WOOLLEN INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 277, 19 August 1944, Page 7

WOOLLEN INDUSTRY

Britain’s Plans For The

Peace (By Telegraph .—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) (Received August 18, 7 P-m.) LONDON, August lilt has lately been revealed here that British mills are producing quantities of woollen cloth for civilian. clothing for the demobilized forces, in addition to cloth for overseas civilian relief. No inilitaij or other significance can be attached to the former development, which merely means that provision must be made tn advance for the earliest possible requne“l"*®'output of Britain’s available wool textile machinery is largely needed tor official and other essential P ro ‘\ u '‘ 10n zJ?“n the authorities apparently have taken steps to utilize modest sections o£ the industry’s capacity as and when they are available to eater for needs which may not materialize for some time. The British wool trade cannot legard as well informed recent Australian comment that the British woollen textile production is so curtailed under war conditions that a very considerable time must elapse before Britain regains her former wool-consuming capacity. Any such assumption is contrary to. the true state of affairs, and indicates a misunderstanding of Britain’s production concentration poiicv for war purposes. Production concentration has uot reduced Britain’s wool consumption by one hale under tlie standard of requirement, but lias secured necessary production in the most economical manner by concentrating the output of labour into the fewest possible productive units. It has increased and not decreased the working efficiency of Britain’s wool consuming industries, and New Zealand will welcome the news that detailed plans exist for the earliest possible resumption of production in those British mills which are now temporarily closed. Meanwhile, every care is taken of the plant loft unused. The British Government is pledged to restart the closed factories as soon as possible after the war, mid the concentration association for the wool textile industry announces this week that detailed plans have been submitted for Government approval. The industry is confident of its ability to expand its postwar wool consumption to the maximum levels as quickly as labour becomes available.

Wool textile leaders continue to press the authorities for facilities for replacements of textile machinery for heavy postwar demands on output. The president of the Board of Trade, replying to one such request, points out that new machinery will be required to replace plants which may be .destroyed in continental Europe, mid that the British Government must hold a reasonable balance in allocating textile machinery to home or export. Such a policy will be welcomed by Now Zealand and other Empire wool producers. whose best interests are bound up with post-war expansion of wool consumption not only in Britain but throughout Europe.