WELLINGTON NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1918, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT OFFER "" FOR WOOL. MATTER DISCUSSED BY PREMIER. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Nov. 2. Referring to the wocl purchase, in replying to a deputation, Mr. Maasey said that at one time he thought it would be perfectly safe to drop the requisitioning scheme as soon as the war was over, but he had changed Ms mind. In all wool-producing countries vast quantities of wool were in store. Wool could not reach the Allied countries, and it tvas not allowed to go to enemy countries. When the war ended shipping would Income available, and the accumulated wool would reach the markets. The wool held in South Africa and the Argentine had not been requisitioned, find would go upon the market directly peace was declared. He believed that the release of all- this wool would cause prices to drop, and hia own opinion was that Xew Zealand producers would be wise to follow the example of the Australian producers and accept the offer of the Imperial Government to take the wool for a full season after the close of fhe war. While m London, he had secured from tho Imperial authorities a statement showing the quantities of wool in store. Australia, on July 30th last, held 1,105,178 hales, and this quantity had increased since. Mr Mac Donald: It will be double that by' Christmas. Mr Massey added that on tlie same date Xew Zealand had 4.12,346 bales on hand, nearly a season's clip. South Africa 'had 124,000 bales, and South America had 110,000 bales. He was informed that the South American bales were three times as heavy as tho Aus - tralasian bales, so the quantity might be multiplied by tlireo for the purpose of comparison. The new season's wool was now coming in, and it would be easy to see what would happen if all this wool was thrown upon an open market after the war.

Sir James Wilson: Has the Imperial Government definitely offered to take the wool for a full year after the war? Mr Massey: Yes, and I tliink the offer should be accepted. Personally, I should have been very g!ad to have been able to make arrangements with the Imperial authorities to take the whole of our produce for a full year after the war. Every store iu New Zealand will be full live months from now, and unless shipping comes, as I hope it will come, wo will 1)3 in a very awkwaTd position. Supposing the Government takes the produce for only three months after tine war, tlieve will not be much! got away. How are we going to get on after that? If the requisitioning sehemo is continued for twelve months, the stores, probably, will be half emptied, and we shall be able to carry on without serious hardship. I do not say that they will do that. I only sounded them. They have dot made any offer for meat after the war, but they have made an offer for the wool, and I recommend the producj era to accept an offer for the meat and [dairy produce for a year after the wax it