NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 January 1918, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND WOOL.

GOVERNMENT WOOL PURCHASES.

FARMERS DEPUTATION TO PREMIER.

WELLINGTON, January 22,

A deputation of farmers waited upon the Premier to state their grievances regarding the price being made for inferior wools.

Mr. G. V. Pearce, M.P., said that when the conference was held at which the arrangements were made for commandeering New Zealand wool, a con- j dition of the purchase was that the growers should get 55 per cent, ou the pre-war price. As the scheme was working out, it was not cpiitc satisfactory to the farmers. They werei satisfied with the prices they were getting for fleece wool, but not with the prices paid them for crutchings, pieces, and seedy wools, for which they certainty were not being paid 55 percent more than pre-war rates. At the conference of farmers, of which the deputation was the outcome, a suggestion was made that they should be allowed to send any seedy wool TtTTTe sold at their own risk, in any country where they could find a market. He did not think any member of the deputation favoured that proposal. Another suggestion was that any farmer who thought the valuation of his wool very low, should be allowed to hold the wool for a free market at the cud of the war. A further suggestion was that the farmers should themselves put up a carbonising, plant to cost about £20,000 and that the Government should assist .

Mr W. S. Bennett, chairman of the Woolbrokcrs ’ Association, said the chief valuer had stated at Napier that in no instance had the valuer been instructed to take into consideration the cost of cleaning seedy wool. The buyer’s practice was to make a deduction only on account of the amount of seed in the wool, and the actual deterioration of the wool consequent upon the presence of seed. The valuer contended that values being paid were equivalent to a 55 per cent, more than pre-war prices of all kinds of wool. Mr. Massey said ho wished members of the deputation would get rid of any impression they might have that the Government wished to get the better of the producer in any way. In this he could speak for the Imperial as well as the New Zealand Government, because he had been in England, and was a party to the negotiations when the bargain was made. Ho was of opinion that the bargain had worked out very well. It had been pointed out that the only deduction made in the value of seed}- wool, was on account of deterioration that actually took place because of the presence of seed, and he hoped that as result of the deputation, no more, would be hoard of the grievance. Another grievance, raised lately was with regard to the draft ol wool. He did not believe the deduction was a fair one, but it had existed at least half a century, and naturally when the Imperial Government made arrangements to purchase, the wool purchases were made upon the existing trade customs. He thought the custom ought -to be removed but he thought it unfair of the farmers that they should try to get rid of it by bringing pressure to boar on the Government now. He would have no objection, personally, to farmers being allowed to hold seedy wools, but it would have to be understood that no export of wool could bo allowed. Ho promised to consider the suggestion that the Government should assist in the erection of works for cleaning, wool. There wore plants in existence for the extraction of seed from wool by mechanical means. The charge made was fourpence per pound of clean wool. The Government, had quantities of wool treated at these works, and it would open to the farmers to have their wool cleaned before offering it for valuation.