23

H.—3Bb

The free-market price of wool in consuming-centres is no criterion whatever as to what the prices would be if a free market were assured in primary markets. With the present state of shipping, in fact, the higher the price in the country of consumption the lower is the price in the country of production. In view of the increased probability that wool will not be shipped, the Imperial Government considers that the price of the clip should not exceed the price paid last year, but is prepared to pay for the whole clip on the level of 1916-17 prices, undertaking all risks of shipping, and paying for wool as last year, whether ships are available or not, and continuing last year's arrangement whereby any profit made from wool sold for other than military purposes is divided equally between the Imperial Government and the colonial Governments, after administrative and other expenses have been" met. May, 1917. Letter from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. Sir,— High Commissioner's Office, Strand, London W.C., 17th May, 1917. I have the honour to attach hereto copy of a communication which I have received ficm the Contracts Department of the War Office. This, as you will see, makes an offer on behalf of the Imperial Government for the entire wool-clip of the 1917-18 season, at the. same prire and on the same conditions which govern the contract now in existence. As you will notice, the covering letter urges the desirability of an early decision, and I should be glad if this matter could be considered and your decision transmitted to mo, so that I may inform the War Office as to whether or not their offer is accepted. I have, &c., The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, New Zealand. T. Mackenzie. THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY. Wellington, Monday, 15th October, 1917. Requisition of New Zealand Wool. [l.s.] Liverpool, Governor-General. A Proclamation. Whereas by reason of the exigencies of the present war it is necessary that further supplies of wool should be obtained by His Majesty for the clothing and equipment of His Majesty's Forces and for other purposes of the war : And whereas by Order in Council of the eighteenth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, the export of wool from New Zealand to any destination is prohibited, save with the consent of the Minister of Customs : And whereas by an Order in Council made on the tenth day of August, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, under the War Regulations Act, 1914, the sale of New Zealand wool otherwise than to His Majesty has been prohibited : And whereas by a Proclamation made on the twenty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, all New Zealand wool of the then present season's clip was requisitioned for the use of His Majesty on the terms and conditions set out in that Proclamation : And whereas His Majesty's necessities in respect of the war require that all Now Zealand wool of the now next ensuing season's clip be also requisitioned on similar terms and conditions : And whereas by a Proclamation made on the twenty-fifth day of August, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, all New Zealand wool for the now next ensuing season's clip was requisitioned by and on behalf of His Majesty for the necessary purposes of the war : And whereas it is deemed expedient to revoke the said Proclamation made on the twenty-fifth day of August, one thousand nine hundred, and seventeen, and to make the following Proclamation in the place thereof : Now, therefore, I, Arthur William do Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the prerogative right possessed by His Majesty in that behalf in time of war, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of that Dominion, do hereby proclaim that all wool of the next ensuing season's clip in New Zealand is hereby requisitioned by and on behalf of His Majesty for the necessary purposes of the war in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Schedule hereto ; and do hereby further proclaim that nothing herein contained shall in any manner affect the requisition of the wool of last season's clip in accordance with the aforesaid Proclamation of the twenty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, which requisition shall proceed and be completed in pursuance of that Proclamation accordingly. The Schedule. 1. The persons, firms, and companies mentioned in Appendix I hereto, together with such other persons, firms, or companies as the Government may from time to time appoint, hereinafter referred to as Government wool-brokers, will act as the agents of the Government of New Zealand in respect of the aforesaid requisition of wool.