THE AIM IN VIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 83, 9 April 1931, Page 12

THE AIM IN VIEW

WORK AT TORRIDON

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON; 26th February.

While Sir Thomas Wilford was in Yorkshire last week-end, he visited the laboratories of tho Wool Industries' Research Association at Torridon, near Leeds. He is most enthusiastic concerning what he saw there. It will be remembered that Mr. Forbes visited Yorkshire in November last, and spent several days seeing for himself the research work proceeding at Torridon, and in visiting a number of mills where Now Zealand wool is used.

The High Commissioner was shown over the laboratories by the director, Dr. G. S. Barker, and was particularly interested in the New Zealand fleeces of known history which were selected from different localities and breeds with the object of obtaining definite scientific data regarding their suitability or niisuitabilil-y for particular manufacturing purposes. The New Zealand wool producer is keenly desirous of satisfying the British requirements and wishes to establish a close liaison with British manufacturers. Besearch activities in New Zealand liave this definite objective and the cooperation and assistance of the British

Wool Industries' Research Association are essential. In the past there have been many conflicting opinions regarding the quality of New Zealand wool, and in order to obtain really reliable and scientific opinion on which to base investigations for improvement scientific and practical methods of wool evaluation are necessary. Torridon is particularly well equipped for this purpose, and Sir Thomas was shown some of the methods which have been perfected. It is hoped that with the aid of mechanical means for exact measurement of such things as wool quality, definite standards for comparison of wool produced under different conditions of nutrition, breeding, etc., will hasten the time when wool may be able to competo on more favourable terms with other attractive and standardised textile fibres. Sir Thomas also saw the chemical, physical, and biological laboratories, and then passed on to the mechanical department, where carding, spinning,finishing, etc., are carried out. The High Commissioner, at the conclusion of his visit, expressed his appreciation of the magnificent organisation and work at Torridon, and stated that New Zealand would no doubt cooperate to the fullest possible extent with Dr. Barker and his xstafl in solving the common problems of producer, manufacturer, and consumer.