ARTIFICIAL SILK INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21449, 15 April 1935, Page 13

ARTIFICIAL SILK INDUSTRY

WORLD'S LARGEST FIRM HISTORV or COI'RTAL'LDS, LI.VITKJ) Allliouiili fhc arti'iciul silk industry ha-; not escaped the effects of the depression if lias suffered Jess than other textile industries, according to Mr F. Williams, of the firm of Courlaulds. I,td., who is visiting New Zealand to establish personal contact with the linn's clients. Mr Williams is a director of Lustre Fibres, Ltd.. a subsidiary company through which the firm's products are distributed in this countrv. '••Wo have not experienced the deep depression that the wool industry has." said Mr Williams in an interview yesterday. "Courlaulds, Ltd., which, with its capital of £32.000,000, is the largest artificial silk firm in the world, has been better employed during the last 18 months than in the previous equal period. The industry has been rationalised and production costs cut to the bone, with the result that prices are cheaper than ever before. Generally, in England, one notices that conditions are just a little better, with steady progress from month to month. There is no 'boom'—for one thing England does not suffer from them as does America. ' Rayon, or artificial silk, Mr Williams continued, was ranked as a fibre in exactly the same way as real silk, cotton, wool, or flax. It found its way into almost every trade, (he range of its utility being shown by its use for, among other things, incandescent gas mantles, insulation for cables, and nnderwerr. Its base was wood pulp, for which the spruce pine was found to be the most favourable wood. The Firm's Founders "The founders of the firm of Courtauld's, Ltd.," said Mr Williams, "leit France during the Hueguenot persecution and settled at Spitalfields.; They were originally weavers of real silk. Thev erected a power weaving plant in Essex, where the firm has many factories to-day, and were later oflered the patterns for artificial silk, which they acquired and developed. The organisation is now (he largest in the world, with subsidiary companies m the United States of America. France and Canada. The number of factories has been increased in recent »'ars, this contributing to the reduction of unemployment. "Overseas markets absorb -a per cent, of the total. New Zealand is of course not one of our largest markets. Many countries buy the fabric from England and make up their own goods. New Zealand does not do this as yet, but the development of the industry here is probably only a question of time." Mr Williams's visit to New Zealand will occupy more than three weeks. He paid a tribute to the hospitality shown him in the country, the scenery, and the quality of the roads, which, he said, seemed to have outstripped progress i other directions. Mr Williams has also formed the impression that the country could with case carry a much larger population.

DAIRY PRODUCE LATEST LONDON' REPORT The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board has received the following market report from its London office, dated April 12, 1935: Butter—New Zealand, salted, 77s to 70s, ex. 79s (last week, to 7Cs>: equals approximately 8.89 d, f.0.b.; unsalted, 78s to 80s (78s to 80s). Deliveries, New Zealand, 2108 tuns; in .store, New Zealand. 4815 tons; includes 135 tons Coptic. Australian, salted, 74s up to 75s (74s to 755); ununited, 75s to 76s (75k to 765). Deliveries, Australian. 2852 tons; in store Australian, 4182 tons. Market quiet. New Zealand retail price unchanged fit lOd. Argentine, unsalted, 72s to 71s, ex. 755. Danish, 775, f.0.b., 98s spot (795: 100s to 101s). Market firm at reduction. Dutch, unsalted, 74s to 82s; Latvian, unsalted, 78s (77s to 78s): Lithuanian, unsalted, 78s (74s>. Cheese—New Zealand, white, 44s Gd, 45s (4.73 d, t.0.b.) (last week, 45s to 45s Cd); coloured, 40s to 4Gs 6d to 45s (4.92 d, f.0.b.) (4Gs 6d to 475). Deliveries, New Zealand, 18,459 crates; in store. New Zealand, 156,302 crates. Australian, white and coloured, 43s to 44s (445). Canadian, white and coloured, 60s to 62s (61s to 625). Market slow. New Zealand retail price unchanged, 6'd. English, finest farmers, P.2s to 90s (82s to 90s); English, factory cheese, 40s to 42s (42s to 435). The minimum f.o.b. prices for period from April 13 until further notice remain unchanged at:—Butter, 9.', d, less U per cent, commission '73s lid, c.i.f.e.); cheese, 5Jd, less li per cent, commission (44s ltd, c.i.f.e.)

POULTRY MARKET Heavy yardings of all classes ot poullry were received by the Canterbury Co-operative Poultry Producers, Ltd., at their Easter auctions, held on Wednesday and Friday last. Friday's market was an exceptional one, approximately 2500 birds being marketed for 'the day, and no difficulty was exnerienced in disposing of all lines at satisfactory prices. Well finished chicken nnd good quality boilers were keenly sought by the large number of buyers present. Large numbers of medium chicken wore offered, causing the price for this class to steady. Inferior birds of all lines wore hard to sell. The following prices were realised a pair:— Chicken—lleavv realised up to 9s id; medium, sold as high as ?s; light were in heavy supply and lair demand, the best pennings realising up to 4s 9d. while the average price ranged about 4s, JO oilers—Heavy, in sootl _.'->ipply and demand, and sold up to 13.-> Gd, medium 10 light comprised the majority of the Pennine,-., and found the inaiket at prices up to 3s Gd. Ducks- -Light, 2s Gd; heavy ensling.-,, light to 4::; prime-, to 6s 6d. Turkeys, 8d to 10d per lb. E'lg Marget —fegs. machine graded, tested and guaranteed, Is lOd BRITISH TREASURY HILLS (samsn OFFICIAL WIKELKSj.) ;Received April 14. 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, April 12. A total of £75,15/5.000 was applied fo-in tenders for £35,000,000 ,n Trea-r-in-v hills The maximum amount was ffitcTili bills at three months the r'ifp rjcr cc-nt. bcinv, 10s 1/lla, ® s compared with 10s 2.93 d last week.