WOOL GROWERS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1931, Page 6

WOOL GROWERS

EA I P IRE - CONFER EN CE. LESSONS OF THE SLUMP. (Australian Press Association.) MELBOURNE, June 26. The Empire Wool Conference was opened to-day by the Governor-Gen-eral. It includes delegates from England, •South Africa, New Zealand anu all of -the Australian States.

The Chairman,.Sir 0. Graham Wincldell, in. his inaugural address, saiu that their object was to discuss ways and means of putting the wool industry on a sounder flootdng and of getting better results for the growers. He hoped that the conference would mariv the beginning of effective team work among the wool-producing countries'. The Australian, growers had no faith in Government interference. They simply desired to work out their own salvation. But, he added, they did desire that the Governments should constantly recognise the supreme importance of the industry, and should refrain from placing any obstacle.-, m their way. Mr G. N. Williams, of South Africa, said: “Although bur methods .may differ, we have to • define some basic prinicpie. We pin our faith t-o co--operation. Forty per cent, of the South African wool is sold through co-operative societies, which are fairly successful. Certainly, they are more ecoinmicnl than selling the wool through the agents.”

The Lord Mayor of Alelbourne, welcomed the delegates. Mr B. Tripp, of New Zealand, was among the speakers who replied.

The 1 conference passed a resolution expressing the opinion that the best method of selling wool is by public auction, and that the present low price of wool is not due to over-production.

Air W. H. Nicholson, of New Zealand, contended that it would •he a dangerous thing to admit that they were' over-producing. The Conference also recorded its opposition to the arbitrary fixation of prices.