WOOL TRADE IN WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1940, Page 4

WOOL TRADE IN WAR.

HUGE DEFENCE DEMAND.

I With a great increase in the clothing equipment of tlie Army, Navy and Air Force it will be impossible for Kngliith manufacturers to cater fully for their I normal export orders, states a report by Wmchcombe, Carson, Led. Apart from ail other aspects, expoits are only permitted under license, The British Government cannot allow goods to be shipped to foreign countries regardless of precautions ensuring that they trill not eventually go info enemy bands. The 1914-18 war gave a great impetus to the manufacture of woollen jtooas in Australia, Japan. New Zealand and other countries, and that development resulted in Yorkshire losing permanently a large portion of her export business, while it increased consumption in Che countries concerned. In 1013 Great Britain's exports of woollen and wonted fabrics were 233,000,000 square yards. They reached fair dimensions in the post-Mar boom, but with the trading barriers which have since develoT>ed the average annual exports for the j>nnt ten years have not been half tile 1013 quantity.

The British Government has bought the clip, but it is desirable for ns much wool as possible to be allocated to neutral countries which usually buy Australian supplies, continues the report. The risk in present that fcney will not onily l>uy wool elsewhere, but al«o that a more extensive use will be made of substitute fibre*, which will De diffioukr to displace Inter.

Australia has 1,300,000 bales more to sell annually than after the last war. Ita sale was not troublesome when Japan was taking 600',000 to 700,000 bales yearly, and prospect* existed of her buying 1,000,000 bales every twelve mouths, but Japanese needs have lessened, not expanded, because of her production of euMtitute fibres.