WOOL industry leaders and growers are concerned the industry will implode unless warring factions sort out their differences, which have been aired in the media recently.
The scrap follows the launch of The Wool Company established under the umbrella of the Wool Industry Network, to attract farmer revenue and wool consignment. The company’s intention is to restructure the wool industry.
Entrenched, established wool industry leaders have attacked the plan.
Wool Advancement Group (WAG) want to broker an urgent summit meeting within two weeks to bang heads together, establish common ground and find a way forward.
If matters are not resolved soon, WAG believes the industry will be destroyed forever.
WAG is a voluntary group of high-profile, successful participants in wool and includes entrepreneurs, consultants, manufacturers, processors and retailers as well as strong representation from wool growers.
Chairman Cliff Heath was last week ringing some of the major identities in the wool industry, to garner support for the meeting, which will be held in Christchurch.
He said there was a lack of understanding among some of the key players who have come on board with The Wool Company, as to how vital the wool exporters are to the way wool business is conducted in New Zealand.
Straight Furrow called Craig Norgate for an indication of his support. He said he would be travelling and would take a strong interest in the meeting.
“But Theresa will be there.”
Theresa Gattung is the chairman of The Wool Company.
Mr Heath said it was a priority to get these people together, rather than having them talking past each other.
“They need to look at a total industry approach to saving the wool industry, rather than the PGG Wrightson initiative which is a farm gate approach.”
Clearly, there is a lack of communication and misunderstandings, among all parties involved in the fight.
“I told them, (Wool Industry Network), in a letter months ago, that if they proceeded with their plan in its present form, they would get opposition from the exporters and they did not listen and now they seem to have dug themselves into a corner,” Mr Heath said.
At the time of writing, the company was rumoured to be still seeking capital, had no prospectus, or a chief executive. One person who was offered the job had declined.
Wool exporters have vigorously challenged claims made by The Wool Company, and have said they will continue to do so.
North Canterbury international wool consultant and wool businessman
Chris Stewart would like to see a wider group at the meeting than, “just the heads of state”. He has a list of about 80 people he wants to see locked in a room for the two-and-a-half day workshop – “where all are there on the understanding they are committed to stay and work towards some positive results.
“It would take at least a day to leach out all the old baggage and get us all to start working alongside each other and looking outwards for a common cause.
“We first need to all clearly understand and respect each other’s current functions within the ‘industry’, so we can then utilise all our experiences and resources collectively to try and re-invigorate what is currently a directionless industry worldwide.”
Mr Stewart said WAG and the industry in general are in accord on one point.
“That wool has been a potent part of our world’s economic wealth and
an enduring, dynamic fibre, and there is every reason for it to continue to be so.”
sandyfinnie@xtra.co.nz
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