WOOL PUBLICITY

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20986, 14 October 1933, Page 11

WOOL PUBLICITY

WORK OF MISS HOWEY IN ENGLAND PROGRESS AT BRADFORD The work being done by Miss G. V. Howcy, of Christchurch, who recently went to England in an endeavour to secure greater publicity for New Zealand wool, is outlined in an interview with Miss Howey, published in the "Yorkshire Observer." Miss Howey is secretary of Wool Publicity (New Zealand), which was given a grant by the Government for the purpose of publicity work abroad. "It will be to the advantage of your textile people to collaborate with us," said Miss Howey, v/hen interviewed by the Bradford correspondent of the "Yorkshire Observer." "Greater publicity for wool will create increased demand for wool goods which, in turn, will encourage growers to produce better raw material. For some years the sheep farmers in New Zealand have been losing heart about the wool side of their business and it is one of the objects of our organisation to try to check the tendency which they have been showing to allow their wool to deteriorate. "This is the first big movement made to organise the wool industry and to set up properly-constituted councils which will determine marketing methods, research, publicity, and general development of the industry." Proposed Publicity Methods. Discussing the methods by which wool could be popularised in a campaign such as was now proposed, Miss Howcy told the interviewer that these would include general advertising on attractive lines, and a special direct appeal to the housewife to buy wearing apparel and home furnishings of wool. Referring to possible publicity arrangements, Miss Howey said, "We have in mind for immediate use the presentation of the story of the Golden Fleece in pageant form similar to that staged in America about three years ago. This has already been given in various parts of New Zealand and Australia with great success. It created an increased demand for wool goods, but the campaign lost much of its efficacy because it was not permanent. Our idea is to make this publicity work permanent. The wool council or councils must be permanent bodies with regular funds coming in for publicity purposes. Miss Howey also told the interviewer that she had had talks that day with several leading men in the wool textile trade of Bradford, on the objects of her mission. She had found Lord Barnby very sympathetic and at the conclusion of her interview with him he had dispatched the following cablegram to Mr H. D. Acland, president of the Canterbury Sheep Owners' Federation:— "Permit me to offer personal encouragement on the reported movement to form a wool council. If the Dominion will follow South Africa's lead corresponding action in Australia would be facilitated. A voluntary levy is here current, but hopes exist that it may shortly be substituted by statutory authority similar to the cotton and other trades. Collaboration between producing and manufacturing interests on marketing preparation, research, publicity, and general development under the control of properly-constituted councils is very desirable." Support for the scheme has already been promised by the London Drapers' Chamber of Trade, and by a number of important men in the wool textile industry, the interview concludes.