WOOL RESEARCH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 16, 3 February 1937, Page 15

WOOL RESEARCH

— * — ■ . w * ■ Conference Decisions Reviewed MR CHRISTIE'S VIEWS Gansideratione wbich guided the deliberations of tho yecent wool conferoaca in Australia, where Australia, New Zealand, and South Afjioa met to determino a common policy in' respect pf wool research and' publicity, wero OUtlined on Frlday in an interview by Mr H. M. Christie, M.P., chairmarL of tbe New Zealaild delegation, who ieturaed fropi Sydney by tbe Awatea on Friday morning. Mr Cbristie is to report to tbe Government on tbe matter. Tbe conference agreed to establisb an Interna^ional Wool Publicity and Sesearcb Fund, to be administered jointly by tbe tbree countriee. "Tbe outstanding feature of tbe conference was tbe excellent epirit of ' unanimity wbicb prevailed tbrougbout,,? said Mr Cbristie. !Thig unanim- j ity, boweYer, was not achieved by sacri- ' bees on tbe part of any of the bodies . prepent. It waB entirely due to. the fact tbat tbe delegates wera broadminded enougb to recognise tbat the interests of wool producers throughout the world were identical. Tbe conferenqe achieved mucb of a practieal nature. A fund wag created whicli will be deToted to researcb and publicity throughout tbe world, Tbe work, of creating an entirely new orgunisation for the purpose of administering tbis fund wae by nQ weans easy, ag mauy practieal difficulties pre^ented tbem- ' selves wiffe ?eg&rd to enabling tbe separate councils to retain ultimate control of tbe joint fund witbout sacrificing efficiency and eipedition ox ad* ministratiou, This Ofganisation was diicuased in all ita ramificatons, and tbe conference beieves tbat it bas made provifion fqy all eontingencies tbat are likely to aripe. , World Oommodlty "Wool is a world commodity, and the! conference, Tealising tbis, came to the conclusion tbat in no circumstances sbould tbe scbems be limited to any particular country. Tbe councils will contribute to tbe fund on tbe basis of ■theaverage quentity ©f wool exported,j ealculated over a peripa of flve years. Every delegate wag in complete accord .tbat thia basis was tbe most just. Sub.ject to confirmation, on preliminary bgures submitted, for tbe ensuing financial year tbe quota of contributions will be: Australia 60.5 per cent., Soutb (Africa 20^ per cent., and New Zealand 19.0 per cent. "Tbe amonnt of expenditure for tbe first year oannot be atated at tbe' preaent moment, as it will depend on par-. ticnlars xevealed by eareful investigation by tbe secretariat, wbicb will be the first duty of thjs body, but tbe amount will be limited by tbe financial' .xesources available under the quota of contributions agreed upo». It ie hqped •tbat the secretariat wiii start work in London by tbe beginning of July, "It was agreed tbat intern&l publicity and researcb in the primaryproducing oountries sbould be under the administration of the separate cauncils,,, continued Mr Cbristie, "Tbe reason for tbis is tbat each country bas its own separate probloms, and by meane of edeetive intercbange of information sucb problema as are common to all tbree countries can be solved witbout unnecessary duplication of work. Quite a considerable proportion of the levy will be utilised by each country for tbis purpose. "At present wool prices are on a satisfactory basis, and it sbould be stressed tbat tbe intention of the researcb and publicity eampaiga is not to atterupt to raise prices above an economic leveL Sucb a course would defeat its own ends, and this fact is tborougbly appreciated by all concemed. However, tbe conference is convinced that tbe present level of prices is not based on a very secure foundation, and. tbat well-considered action along the lines proposed is necessary to make tbe future of wool secure, Uniform I>egi8latlon "Eeference bas already been made to fbe resolution of conference to try and :obtain uniform legislation for the description of woollen articles. If tbis can be achieved it wxll greatly facilitate industry and commerce, and make administration of the legislation more j simple and effective. If uniform interj national legslation could be secured, as, I for instance, tbe International Copyrigbt Act, it would be unnecessary for, say, a manufacturer to have to refer to a number of different Acts before be can distribute bis goods to different markets, or before be can manui'acture certain materials for salo in different countries, "Tbe conference also passed a very strong resolution regarding restrietions wbicb bamper international trade, it being felt tbat as wopl is a world commodity it is an absolute necessity for all nations that require tbe raw material to be able to obtain it, because if tbey do not obtain it tbey will be compelled to use other textiles to make up the deficieney. Conference bas also deeided to ask tbe different countries to eompile and publisb statistics relating to wool on a uniform basis." Mr Christie added tbat tbe conference bad been adjourned sine die, and it was impossible to fix any date for tbe next meeting. Tbe Australian Wool Board and the New Zealand Wool Publicity Committee bad accepted^jfeh^

invitation of tbe South African Wool Couneil to hold the next conference in South Africa.