PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT OFFER TO ASSIST IN
FINANCING OF WOOL PROMOTION
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Menzies
The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, announced today
that the Commonwealth Government had decided to assist the
woolgrowing industry to finance an expanded wool promotion
campaign. The Government's decision was taken after considering
a request made by the Executive Committee of the Australian Wool
Industry Conference.
Sir Robert said that the Government was willing to match
œ 1 for œ 1 any additional funds which woolgrowers were prepared
to contribute by way of levy for wool promotion. This meant that
if woolgrowers agreed to increas3 their levy for promotion, which
is at present 10/-a bale, the Commonwealth Government would contribute
an amount equal to the additional fundw contributed by
woolgrowers as a result of an increase in the levy.
Sir Robert said that the Government's offer to match on
a œ l for œ l basis any additional funds contributed by woolgrowers
for wool promotion would apply for a period of three years. At
the end of this period, the Government would review its assistance
in the light of the circumstances at that time. The Australian
Wool Board would be asked to report to the Government annually on
the operation of the wool promotion programme.
Although the Executive Committee of the Wool Industry
Conference had also suggested that the Commonwealth Government
should assist in providing additional funds for wool research,
the Government decided to defer the consideration of this
request for the time being. In making this decision, the
Government took acco=. t o-f the fact that substantial reserve
funds are at present available for financing wool research.
However, it noted that these reserves were being
depleted and would review the position after the Australian
Wool Board had taken over the administration of wool research
and had had the opportunity of examining future financial
requirements. The Commonwealth Government is at present contributing
the equivalent of a bale for wool research while
woolgrowers contribute at the rate of a bale.
Sir Robert said that this major decision by the
Government had been taken in the light of special circumstances
applying to the wool industry, its competitive position with
other fibres and its significance to the Australian economy.
CANBERRA. October, 1963.
56/ 63P