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Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1932, Page 14

BASLE CONFERENCE

DELEGATE'S REPORT

The official representative of the Australian Wool Growers' Council in Europe, Mir. W. 3?. Devereui, in a letter dated London; 19th. November, received by the Graziers''• Association of Victoria, says he was present by invitation at the Inter? national. Wool Textile Organisation conference, held at Basle,-Switzerland. About ten countries were represented. Although many different nations sent delegates and many geographical and tariff barriers existed, when-.it came to talking wool those barriers were broken down in the subject of _ mutual interest. Many of the subjects discussed were highly technical and were only of interest to the ruanus acturiiig:side of the tradej these comprising trad.c customs and arbitration, pledging of goods, limitation of credits, methods ©preconditioning and contracts, regulations, but M. Dubrulle supplied a good re^ port on the situation of wool in the world crisis, and whilst, drawjng attention to the present depressing conditions, indicateq.an optimistic view of the future, the increasing use of wool by women owing'to the use. of longer dresses and coats, as well as the low prices being a great factor :in increasing consumption. He also allfided to the favourable position of wool as compared with other commodities, owing to the refusal of those concerned to adopt artificial methods of maintaining prices. '■ :• , ;■'■■,...':'. .•.'•■,■■•■■•'

As' was the case in 1930, complaints, i Mr. Devereux stated, were again made! of the presence of tar, paint, or residual oil products in wool. In 1930 the ,co'm-j plaints came from Germany; last year' from Prance.. These complaints are undoubtedly ' genuine,, and although the objectionable features can be-removed from wool by special treatment, this is • costly and destroys the soft handle in the .wooll or material. Growers in their ' own interests, should entirely avoid the. use of1 Bucb. substances in connection with sheep: Australia has a high reputation, for its! wool, and it is essential that in competition with, other?, countries, this .should be^ retained. Lanoline and soot -are used- ill ■ Germany, and, being cheap,,.-should, be i w.orth extensive trials under 'Australian conditions, whilst the British' ,'Wo6^ Industries Research. Institute has' published a recipe for'"a branding fluid which/from the manufacturers' point of .view,'meets all. requirements. ' ■ ■ ■ ,'■.

The Board o£ Trade returns for October »how very plainly that Continental: manufacturers, in anticipation of tariff duties, are exporting considerable quantities- of yarns and manufactured- goods into jGreat Britain, and naturally, this action, although, likely- to have only a temporary effect,'is inclined to make British manur faicturers act.with'caution. ' - •

In.Germany and Prance large" sales of tops have taken place, due partly to spinners and manufacturers being busy on export, and in the case o£ the former coun.try, an additional demand due to a desire on the part of'the public to convert bank credits into commodities. Increased numbers, of-textile; firms in Germany have failed, the numbers of such failures in October being 320, compared -with 274 in September.' Whilst these are not all engaged in the wool industry, the numbers are indicative of the serious conditions prevailing. Restrictions on": foreign exchange in Germany will render German purchases very difficult, but the' depreciation in. sterling in terms of German..marks renders wool an .attractive and cheap commodity, and doubtless every effort possible will be. made to maintain supplies of xa.yf' material by the combing establishments/ ITrance continues very, perturbed at the possible effect of the tariff is. Great Britein. Her exports to Great Britain havebeen considerable, and the IoBS-.of-this business, or even fear of such loss, may have an adverse effect on competition from, this country. Italy, is short of wool; also o£ tops,' ! ,