H.— 38b

2

Telegram from the Right Hon. the Prime Minister of New Zealand, London, to the Acting Prime Minister, Wellington. London, Bth November, 1916. With reference to requisitioning wool, am of opinion that price quoted below market values. On the other hand, proposal means solution of shipping difficulty, as Imperial Government take full responsibility, and by prompt cash wool-grower would be safe. Advise full consideration and not to accept offer hurriedly. Telegram from the. Right Hon. the Prime Minister of New ZEALAND, London, to the Acting Prime Minister, Wellington. London, 9th November, 1916. Firstly, myself, Ward, Mackenzie met in conference with representatives of Imperial Government with reference to their proposed requisition all New Zealand wool. Imperial Government willing to pay 45 per cent, increase in average price of each quality wool season 1913-14 ; delivery to be made either port, railway-station, or store approved Government of New Zealand ; British Government pay cost of dumping and incidental handling. During June British wool requisitioned on 35 per cent, and French 25 per cent, over pre-war rates. Since then prices have been advanced considerably. In the event of whole quantity not being required for military purposes, surplus to he placed in open market. If profit realized, half such profit to go to New Zealand ; if loss, whole of same to bo borne by Imperial Government. Terms prompt cash on delivery. Any existing contracts to be cancelled. Secondly, suggest that small but representative conference producers and others interested in wool should be convened as soon as possible for purpose of considering proposal. It is proposed to requisition, also Australian crossbred, wool on same terms as New Zealand. Telegraph result with least possible delay. first conference of repreventatives of the wool industry with the hon. minister of agriculture. Wellington, 14th November, 1916. The following delegates were present: — Wool-growers. —ll. D. Aeland, President New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation ; G. D. Greenwood, Canterbury Sheep-farmers ; John Turnbull, Goro Wool-growers ; George Chewings, Southland Frozen Meat Company and Agricultural and Pastoral Society; Guyon Macdonald, Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association ; Hugh Burrell, Feilding Argicultural and Pastoral Association ; Ernest Short, Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association ; H. Akers, Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association; J. Knight, Feilding Agricultural and Pastoral Association; F. H. Labatt, Secretary New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation ; W. F. Parkinson, President Sheepowners' Union, Canterbury ; W. W. Mcßae, North Canterbury Sheepowners ; R. H. Aldworth, Ohariu, Wellington ; S. Bryant, Ohariu, Wellington ; P. C. Gray, East Southland district with Gore as the centre, and Stock Agents' Association ; G. A. Marchant, Central Taranaki ;H. P. Best, Taranaki ; J. M. Arundel, Tokomaru Bay; E. C. Jack, Secretary New Zealand Farmers' Union ; Thomas Moss, President Farmers' Defence Committee ; T. Hodgins, Pahiatua; Ewen Campbell, Wanganui; William Peat, Wanganui; E. MacGregor, Waikato Graziers' Vigilance Committee; W. 11. Field, M.P., Otaki; Allan Robinson, Wanganui County ; Walter Seavill, Raglan and Waikato Counties ; M. A. Eliott, ManaWatu Wool-growers and Auckland Wool-growers ; G. V. Pearce, M.P., Egmont Agricultural and Pastoral Association and Taranaki Farmers' Union ; W. Van Asch, Hawke's Bay Farmers' Union ; H. M. Campbell, Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society ; A. I). McLeod, Wairarapa ; Hugh Morrison, Wairarapa; W. Perry, Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association and member of the Board of Agriculture; E. Averill, Board of Agriculture; Sir J. G. Wilson, Board of Agriculture; Sir Walter 0. Buchanan, M.L.C., Carterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association; 0. H. Ensor, President Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Society; J. Talbot, Timaru; David Jones, North Canterbury Farmers' Union ; C. de V. Teschemaker, Marlborough Sheepfarmers' Union and. Agricultural and Pastoral Society ; John Clark, Gisborne Sheep-farmers ; R. Acton-Adams, Otago and Southland Sheepowners' Union ; James Begg, Otago Farmers' Union and Sheepowners' Association ; P. Patullo, Hawke's Bay Sheepowners' Union ; W. D. Lysnar, Gisborne Sheep-farmers ; H. G. Okey, M.P., Taranaki Agricultural and Pastoral Society; L. A. Nolan, Taranaki; C. H. E. Rhodes, Rangitikei ;H. Lethbridge, representing Lethbridge and Marshall, Turakina ; P. A. McHardy, Palmerston North. Representing Banking Institutions. —R. A. Holmes, Chairman. Wool-buyers.— Messrs. R. Nettleton, N. Andrews, 11. T. Milnes, Walter Hill, Denny, Provost, Sant, Clark, Jowett, T. 0. Price, Barker, Brown, Arlow, Tartakover, Leithhead, Baker, P. Myers, Andreae, H. Hill, A. Nioholls, W. Scott, Carney, Bourke, Robson, Roberts, Christenson, Davidson, Kearslcy, Wilson, Anderson, A. McMillan, Cunningham, Churchward and Smith, C. F. Oliver, D. A. Fay, Storey, Gifkins, A. E. Donne (Wellington Woollen Company), J. Morrison arid 'Co. (representative, J. Harrison-Jones). Wool-brokers. —Messrs. Bennett and Waterhouse (New Zealand Wool-brokers' Association), Mabin (Wellington Association), Kettle (Napier Association), Boyle and Kitto (Christchureh Association), Black (Dunedin Association), B,awnsley (Timaru Association), Mitchell (Invercargill Association), and Perkins (Auckland Association) ; also Messrs, Stewart (Dalgety anil Co.) and Keeling (Bank of New Zealand).