ARTIFICIAL SILK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 232, 1 October 1925, Page 10

ARTIFICIAL SILK.

ENORMOUS STRIDES MADE

BRITAIN IN THE LEAD

"The production of artificial silk has made enormous strides during the past three years, and its production is going up by leaps and bounds," said Mr. Albert Spencer, president of the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association to-day. "England, which is the home of this industry, has the finest machinery in the world for producing this synthetic fibre, and. although at'first they were very slow to move, during the last year British manufacturers have made great strides in its development. Their foreign competitors have also made remarkable progress in this respect; Italy has increased her production, and is turning out huge quantities of a cheaper grade for ladies' clothing, dresses and underwear, which can be made cheaper than woollen garments." The British output last year, he explained, reached 150 million pounds. No doubt the recent shortage of woo." throughout the world, and the hi"]-, prices ruling, were a factor there as In other countries. Germany had splendidly equipped and organised factories for its production: and her manufacturers were the best makers in the world of the bleached sulphite pulp from which artificial silk was derived. Germany was also manufacturing a new substitute for wool, by the use of cotton. Xew uses for artificial silk were being discovered every day. It made beaut ful surgical dressings: was also uwd for motor car tyre fabric, for trimmir.-s and headings, and for insulating tape." "It is certainly goinp to make a ->vorld revolution in wearing apparel."' Mr. Spencer commented, "and it lends itself to scientific blending with cotton, the combination making a very fine material perfectly hygienic and healthy to wenr. "It is with a feeling of satisfaction we learn that England is now inakiim huge strides to capture her share of this important artificial silk trade, and that the British Government have taken stei»s to protect it from foreign dumping."