SYNTHETICS AND WOOL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27065, 13 June 1953, Page 8

SYNTHETICS AND WOOL

COMPETITION THREAT DISCOUNTED REPLY TO WARNING BY DR. MCMEEKAN (New Zealand Press Association/ HAMILTON, June 12. Farmers should not become unduly alarmed at Dr. C. P. McKeenan’s statement on the progress of synthetic textiles, and starKcurtailing any development programmes that they had in hand, said Mr A. W. Moore, of Whatawhata, .a member of the electoral committees of the New Zealand Meat and Wool Boards, today. Dr. McMeekan, superintendent of the Ruakura Animal Research Station, yesterday told the Dominion conference of Young Farmers’ Clubs that synthetics constituted a threat to the farming industry. The New Zealand Wool Board and the International Wool Secretariat, said Mr Moore, had kept themselves weU informed on synthetic production In a recent article Mr Ewen Waterman, chairman of the Internationa] Wool Secretariat. has stated that the world wanted wool, as it also wanted meat and that it would continue to want both products. The great dangers were, according to Mr Waterman, under-production and exorbitant prices, leading to a change m consumer habits. Mr Waterman stated that the younger generation particularly had no need to be deterred from its task, nor should it allow its common sense to be dulled by the fear of the synthetics. Wool had nothing to fear in its quality and serviceabil“y’xv* had beware of the blast 1116 Promotional campaign behind the synthetics.

Mr Moore said that current consumption of wool exceeded production. Inf£ea^ ed and woql Production should go hand in hand. More beef cattle on New Zealand farms meant heavier fleeces on the sheep.