DOMINION'S WOOL CLIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1916, Page 4

DOMINION'S WOOL CLIP.

, BOAIV. GOVERNMENT'S GFFEB CONSIDERED, j.. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. s A conference of representatives oi wool growers, brokers, Ibuyeirs, anil others interested was held to-day, at the invitation of the Minister of Agrh culture. At the outset the meeting passed aj resolution that the Dominion was determined to see the war through to a successful end. The conference resolved itself into ai series of sections, which spent the whole day discussing details of the Imperial) Government's proposals for the acquisition of the whole of the current sea« son's Dominion clip. The conference was unfinished, and resumes to-morrow morning. It is understood the Home Govern- 1 mcnt offers to pay 50 per cent, increais or. the pre-war rates, equal to flu increase in the total value of about £3,000,000 compared with the 1913-11 season.

IPRESRVT PRICES WANTED. BROKERS OBJECT TO BREAKING \ CONTRACTS. DETAILS OP IMPERIAL GOVERN- 1 ' iltNT's UiTJiit. (By Wire.—Own Correspondent.); Wellington, Last Night. The proposal placed before the Wool Comeience involved the purchase of *ll clips at fixed advances oi 45 per vent, on the 15)13-14 season, rates io be as shown by account sales. The delegates decided by resolution, that, if wool i» to be requisitioned, it should be at the present Bradford prices, and ft committee was appointed to translate the Bradford quotations into prices of greasy wool. The figures will be placed before the conference to-morrow morning.

Brokers expressed themselves very unwilling to accept the cancellation of contracts already made, as proposed by the Government. The suggested method of adjusting prices was criticised by the delegates, who pointed out the prices varied materially during the course of the 1913-14 season. The fixing of 1916 prices on pre-war account sales would give an advantage to the grower who made a fortunate sale in 1314.

The general tone of the discussion was amicable, and delegates stated this evening they expect to reach a settlement.

A memorandum plnced before th» conference by the Minister stated tV proposals were that the Imperial Gov ernment accept as a basis the averag" price realised for each quality of woo. for the season of 1013-14 and is prepared to pav an advance of 45 per cent, thereon, delivery to be mads at either port, raihvav station, «r store, as approved by the Government of Xew Zea land; all handlins expenses'from pbints of delivery decided upon to be borne by the Imperial Government. "1 am further advised that, in the event of the whole of the wool not bein;i; r'Auired for military purposes, the jaitM'.ty are to he placed on the open market. If it should be that profit is (realised, hplf of ouc-li profit is to revert to New Zealand woolgTowers, but if any loss results, the Whole of such loss will be borne by the Imperial Government. The terms of payment will be prompt cash on delivery. "It is also intimated ttiat, as a condition of requisition all existing contracts shall be cancelled.- For the information of the conference, I am able to make it known that necessary transport will bo nrr.tnged by the Imperi'J Board of Trade." " „ '

SENSIBLE ADVICiC. Dannovirko, -Jov. y*. Mr Hunter, M.P., in an interview witii a Xhvs representative regarding represertatioria made to him by the farming community and others , said that as Parliament would probably not meet till dune the only man who could effectually deal with the American Meat Trust was the farmer, who should sec that none of his stock was sold to the agents of tli-j trust. i Regarding the eommnT)deer:ri<> of tho wool clip Mr. Hunter said the of the Empire compelled us to tf.ke the, t-rtine step of conscripting human ilff, therefore no objection ought to he maiiii to the Imperial authorities having the first call on our produce to feed and clothe the men at the front. '•Personally," lie said, "I feel, and I think I am expressing the views ot the majority of the sheep farmers of the Dominion, tint I ;\m prepared to make any sacrifice that will assist in winning the war."