TOLAGA WOOL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 14 November 1939, Page 6

TOLAGA WOOL

EXPORT APPRAISALS GROWERS IN AGREEMENT VITAL TO DISTRICT DIRECT SHIPMENTS (Special to the Herald.) TOLAGA BAY, this day. Full agreement to the proposal that wool-growers of the district should meet additional costs of appraisement of wool, if valuations were conducted at Tolaga Bay, was readied by a meeting of sheepfarmers and others interested. Mr. J. McNeil, chairman of the Uawa County Council, was in the chair. With him was Mr. E. Shelton, chairman of the Tolaga Bay Harbour Board.

It was a vital factor to the ratepayers, Mr. McNeil said, to have a wool appraisal centre at Tolaga Bay. as otherwise the wool cargo would be a serious loss to the Harbour Board, and it would mean a fairly large increase in the Harbour Board’s rates to make up for the deficiency of revenue. If the meeting approved of Tolaga Bay as an appraisal centre there was every possibility of getting two boats to load wool for direct shipment.

Conditions of Appointment

A letter from the Minister of Agriculture to the Tolaga Bay Harbour Board set out the following conditions:

"1. The cost to the United Kingdom Government from store to on board ocean steamer not to exceed an approved price per bale.

“2. The ocean steamer to be loaded either at Tokomaru Bay, Gisborne, Auckland or Wellington, at the discretion of the Marketing Department.

“3. Additional costs of appraisal occasioned by the inclusion of Tolaga Bay as an appraisal point to be met by producers whose wool is appraised at that point. “4. The store to be put in suitable condition for the proper display of wool, this to be at the Harbour Board’s expense. “5. The Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Meat and Mercantile Company, Limited, to be sole broker, and any adjustments required between this company, and other companies which might be interested in the Tolaga Bay clip to be mutually arranged between them; the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Meat and Mercantile Company to arrange for reclassing and binning if required. “6. It to be understood that the question of appraisal points will be subject to immediate revision, should shipping conditions arise, due to requirements of the United Kingdom, which render it necessary to limit the number of loading ports.

“7. It must be understood that I reserve the right to cancel this appraisal point if it is found that its inclusion proves unsatisfactory through labour difficulties or any other cause.” Harbour Board’s Finances A number of questions relative to the shipment of wool from Tolaga Bay and its cfTect on the Harbour Board’s finances were dealt with, and a telegram was read with regard to providing two boats for the direct loading of wool at Tolaga Bay. It was stated that the Harbour Board was providing funds to fit the board’s store for the proper display and storage of wool.

Mr. F. H. G. Galvin, representing the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Meat and Mercantile Company, Limited, advised that arrangements were being made between brokers as to any particular client’s wool, and he entertained no fears that there would be any difficulties in this direction. He also advised that up to the present no information was available with regard to the procedure to be adopted for the valuation of wool. After further discussion, it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. McNeil, seconded by Mr. D. R. Mathieson, that the meeting of Tolaga Bay sheepfarmers and others interested, approve Tolaga Bay as an appraisement centre.

Shipping Freights

The question then arose as to what would happen if only a portion of The wool clip would be shipped direct to Home waters, and, on the.motion of Mr. McNeil, seconded by Mr. E. R. Black, it was unanimously resolved that the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Meat and Mercantile Company, Limited, be asked to devise some scheme for the purpose of making a uniform charge to cover shipping freight on all wool appraised at Tolaga Bay.

Mr. Galvin explained the position with- regard to the classing and binning of odd lots of wool. He strongly recommended farmers to bale their wool at less than 31cwt.

It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Galvin, seconded by Mr. J. McNeil, that the meeting representing the farming interest of the district join in expressing a very hearty vote of thanks and their keen appreciation to the chairman, members and officials of the Tolaga Bay Harbour Board in securing an appraisement centre at Tolaga Bay. Mr. McNeil concluded by thanking the commercial interests concerned for the part they had played in securing the appointment of Tolaga Bay as an appraisement centre.