DANGEROUS CLOTH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2676, 28 July 1913, Page 7

DANGEROUS CLOTH.

A manufacturer of woollen tweeds has introduced into the British Parliament a Fabrics Misdescription Bill whose motive is said to be humanitarian an i not commercial. The Bill deals with flannelettes, which are said, to cause the death or 1000 persons annually in Great Britain by burning, it is proposed that goods conforming to a specified standard of safety may he labelled “safe” and that “misbranding” shall be punishable. The Textile World Record (Boston) believes that this scheme is a trouble-breeder. It savs;—“The fact may be so, but to see it in its right relation one would have to know how many tens of millions dress in flannelette and novel get burnt. Flannelette for nightgowns is nearly the only wear of the poorer classes, being preferred to calico for its warmth and to woollen flannel for its price The cheaper the cloth the more readily it flashes into flame, and there have been proposals to have such good stamped ‘dangerous.’ Nobody of Intel.igeme above the meanest is unaware that flannelette is dangerous. _ That is precisely the fact that is universally known, and recognition of it has its dangers. To make a sale, drapeis may label as safe cloths which are really unsafe The Bill in Parliament would enable a standard of safety to be set up and provide penalties for those who misused the description ‘safe. It cioes not scorn probable that the measure can satisfy those who presume on the supposed safety to the extent or letting their clothes get alight. Perhaps a more satisfactory arrangement would bo to prohibit the use of the word ‘safe’ in this connection entirely.