BUILDING UP STOCKS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23191, 30 November 1940, Page 10

BUILDING UP STOCKS

LOWER BRITISH WOOL EXPORTS

Some time ago, comment appeared regarding the prices at which the British Wool Control was issuing wool to users and the figures charged purchasers in neutral countries. Such criticism should not. be made unless every fact is available. It is known in Australia, however, that because of unavoidable delays in shipment, the costs of handling and storage of supplies after appraisement are greater than in peace time when wool is sold and is quickly shipped, states the latest report of Winchcombe, Carson, Ltd. , The Central Wool Committee has wisely made extensive provision lor the storing of unshipped wools. Much heavier expenses are involved through double handling, cartage , and insurance apart from the larger costs occurring in sea transport, etc. Greater costs, however, are not confined to wool. The price of artificial fibres has also risen since the war. Though the sheep’s staple is dearer for manufacturers, they cannot offset its cost by securing substitute fibres at pre-war figures. Latest advices from the United Kingdom refer to the fact that good stocks of wool were on hand. The acquisition of last season’s Australian and New Zealand clips has been responsible for that safety margin, plus the creditable performance of transporting supplies despite the difficulties shipping has encountered. The decline in the re-export of wool from the United Kingdom has to an extent contributed to the building up of stocks. Re-exports for the first seven months of 1940 were less than half the 1939 total for the period, and since France capitulated nave been very small.

UNSHRINKABLE WOOL

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS POSSIBLE The perfecting of the methods for making manufactured wool unshrinkable and the commercialisation of the process may have important reactions in Australia and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom the War Office had issued specifications to manufacturers setting out specific requirements in respect of unshrinkability to which all underwear and hosiery must conform. Dr. I. Clunies Ross, who until his recent appointment to the professorial staff of the University of Sydney was the Australian member of the International Wool Secretariat, has urged that strong representations should be made to Australian manufacturers that they should follow the lead set by British makers.

The Australian Wool Board expects to receive shortly from England full details of methods and blue-prints of the machinery required for making: wool unshrinkable. The information ! will be passed on to manufacturers, and subsequently the Federal Government will probably be asked to specify un-1 shrinkable wool in all Defence contracts. 1