Alliance Sees Place For Synthetics

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32233, 27 February 1970, Page 16

Alliance Sees Place For Synthetics

Synthetics had an important place in many textile products which either competed with, or were complimentary to, traditional all-wool lines. The refusal of some of New Zealand’s trade and industry leaders to recognise this fact was a matter for some concern. “Synthetic is no longer a [dirty word. The soontr some people realise this the better.” This was said by Mr L. H. Whyte, of Wellington, chairman of directors of Alliance Textiles (N.Z.), Ltd, in his address to the annual meeting of shareholders in Oamaru on Wednesday “Today, more than ever before, our industry faces a continuing state of change—change dictated, almost entirely, by the fickleness of modem fashion,” said Mr Whyte. “Changing demands in fabric design and construction have always been part of the industry, but in recent years the changes have become more rapid, the demands greater. “In particular this has meant the use of new fibres —synthetics—and a shift away from total dependence on our traditional raw material, wool.

“The demand for new fibres has, in most eases, meant the purchase of new plant and, while we have tried to keep up with these trends, we can forsee even greater investment in new and specialised equipment in the future." Mr Whyte added: “This company has always, and will always, feature wool as the finest of the apparel fibres. But we cannot afford to ignore the synthetics. . . .” “All we need is the closest co-operation between the units of our industry and closer collaboration than ever before with our customers, be they retail, wholesale or manufacturing. “We do not intend to let our company be unprepared for open competition,” Mr Whyte said. Alliance would export more than Im lb of carpet yarn this year The company had a new carpet yarn plant due for installation, and its production would be directed mainly at the growing export market. “This is a most significant export development, since the fibre used for our carpet yarn is exclusively New Zealand crossbred wool of which this country has an ample supi ply “The importance of our lability to export crossbred wool in processed form needs no emphasis,” Mr Whyte said.