Minister launches new product

Press, 22 October 1987, Page 4

Minister launches new product

By JOHN HARFORD

A new wool-fill product, which looks like balls of fluff on a well worn purewool jersey, was officially launched yesterday by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Caygill. The balls of fluff, or "soft knops," were developed by the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand. They are being commercially produced for the first time in the world by Woolfill New Zealand at Hornby. The process uses cheaper, short, coarse wools for which there is usually little demand. The soft knops will initially be used In pillows, duvets, and as a filling for upholstered furniture.

While launching the new product, Mr Caygill challenged the private sector to make a greater investment in research and development. The Government did not intend to renege on its research responsibilities, he said,

"What we are no longer prepared to do Is undertake or subsidise all the research which clearly has commercial potential and from which the private sector can derive benefits. "In this situation the taxpayer has the right to expect that If the private sector Is not prepared to commit resources to such research the Government should question the basis for undertaking It at all."

Research and development had not traditionally featured in the strategic planning of New Zealand companies, although that was changing, Mr Caygill said.

The development of the soft knops was an excellent example of what could be done when the expertise of a Govern-ment-funded research organisation was combined with the market skills of the private sector, he said.

"The benefits flow both ways. Government researchers are exposed to the market and the private sector can take advantage of the resources that research Institutes have to offer," Mr Caygill said.