WOOL EXPORTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 23 October 1939, Page 6

WOOL EXPORTS

POVERTY BAY CLIPS APPRAISEMENT HERE ASSURANCE RECEIVED MR. COLEMAN’S ACTION Concern felt by wool-growers |jn this district concerning the possibility of Poverty Bay and East Coast wool being appraised in Napier for the purposes of the war commandeer were disposed of during the week-end by Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P. He stated to-day that he had received an assurance from the Minister of Agriculture, the Flon. W. Lee Martin, that Gisborne certainly would be one of the appraisement centres.

Mr. Coleman mentioned that the expressions of concern had prompted him lo make this statement. He felt that the farmers’ anxiety should be allayed, in view of the importance given to the subject by several district bodies within the past few days. Prior to leaving Wellington at the close of the session, he had seen both the Hon. W. Nash and the Hon. W. Lee Martin, on the matter of the wool commandeer and the appraisement procedure, and he had received from Mr. Lee Martin a clear assurance that Gisborne would have the same status as under the J9l(i-20 arrangements for the export of the Dominion’s crops. Coast Clips Regarding the Coast wool, Mr. Coleman said that at that time the Minister of Agriculture had not been ible to give a definite answer, -but he promised to give Tolaga Bay iynd Tokomaru Bay consideration. However, he had made it clear that if it ivas not possible to establish appraisement centres on the East Coast, the wool from that area would be handled in Gisborne, as the natural centre of lie whole Poverty Bay-East Coast district. —,

There was no need to fear that Gisborne or East Coast clips would have to go to Napier for valuation, Mr. Coleman remarked. He could quite understand the benefit it would be to Napier if that port were made the centre for the whole Hawke's BayPoverty Bay-East Coast district; but that benefit would be obtained at the expense of legitimate interests north of Napier.

The Minister of Agriculture had adopted the view that as far as possible the appraisement should be carried out at points most convenient and economical for the wool-growers and r or their respective areas.