PAYMENT FOR WOOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1943, Page 3

PAYMENT FOR WOOL

FULL PRICE TO BE CLAIMED LEGAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN. DECISION BY FARMERS MEETING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Legal action is to be taken against the Government to test the validity of its withholding of part of the increased payment by the United Kingdom on the price of wool. A unanimous decision to this effect was reached in a resolution adopted in Wellington yesterday at a meeting of about 100 sheep-farmers called by the MakaraHutt Valley provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mrs Stewart, M.P., Mr Roberts, M.P., and Mr Coombs, MP., were present by a general invitation which had been given to members of Parliament to attend the meeting, and Mr Roberts explained the viewpoint of the Government. Opinions were expressed at the meeting that the sheep-farmers had been singled out as a group for the application of the Government’s stabilisation policy, and it was felt that, on a question of principle, they were suffering an injustice. There was general advocacy of a compulsory savings scheme for all sections of the community as the most practical and most equitable way of safeguarding against the danger of inflation. Mr R. Sievers, provincial president, commented that it was almost a year since the 15 per cent, increase in the price of wool had been announced, but finality had not yet been reached. There had definitely been a deadlock in negotiations, but nothing short of the full payment of the 15 per cent, increase to the wool producers of New Zealand would be satisfactory. The allocation of one per cent, proposed by the Government to the wool industry was considered to be nothing but a consumers’ subsidy. Mr A. Horrobin then moved, and Mr L. Mexted seconded, the resolution, which was adopted as stated above.