ARTIFICIAL WOOL TEXTILES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22579, 8 December 1938, Page 10

ARTIFICIAL WOOL TEXTILES

Otago Farmers’ Union

Resolution

MARKING OF CONTENT ON CLOTH URGED

[THE PRESS Special Service.]

DUNEDIN, December 7,

, The threat to the wool industry of artificial fibres which are now being produced on the Continent for the manufacture of clothing and other materials was emphasised by speakers at a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day. It was stated that Great Britain and the Dominions were being flooded with .this material, and it was decided to suggest that the Dominion executive should urge upon the Government the necessity for the content of all clothing material sold in New, Zealand to be clearly marked.

Mr A. £. Cameron displayed samples of wood wool, which he said was produced in all grades in London and sold to the wholesale trade at about lOd per lb, or about 50 per cent, cheaper than wool produced in New Zealand could be delivered after scouring. The production of wood wool and other synthetic staple this year was estimated to be greater than the production of wool from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa combined.

Mr. Cameron also showed samples of worsted and other clothing materials made partially or wholly from artificial products, and said that in Germany and Italy manufacturers were compelled_ to use a certain percentage of those products in their materials. Britaiji and the Dominions were being flooded with artificial products.

“The time has come,” he said, “when we should insist that all clothing displayed for sale in New Zealand should be clearly marked to show exactly wbat its content is.” Mr C. F. Inder said that if some action of the kind suggested were not taken the effect on the wool growers of New Zealand would be disastrous. Some of the samples of cloth made partly from wood or milk had deceived warehousemen in Dunedin, so that there was little chance of the general public being able to distinguish between the real and the artificial. ■ 1 The following resolution was carried; “That this council draws the attention of the Dominion executive to the menace to the wool industry which exists in the greatly-increased production of wood wool and milk wool, and urges that the Government should be approached with a request that all clothing material sold in New Zealand should be labelled ih such a way as to state clearly what its content is.”