NEW ZEALAND WOOL MAY SUFFER

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND WOOL MAY SUFFER

Germany’s Woolstra Industry

PROGRESS IN SYNTHETIC PRODUCTION Dominion Special Service. Auckland, June 12. The possible effect upon Hie export of wool from Australia and New Zealand if the manufacture of woolstra was undertaken seriously by Germany was stressed by Mr. Lars G. Briindahl, Trade Commissioner for the Leipzig Fair, who is returning to Sydney after a visit to Europe, where he investigated various synthetic products that are now being manufactured largely in Germany. Mr. Brundahl said the chief substitutes consisted of petrol and benzine from brown coal, artificial rubber, nitrates, and, most important of ail as regards New Zealand, woolstra. This substitute for wool, which consisted of a mixture of cotton fibres from waste products and 40 per cent, of wool, was now well on the course to perfection, and the progress made in its manufacture had been very satisfactory to all concerned. “If the manufacture of this substitute is undertaken seriously by Germany it will react on the export of Australian and New Zealand wool,” said Mr. Brundahl. “Although woolstra is only in its primary stages, if developed It will revolutionise the market and have the same effect as artificial silk has had on real silk. It wears well, has th© same appearance and weight as ordinary wool, and in time will be produced at a cheap rate.” Mr. Brundahl added that the situation which might develop as a result of an intensive production of woolstra was viewed seriously by representatives of the New Zealand Government in London, who had made a keen study of this new product. “It is not Germany’s wish to proceed with the manufacture of this substitute provided she can place her products in fair exchange for wool,” continued Mr. Brundahl. “She does not wish to compete with your secondary industries, but only to supply those lines that New Zealand cannot manufacture.”

Referring to the production of artificial rubber, which contains a small percentage of scrap rubber, Mr. Brunuahl said that already it had given a different aspect to the world market and would have a great effect on the world’s supplies. As far as synthetic nitrates were concerned they were being shipped to places as far away as China and had made a difference in the export statistics of Chile, the principal source of nitrates. Mr. Brundahl stated that at tbe present time Germany was supplying approximately half her motor fuel needs by the production of petrol and benzine from brown coal, and would soon be independent of outside sources of supply. There were large deposits of brown coal near Leipzig which would last for a long time. The industry was of great importance to the country because of the large number of by-pro-ducts.

“We are very anxious that New Zealand should exhibit at the fair, as we consider it is the world’s best market for displaying the primary products of any country,” said Mr. Brundahl, describing the spring trade fair at Leipzig which he attended at the beginning of the year. “In addition to an enormous number of buyers there are mauj thousands of foreign visitors to whom facts concerning New Zealand would be of interest.” Mr. Brundahl added that the fair this year was the best attended since the war. There were 8200 exhibitors aud 250,000 buyers were present from all parts of the world. Among them were about 50 buyers from Australia and New Zealand who were very satisfied with the business they had done. German manufacturers were very anxious to do business with the Dominion, and particularly to negotiate trade in such primary products as wool.