New Zealand Wool For U.S.A.

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 4

New Zealand Wool For U.S.A.

In a New York report printed yesterday the president of the Boston Wool Association (Mr J. G. Wright) said that the United States will have to import between 500,000,0001 b and 700,000,0001 b of wool a year to meet consumer needs. New Zealand’s opportunity is evident. The domestic wool growing industry in the United States is small and struggling, far less efficient than the cattle industry. Even with the aid of very stiff protective tariffs it has generally been in trouble. A month ago the president of the American National Woolgrowers’ Association said that the United States consumed 1,000,000,0001 b of wool a year, was producing less than a third of its requirements, and had fewer sheep than at any time since the Civil War. New Zealand’s need to confirm and extend her place in the American market at this time was foreseen last year by the meat and wool council of Federated Farmers and the Wool Board, when they suggested that the Government should

appoint a wool trade specialist to the staff of the Trade Commissioner in Washington. If they were disappointed by the Government’s negative and discouraging reply, they have no doubt since been encouraged by the forming, in the United States last month, , of the Wool Bureau, to promote the interests of woolgrowing organisations in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Such an organisation should be at least as good as the proposed appointment, or better. The bureau’s object is to increase the range of uses and markets for wool in the United States and Canada, and New Zealand woolgrowers should benefit from its work. Its programme of research, education, and sales promotion, in which New Zealand will «share, can help to widen and increase the demand for New Zealand wool in countries which pay for it with dollars. And if New Zealand sells rqore wool there, she helps Britain to reduce her dollar deficit.