GROWING DEMAND FOR WOOL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25303, 1 October 1947, Page 7

GROWING DEMAND FOR WOOL

MIXTURE WITH OTHER FIBRES VIEWS OF SECRETARIAT CHAIRMAN (Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, S«pt. 29. The development of synthetic fibres mdF help rather than handicap the sale of wool, in the opinion of members of the International Wool Secretariat, now meeting in New York. Dr. Edgar Booth, world chairman of the secretariat, said to-day that he believed wool sales would reach their full development when more manufacturers mixed other fibres with wool. The secretariat aid not exist to fight against synthetics or cotton or silk, but to promote wool as the “prestige” fibre. If there were a gradual rise in living standards throughout the world the sale of cloth of mixed fibres would increase. Meanwhile the demand for fine wool was increasing, and it was definitely scarce. He believed there would have to be at least three good drought-free years in Australia to “take up the slack.”

Dr. Booth is conferring with Dr. F. J. C. Cronje (South Africa) and Mr R. G. Lund (New Zealand). It is the first meeting of the kind in the United States, but the secretariat intends to meet regularly in New York as well as in London in the future. Dr. Cronje pointed out that crossbred fleeces were not in demand and their prices had not risen. That was one reason why wool production was declining in the United States. Meanwhile the British Commonwealth stockpile of the best type oT wool was steadily diminishing, and now stood at 4,500,000 bales. Mr Lund emphasised the secretariat’s international character, saying that it was hoped that the secretariat would establish branches in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. An office would .also be established in India. The secretariat was co-operating with Americar growers’ organisations, but there was no suggestion yet that the Americar growers would join the secretariat Contact had also been made with the Soviet Union, with which the secre- | tari at was on good terms.