Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1002, 19 June 1930, Page 10

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

TWO YOUNG TONGANS fel lt is astonishing to realise that the New Zealand Government is so deeply embedded in ' departmentalism. An order that two young half-caste Tongan orphans shall return to Nukualofa and not be permitted to remain with their relatives in New Zealand has not been revoked. If this shockingly narrow attitude is persisted in. then all New Zealand should note effect given to the harsh orders as an instance of Government stupidity. It is hard to see how the Government can deport two unforunate children without rousing the condemnation of all classes of the community. It is very clear that the Government’s bias is wrapped around blind support of a departmental officer. Mr. Forbes will not be doing his duty if he permits an injustice which has already brought adverse criticism from representative citizens. The United Party certainly will not benefit by giving effect to an un-British action. Here is an opportunity for Mr. Coates or Air. Holland, at the instance of Reform or Labour members in the Auckland Province, to move against crass folly. ENGLISHMAN. “THAT BUSY INSPECTOR Sir, — Your article on the subject of the duties of an inspector at Now Lynn I presume was intended to be humorous and if exaggeration could make anything funny this might be. As some of your readers might take it seriously, however, I would like to explain (fur enefit, of course. >. that the schedule quoted so fully has not been adopted by tho council and its use therefore is questionable. In a small district like New Lynn there is no need for two full-time, and one parttime, inspectors. When the new Whau Bridge is erected, it will not be necessary for the inspector to exercise two hours’ control each Sunday afternoon. (This isn’t Grafton Bridge.) And if there is a racecourse in New Lynn, I haven’t so far seen it, so that what is left for a traffic inspector to devote liis time to would be difficult to find. 1 would point out that cleaning of the council office, making morning and afternoon tea for the staff, and running office errands will not, I think be included. There is one place of amusement in New Lynn to supervise, we have a resident constable, and when we get a fire brigade the members will enjoy, in turn, a free show

i in a year, and is a minor nw tier, as :ire also all the other occasional odd jobs needing inspection or supervision m tho borough during quiet periods. All this. I maintain, can be done by one efficient officer without undue strain on his nervous system, and there will be plenty of time for him to cultivate the domestic cabbage patch. Such an officer would not be expected to sit in an office ail day waiting for clients and at tho same time be outside making i inspections. Neither would it be necessary for him to act as borough solicitor, so that while the duties may bo varied they would not amount to more than a full-sized job in all. and probably tho best support this statement will receive will be the great number of capable applicants willing t < undertake the combined duties. Naturally a reduction of staff cannot oe accomplished without hardship and or/' must choose between sentiment ami economical administration in favour «*r the latter in the expenditure of public money W. PLATT. “WHO GETS THE PROFIT ON WOOL?” Sir, — On March 31 last you had a leading article in your newspaper headed ‘ Who Gets the Profit on Wool?’* Presumably this comment was made owing to the exceeding low prices obtaining for the New Zealand wool clip, and criticising the position caused by the wool deadlock in Wellington. It was then stated that an official of the New Zealand Farmers* Union suggested that a buyers’ ring existed to the great disadvantage of the woolgrower. and I should like to add New Zealand in general. However, an emphatic denial was made on behalf of tho brokers by the president of the association, who is stated to have said that it was the old question of supply and demand. For want of proof, the question was dropped. The New Zealand woolgrower. from tho early part of this year, received an average price of sevenpenee a lb for liis first combings, 40’s quality wool greasy. To bring this to London parity twopence a lb must be added for freights, exchanges, and all other charges, or a total of ninepence a lb. At the last series of London wool sales this class of wool was realising !*'•* to 113 d a lb. Unfortunately th« New Zealand woolgrower does not j Participate in this extra price. In support of these statements, I wish to j suite that I received by tl e En iish ; mail wl 4 (Continued in next column. >

Rangitane a large sample of 40 s quail tv scoured first combing woo! from Bradford, with the price ruling at the end of April for the clean wool. This price is lt>td a lb. This wool was bought greasy in New Zealand in the early part of the year, when the price given was 7d a lb, and -d a lb. as stated, for freights., etc., and (a? a fiat rate is charged in Bradford of one penny a lb greasy weight received for scouring), the total cost is lwi. On this class of wool a loss in scouring of about 22 per cent, would be made. The average weight of a oak of greasy wool is 3501 - This would return, when clean, 2721 b, value IOAd a lb From these figures it will be seen that, between the greasy wool price and the clean wool price, a different' of ~ i 2s Id a bale occurs. Now you ask who gets this profit? Certainly not the woolgrower?; neither. 1 doubt, dot s the manufacturer. Who. then These figures. however, show what a great difference there is between the greasy wool price and the clean wool price, which has a standardised valuo on the Bradford Wool Exchange, subject of course to the fluctuation of tr. ,k market, whereas there cannot bo a proper standard value for grear: wools. Owing to the mixed nature o. tho wool contained in a bale, its value has to be apppraised by the; woolbuyer upon its Qualities and estimated yield of clean wool. From the above figures it is more than evident that a very large margin is allowed, to the detriment of tire woolgrowers' interests, re that if some means were established whereby their wool could be standardised before being offered for sale a reserve value could be accurately arrived at with great advantage* to the woolgrower—a step in the right direction for better marketing, and a voice in the control of the price from time to time. , .. „ f Another statement was made t»i largo quantities of discoloured Kor canary) wool, as it is called, were ■ evidence this season, and could nov bo scoured white. I have had 40 v«ar? experience in wool manufacturing m all its stages, and should like to state here that modern machinery and scientific methods will now bring this wool to a snow-white condition at no additional cost to the scouring process as charged at present. All tb«*o figures and statements can be verified l»y official reports of the wool market Thus the average price of greasy wex* sold in New Zealand this year can b*' taken from the wool brokers’ own official figures to the New Zealand Press, while the “Yorkshire Post” ox February £. giving the range of scoured prices realised at the London wool sales of that date, quotes 40’s quallt.' scoured fleece at 14id a lb. At that time greasy wool of that quality in New Zealand realised 6%d to «d lb. In conclusion. I again repeat yjjj words. “Who (Jets the Profit on Wool. WOOL MANUFACTURER ARAPUNI Sir, — You ask in the leading article in The Sun: “What is to be done about tte severe paralysis of the Arapuni hydroelectric works?” - What can be done until those have the matter in hand have sausii«* themselves as to the cause oa. “severu paralysis’.” Until we get ta*** no criticism in the world will beo* Once we know the cause we can will find a cure. My confidence is noshaken in the engineers. Mr. Furfcd* I have known lor years. If be n . e€ r* any outside assistance lie will obtaini We have just as good engineering ability in the Dominion as there l f , any other country, so why go outs JJ * Faults developed in this great unfl V taking as work proceeded, 4na *• cost mounted. What of that? * man can see the end from the begi * ning in a work such as Arapunil am confident that no difficulty bo found too great for the brains those who have the work in han* overcome, thus making a great cess of what, for the moment, 100 liko failure ..«.w These men know their responsion-. —the money already expended, *■ lives and property at risk. Let? a bit of building up as well as faumj down. 1 have had my share of trou in foundations, as a builder, and feel for those who are faced with present diffcultv. W< will all see position from a different angle few days. •lAM MS TOO MATH. . I Pres?. X.w Zealanders- A??oc. i UIC>