WOOL INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1921, Page 5

WOOL INDUSTRY.

FEDERAL INQUIRY PROPOSED.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Melbourne, April 30. The House of Representatives had a long discussion on Mr. Hushes* wool proposals. Mr. Tudor favored the appointment of a committee to inquire into the whole industry. All the .speakers admitted the seriousness of the position and the necessity for steps to prevent the collapse of the market and the resultant heavy losses. Mr. Jowett suggested that Australia should buy up the whole of the wool and tie it up for five or six years. He stated that the representative of the Government and the wool-growers of New Zealand, who was now in Melbourne, informed him that the Dominion was anxious to fail in line with Australia. It was more than probable that South Africa would follow that lead. The debate was adjourned.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ADVICE TO MR. HUGHES.

London, April 29. Commenting on Mr. Hughes’ state•ment that he is coming to England to consult the British Government about wool, the Yorkshire Observer, a Bradford paper, says that Mr. Hughes would do better by coming to Bradford and leaving Downing Street and Whitehall to ddal with matters they understand, which do not include the wool trade. Their sole interest to-day seems to be the taxation of the last vestige of vitality out of the industry. They know much about fleecing, but nothing about wool.

If Mr. Hughes consulted representatives of the Bradford traders he would be convinced of the benefits of a free open market, and would realise that the interests of Australia and Bradford are inseparably linked, and that neither of those interests will be served by an attempt to dictate the values of any commodity, because in the end the ultimate user has the last word and cannot be coerced.