EXPORT OF WOOL.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 243, 13 October 1917, Page 2

EXPORT OF WOOL.

SOME OF THE CHARGES

Two questions were answered in the House of Representatives on Thursday regarding the export of wool under tho requisitioning scheme. Mr Brown (Napier) asked the Prime Minister whether he could explain how it is that the Woolbrokers' Association charge something like 16s per bale for receiving, weighing, and opening out for display, and sewing up again, wool that has been purchased by the British Government, when the Wellington Harbor Board vised to do nearly the whole of the same work and store the wool free for six weeks for 2s 9d per bale.

Mr Massey replied: The services referred to as being carried out by the Wellington Harbor Board in connection with the. wool forming a portion of the Imperial Government's requisition is only a small portion of tlte work required of the woolbrokers under the conditions of their employment. Tho additional work undertaken by woolbrokers on behalf of the Government .includes the following: The cataloguing of the wool preparatory to valuation, the classification and valuation of the wool in accordance with the scheme, the shipment of the wool and the furnishing of shipping documents, specifications, invoices, and summaries to the Department of Imperial Government Supplies on behalf of the Imperial Government.

Mr Hunter (Waipawa) asked the Government whether it is their intention to charge the woolgrower with the cost of rebranding in cases where wool has been railed and shipped and not branded in accordance with the regulations since issued by ' the Controller, Mr Triggs.

Mr Massey replied: It is not inteiuled that the woolgrowers should be charged with the cost of re-branding in those cases in which the wool has been koiit forward prior to the receipt of the recent notification.