Constant Proposals To Blend Wool

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31584, 23 January 1968, Page 22

Constant Proposals To Blend Wool

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, January 22. The International Wool Secretariat is under continual pressure, particularly from interested manufacturers and retailers, to spend part of its funds to promote blends of wool with other fibres.

Mr W. J. Vines, the I.W.S. managing director, declared this last week during an explanation of policy on the promotion of wool - synthetic fibre blends to the annual meeting of the Federation of the Netherlands Textile Industry in Amsterdam.

He said I.W.S. policy was carefully reviewed by the board every year in the light of the constantly-changing conditions in the textile industry, but had remained basically unchanged. Practically all promotional funds continued to be spent on the Woolmark programme, in support of pure virgin wool

products and the thousands of Woolmark licensees thr ughout the world. Woolmark Programme Mr Vines said the I.W.S. did not ignore the possible need, in the best interest of woolgrowers, for some promotional backing to be given to certain blended products outside the Woolmark programme. However, each case had to be considered on its merits. It had to be clear that a particular blend under consideration would be likely to add to the woolgrowers’ market for wool, and not diminish it—“which is the avowed purpose of most blends.” High Proportion Mr Vines said: “It is essential from our point of view that a blend should comprise an identifiable group of products, and it certainly must contain a high proportion of wool, and a minor proportion of other fibres. “It must account for a large volume of wool consumption, and it must be evident that lack of promotion of su'h a blend would seriously endanger a substantial wool market.” This policy has so far been implemented in respect of only two end-uses—for kimono fabrics in Japan, and for 80 per cent wool and 20 per cent nylon carpets in Britain.