MENACE NOT SERIOUS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 179, 13 May 1935, Page 7

MENACE NOT SERIOUS

WOOLSTRA IN GERMANY. DUNEDIN BROKER'S VIEW. (Special to the "Guardian.") DUNEDIN, May 11. A (Dunedin wool broker, interviewed to-day, said: "Woolstra does not now threaten to Be such a menace as it was at first thought it would be to the profitable production of the raw material. Woolstra is being produced, but so far the product has not been proved to have the lasting quality of woollen goods, and, further, garments made of it have a tendency to crease and to remain creased until re-pressed. "With the past low prices of wool, woolstra has not had a chance of successfully competing, but its prospects would be enhanced if wool prices advanced substantially. German manufacturers are now making cloth combining raw wool and woolstra. Germany's interest in the New Zealand wool market is.gratifying, but it must be remembered that that country has never exerted a big influence on prices here. Its purchases have been comparatively Jight, and in the recentlyconcluded season it did not buy a bale. Only a small percentage of th© total clip has been taken by Germany even in the best seasons. Over a period of 30 years the highest percentage which has'gone to Germany was 7.78 per cent, of the total clip, and the percentages acquired by that nation in the last five years have been: 1931, 4.72 per cent.; 1932, 3.44 per cent.; 1933, 3.35 per cent. • 1934, 5~.6 per cent.; 1935, nil.