knew that the stabilization committee had a hand in the Government’s decision and was anxious to avoid inflation. But woolgrowers’ costs had increased very greatly and they needed every penny of. the Imperial Government’s money. If the Government had taken steps to control other inflationary factors such as wage increases it would have had some case for its action over the 15 per cent. The trouble wag that the wool-growrr did not possess a single friend on the Government side of the House. The Government’s attitude over the wool money would go further than anything else to discredit it iii the yes of Governments abroad. , DEFENCE WORKS Cost On Schedule Basis The cost of defence construction works under the schedule system was criticized by Mr. W. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty) during the second reading debate on the Finance Bill (No. 2) in the House of Representatives on Saturday. He contended that a considerable saving could be effected bj’ using competitive tender. Mr. Sullivan said that in the districts with which he was acquainted the great bulk of the work had been done on a schedule basis,-and he considered it was 15 to 20 per cent, too high. He also expressed the opinion that thousands of pounds could be saved if the defence works were undertaken by the Public Works Department and the Housing Department. There was also a conglomeration of regulations governing hours of work and conditions on defence construction works, and the position would have been better dealt witli by adjustments to awards and agreements.

REVIEW ASKED FOR Single Men Exempted From Overseas Service A complete review of the cases of all exempted single men who are fit for overseas service with a view to their places being taken by married men with families was suggested by Mr. Roy (Opposition, Clutha), in notice of a question to the Minister of National Service in the House of Representatives on Saturday. In a note to his question Mr. Roy said it was considered that there were many positions held by single men which could be filled by married men with families.