Romney Wool Promotion

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32393, 4 September 1970, Page 8

Romney Wool Promotion

A very favourable situation for raw wool promotion exists in Japan and the New Zealand Romney Sheep Breeders’ Association intends to take advantage of this situation by staging an exhibition of raw wool in Nagoya and Osaka in April-May, 1971. Recommendations to this effect are contained in a report to the association following a visit to Japan during July by an exploratory promotion mission. The mission comprised Mr J. G. Alexander (Wanganui), who is the association’s president, and Mr R. A. Weber (Palmerston North), a wool exporter and repacker. “The Japanese have shown their confidence in the future of the wool industry in their huge capital investment in it,” said the report. “Some Japanese processors were aware of the unsatisfactory prices for raw wool now being received by growers. They were concerned that their sources of supply might dry up if growers were not given sufficient incentive to grow wool. “The Japanese processors and users of raw wool have confidence in wool. They realise the producers must have the same confidence.” At all levels Japanese people preferred to wear and use wool rather than man-made imitations. “It is true to say that the Japanese market is both a growth market and a mass market,” said the report. “Therefore, a degree of concentration of International Wool Secretariat financial resources and promotional effort into this market is a thoroughly sound policy.” The report said the projected promotion would have a favourable effect upon Japanese demand for New Zealand Romney wool. “An explosion of Japanese demand for Romney-type wools will occur over the next decade. The question is, will the demand come in full force New Zealand’s way? “Japan has other sources from which it can buy Romney-type wools. This exhibition will direct Japanese attention towards New Zealand and the specific merit characteristics of New Zealand Romney wool. “New Zealand wool growers cannot afford just to take it for granted that increased requirement for Romney-type wools will automatically come their way,” said the report. “If they do, they will live to regret it.”

The association proposed to exhibit some 40 to SO of the main types of Romney wool, in samples varying from 1001 b to 3001 b. Each sample would be documented as to its Wool Commission type numbers and its objective measurement

equivalents—in Japanese. The exhibition would cover the Romney types—44’s to 54’s Bradford count —in depth; and information as to the uses of the wools would be made available, together with an extensive range of manufactured products from the types.

It was recommended that representatives from about 20 to 30 organisations, comprising about 600 technical and executive staff, be invited to view the exhibition. The report said these people, the policy makers, could affect the whole course of wool growing In New Zealand. The I.W.S. director for the Asian region (Mr K. C. Clarke) had told the mission:—“The I.W.S. in Japan concurs with your proposals and will be delighted to work with you and for you in this project, because we too believe that by giving the wool textile industry in Japan a better and deeper knowledge of the wools you produce—this can only result in increased sales by New Zealand to Japan.” In addition, said the report, the mission had found that manufacturers, large and small, supported the idea of the exhibition. It had been by the common acclaim of the users that the worth of the proposed exhibition had become evident.