WOOL TEXTILE EXPORTS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26512, 29 August 1951, Page 11

WOOL TEXTILE EXPORTS

INCREASE URGED BY/ BRITISH MINISTER

An appeal to the British wool textile industry to effect a further increase in its exports was made by Sir Hartley Shawcross, president of the Board of Trade, when he visited Bradford on July 20. He spoke at private meetings of wool textile employers and trade union representatives.

He explained that one of the Government’s major problems was to a void, an unfavourable balance of payment* position during the period of rearmament. The satisfactory results of the nation’s overseas trade in 1950 were now threatened by four factors—the higher cost of imports, the slower rate of increase in United Kingdom export prices, the decision to do without Marshall Aid, and the fact that the metal and engineering industries, now working on the defence programme, could scarcely be expected to increase their exports this year. Sir Hartley Shawcross said he looked to the textile trades to play a large part in securing a necessary increase in the nation's export earnings. The wool textile industry's export record since the war, culmmating in “its sensational achievement in exports to North America in 1950," showed that it was not slow to seize opportunities. He looked to the wool industry to increase greatly its exports and to let nothing stand in the way to prevent this being achieved. At a press conference later, the Minister said he was most impressed with the good feeling existing between the two sides in the industry, which regarded themselves as partners In a common venture. He was satisfied that the urgency of the problem was realised and that the industry would respond fully to his appeal.

The industry would have an adequate supply of wool for its export efforts, he concluded, and although sulphur would be short, It would not be so short as to create serious difficulties.