“MISSING WOOL CONTRACT”

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1922, Page 5

“MISSING WOOL CONTRACT”

BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S LIABILITY. INFORMATION WITHHELD. CONFLICTING LEGAL OPINION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. W. J. Polson (president) reported to the Dominion executive of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union to-day what he termed “The missing wool contract,” in conformity with the resolution passed at the last meeting of the J executive. He stated that he had endeavored to obtain the necessary information from the Government to enable him to state a case for a legal opinion for the guidance of the executive regarding the Imperial wool contract, but he regretted to report that, so far, -he had been unsuccessful. He had asked for information regarding sales and contracts, the amount of the surplus wool sold at a. loss and profit respectively, and whether the Government would view favorably the institution of a friendly suit against the Imperial Government to clear up any points in dispute. Mr. Polson detailed how he had approached the Government first through Mr. O. Ji -Hawken, M.P., chairman of the Producers’ Wool Committee, and then through the member for his district, and commenting strongly bn the delays that had met him at every turn. He said he had not time to wait, cap in hand, on the steps of Parliament House begging for the information they should have as a right. He asked the executive to relieve him from that responsibility, and to appoint someone in Wellington to undertake it. He did not suggest that the Government had any object in delaying the matter, but be did submit that such procrastination, extending over years, lent color to the suspicion existing in the minds of many people that there was something to conceal.

Mr. W. B. Matthieson (Eketahuna) said that the executive should, in view of the president’s statements, press the Government for a frank answer to his questions. It was an extraordinary position that the Government would not be frank. It was a matter of a written contract. The wool-growers were most closely concerned in it, and they had the right to see the contract.

Mr. G. L. Marshall (Marton) understood that the Prime Minister had said that he was going to get a legal opinion on the matter, and it all depended upon that opinion. The chairman stated that if the decision was in the wool-growers’ favor, the profits they were entitled to would run into some eight millions sterling, which was more than the price of a whole wool clip at present, and, if they got it, it would be a very great thing for the producers of the Dominion. (Heai*, hear.) Mr. J. H. Joll (Hastings) understood that Mr. Massey had stated that English lawyers were emphatic that the wool-growers had no claim, while New Zealand lawyers were just as emphatic that they had a claim. The president thought there must be some mistake about that. He did not think the Prime Minister had made such a statement.

Mr. G. Leaidley (Ashburton) said that he had seen a copy of the contract in the hands of the legal gentlemen, who held the opinion that tne whole thing depended upon whether the Imperial Government were purchasers of the surplus wool, or agents for the sellers. If they were agents for the vendor they were responsible, but, if not, the woolgrowers had no case. That opinion was endorsed by some of the legal lights of Wellington. If the Imperial Government were agents they ought to account to the wool-growers for the whole proceeds.

After further discussion, it was resolved that the secretary be instructed to take further action on the lines of the chairman’s report, in order to get an answer to the questions the chairman had asked.