COMMANDEERED WOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1916, Page 6

COMMANDEERED WOOL.

WAIT ABA AS A VALUING PORT. TAUAXAKI GROWERS" 1 RUT EST. The proposal of the Government to exclude Waitara from the list of shipping and valuing ports of commandeered wool lias caused considerable anxiety and surprise to wool-growers >n Taranaki, and on Saturday a series of meetings was held at different centres, nt which resolutions were framed, protesting against the contemplated, action. A meeting was held in New Plymouth on Saturday morning, when Mr. E. Maxwell presided over a gathering of twenty-five growers, representing Okato, Tikorangi, Waitara, Motonui, Koru, and Bell Block. It was stated that, acting upon information that Waitara would be gazetted as a valuing port, local brokers hacl made arrangements for accommodation of wool, and had let a contract for the provision of skylights at one of the sheds, so as to provide as favorable storage conditions as possible. Since then information had been received that the supervising valuer had reported adversely concerning Waitara as a grading port, and that it would be detrimental to the interests of wool-growers to have valuations carried out at an unsuitable place. The Minister had stated, however, that he would go further into the matter, and hope is still entertained that Waitara will be retained.

It was pointed <\ut that if the Government pursued the course in contemplation,- it would inflict a serious hardship upon the local growers and brokers. The proposal, it was said, was due to the influence of brokers and other interested parties in Wellington, who were advocating their own ends, without thought to the interests of the local growers or brokers. Another point was that by having the wool valued locally, the growers could kr ;p in toucji with the valuers, whom they would know, and in whom they would have every confidence. In the event of the grower being dissatisfied -with the valuer's assessment, the position could at once be discussed by the grower and valuer, and a satisfactory adjustment made. In the event of an appeal, the grower would incur little or no expense in presenting his case lically, whereas if be had to go to Wellington to support bis claim the expense entailed would be vtry heavy, and, in tW case of small growers, a distinct hardship would be inflicted. After considerable discussion, it was resolved to despatch the following telegram to the Minister —'"That this meeting of wool-growers learns with extreme anxiety and surprise that it is your intention not to gazette Waitara as a valuing and shipping port for commandeered wool: that, in view of the extra expense of 8s to 9s per bale which will, bp incurred by us in railing our wool to Wellington, also seeing that a number of growers who have inspected the proposed valuing shed iit Waitara are perfectly satisfied therewith, we respectfully urge upon you to see that your previous undertaking that Waitara would be a valuing port be adhered to. and thus act in the best interests o f Taranaki growers, especially the small men, wlio would have little chance of appeal against Wellington valuation Growers further protest- against the commandeering of wool by the Government being used as a cause for divert ing their wool from its ordinary export channel."

' MEETING AT STRATFORD. (From Our Resident Correspondent/) At the close of the general business at the meeting of the Stratford A. and P Association's Committee on Saturday, Mr. J. B. Richards stated that they .had heard something about the eoirimandeering of wool. There had been no official' statement by the Government, and no instructions had been liven to farmers in an official way, noi had any direction come from the Government advising farmers»'what actior. l-lisy should take to dispose of their i lips. Some farmers, acting on imper 1 loot information, had consigned to Waii'lir.i, and as Waitara may be excluded i "mm the list of valuing ports, the wool :nust be re-consigned to some other , iort. Other farmers were awaiting more definite knowledge concerning liic Gov•■rnment's requirements. The result was that unnecessary transit expenses were being incurred, and delay in receiving money for the clip is also occurring. Both these features are of serious detriment to farmers' interests. The position of the grower who had sold previous to the commandeering proposals was even more vague. The newspaper? had stated that all contracts had been cancelled, but no definite statement had teen forthcoming from the Government. Consequently, the grower could not decide if lie would be doing right in carrying out his sale contract or whether he should repudiate ;ueh contract and sell i to the Government. Fanners at present are in the dark, and do not know whether they should eonsign to the 'King, ythe Board of Trade, etc. fhe Ciovernment was silent on the matter. If they took a piece of land from a farmer ov anyone else, they advertised the fact. Buyers of wool could not answer where it had to be addressed. T t was only fair to the wool-growers that they should be recognised in the matter. -He thought it would be of much benefit to farmers if some definite knowledge could be obtained. He moved —"ThaUthe Hon Minister for Agriculture be urged to ijiake public by authoritative advertisement Hie requirements of the Government in respect to the commandeering of the wool, and to make clear what action wool-growers are required to take to dispose of their clips'; also, tlwt such authoritative advertisement makes clear what action wool-growers who havo sold privately should take." The woo:- ! grower was hardly in the same position as the dairyman. The latter liaj organised. For instance, Mr. Dingle represented the dairymen in their factory, but the wool-growers woilied independently. Mr. C. Jackson seconded the motion, saying the action of the Government had placed farmers in a peculiar posi tion. Mr. Walters stated he had intended sending wool to Waitara, but had been delayed. He then found it was necessary that it should be consigned ti Wellington. Messrs. R. Dingle and E. Jackson thought the motion a good one, and necessary, but believed it a matter that should be entrusted to the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Morison said tt was a ease of showing a united front, arid the Asso■"otino could combine with the Cham-

ber in keeping the matter before the Government.

Replying, Mr. Richards stated that be intended bringing the matter before the Chamber of Commerce, but it would be losing time to wait. The farmers ha! no inkling regarding the future, and it was only right tlmt farmers should know exactly what was required of them.

The motion was put, and carried unanimously. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., wired on Saturday to the Hon. W. D. S. MueDonald: —'"Taranaki wool people much concerned at probability of Waitara being eliminated as Wool shipping port. Trust Waitara will be included, as originally arranged. Please reply." To this the Minister replied as follows:—"I am in receipt of your wire regarding the question of Waitara being made a valuation port for wool. I had -proposed to include it, but, in accordance with practice adopted in connection with every place whore .speciallybuilt premises are not available, I had a special inspection made by a supervising valuer, who, I regret, reported unfavorably, and, as a result, my Ad visory Committee recommended that. Waitara should not be made a valuing port. In view of the strong representations made, I will go into the matter further with the Committee as soon as I can get the members together. Two of them are away to-day. For your information I quote the valuer's report: 'I inspected Waitara stores to-day. Accommodation for showing wool for valuing purposes very limited. It consists of three stores, two of which are required for storing wopt awaiting shipment. Other shed for showing wool for valuing measures 15 by 05 feet. Would only be capable of holding about 500 bales at a time ' for valuing. Stores badly lighted, at present, but owne-s would put in skylights. Consider Waitara unsuitable for valuing, as grower.;' interests would be prejudiced owing to valuers not being able to do justice to wool owing to limited accommodation and disadvantageous surroundings. Total quantity usually shipped, about 7000 bales, including 700 slipes from freezing works. Freezing works willing to store wool-awaiting shipment, It uecessarvv "