BRITAIN’S RISING WOOL CONSUMPTION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25303, 1 October 1947, Page 5

BRITAIN’S RISING WOOL CONSUMPTION

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 29. Britain’s consumption of wool may be increased by more than 200,000 bales annually in view of the increased export target given the wool textile industry, states the International Wool Secretariat. A 12 per cent, increase in British wool textile output should achieve the export targets and maintain the home clothes ration.

“This may not seem a sensationally large increase, but it must be measured alongside the fact that Britain’s current rate of wool consumption exceeds 9,000,0001 b (clean) weekly,” states' the secretariat. A 12 per cent, addition to' that figure would be more than 1,000,0001 b (greasy basis), and according to Yorkshire commercial estimates might exceed the equivalent of an additional 4000 bales a week, or 200,000 bales a year.

“As the industry has been given its ejqjort targets in terms of money, based oh values ruling at the close of last year, attempts by the trade to assess those targets in volume of production are necessarily general estimates. Nevertheless, they show that an export effort on a scale undreamed of a few months ago is now expected of the industry.”