Leadership is desperately needed in the wool industry. Christian Heritage calls on the Minister for Fibre, John Luxton, to ensure that the promised referendum for wool growers includes the option ‘Wool Corp’.

There has been strong grower support for this concept and it would be a travesty of justice if it were excluded just because it was not a concept spun by Wool of NZ.

Raising the subject of wool with a sheep farmer, inevitably brings on a wave of depression. Wool prices have been declining at the rate of 3% per year for the last couple of decades.

Moreover, ‘Wool of NZ’ tell us that this trend will continue. To add to the depression, this august body takes 5% of the wool cheque, supposedly to ensure that this does not happen!

Out of all this gloom and doom farmers, desperate for higher returns, are looking at new ways of functioning as an industry.

Wool of NZ initiative to sell wool on the internet will succeed in reducing selling costs only, it does not address the major problem, which is that the wool is disposed of, not marketed.

The proliferation of small brands also being encouraged by Wool of NZ will result in undercutting in the market place with little long-term benefit.

The best proposal appears to be ‘Wool Corp’. This proposal is based on modern marketing principles where the manufacturer is guaranteed price stability, wool quality and a continuing supply of specialist blends. The Christian Heritage Party believes that all options should be put to sheep farmers and let them decide.

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