Woollen Industry Not Sure Of Plans

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 1

Woollen Industry Not Sure Of Plans

(New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, June 27. Every industry in New Zealand except the woollen industry “knew where it was going,” the general manager of Alliance Textiles (N.Z.), Ltd., (Mr B. A. R. Spence) said in Timaru today.

As a result, he said, expansion plans were jeopardised and staff recruitment was difficult.

“We are worried because we are the only industry which the Government has excluded from a definite statement in the import licensing schedule that there will be no further allocation of funds for raw materials,” he said.

Mr Spence, who was commenting on a decision by the meat and wool section of Federated Farmers to urge the Government to lift licensing barriers against woollen piece-goods, said he was unable .to comprehend what Federated Farmers expected to gain by this move.

“I can’t understand what they really expect to gain bv restricting the activities of woollen goods’ manufacturers, and by substituting imported cloths for the local product,” he said. , , “The highest quality imported woollen piece-goods are available in New Zealand if customers are prepared to pay for them.” Basically, it seemed that farmers wanted more woollen piece-goods available to justify their expenditure on wool promotion, said Mr Spence. “But the general consumer is not particularly concerned where his woollen goods come from, provided they are of high quality and give the service expected from wool," he said.

“I don’t think the public realises that up to 75 per cent of all woollen clothes are made in New Zealand. The other 25 per cent is made up here of imported fabrics. “If pressure groups within Federated Farmers directed their attention to imports of cheaper cotton piece-goods, used as wool substitutes and entering the country free of import licences, they might

be better employed,” said Mr Spence. “Farmers themselves are among the country’s greatest users of corduroy for trousers —which is 100 per cent cotton.”

Mr Spence said one bale of wool costing £BO could return to New Zealand as fabric worth at least £2oo—“so we feel our industry’s contribution to the saving of overseas funds is probably greater than in any other industry.”