IN PRAISE OF WOOL

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 17

IN PRAISE OF WOOL

★ My whole business life has been spent in woollen manufacturing. I can therefore speak with some authority when I say there has not been discovered by the world’s scientists a fibre which possesses all the excellent qualities of wool. ★ It is no exaggeration to say that “there is no substitute of wool.” New Zealanders are well aware of the unparalleled value and personal satisfaction from wearing wool. It is not necessary to delve too deeply into figures to find that the New Zealand public in 1960 used more wool in clothing than in 1955. ★ A point not appreciated is the swing from woollen woven fabrics in clothing to woollen knitted garments. The combined usage of woollen shows a poundage increase of 53 per cent, in 1960, compared with 1955. This more than offsets any reduction in the quantity of woven woollen goods for those same comparative periods. ★ The versatility in the use of wol is thus brought to light. It is immaterial whether knitted goods or woven—heavy or light—are decreed by fashion or special conditions. Wool is the fibre for all requirements. ★ To quote a slogan from overseas: if it isn’twool—forget it. —G. W. Lane, of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Woollen Mills’ Association.