DEMAND FOR WOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 October 1945, Page 6

DEMAND FOR WOOL

CONTINENTAL AUTHORITY (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 24. The majority of Continental European countries are now receiving as much Dominion wool as they can handle. The French Government established a special woolbuying organisation in Bradford, which negotiates wool imports under control. With the exception of enemy countries, wool is believed to be reaching most nations in Europe,, either through UNRRA or under the schemes of planned commericial importation. As Britain’s spot stocks are almost certainly inadequate to satisfy the demand now coming forward it is believed that Britishowned stockpile wools lying in lhe United States are being called on. Although statistical information is not available, Dominion wool producers must not yet envisage the Continental European demand as reaching pre-war dimensions. The need exists on a great scale, but in several instances the wool cannot be immediately handled on a large scale. The factories of Continental allies generally have escaped serious war damage, but other obstacles are revealing themselves. There has been a vast displacement of labour and disorganisation of transport during enemy occupation and a' coal shortage in many countries. These problems are being tackled with all possible skill and outside aid, but it would seem in many instances that the Continental industrial recovery can only be reached gradually. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is doing everything to aid the Continental countries to use more wool and provide for their own requirements. The most recent effort is the provision of additional quantities of wool yarn to all countries with which, the United Kingdom has payment arrangements. The provision of such semi-manufactured material is calculated to stimulate Continental wool consumption by supplying wool after it has passed through some of the most delicate processes. . . Unprecdented pressure on Britain s own wool textile capacity continues. The accelerated demobilisation , has doubled the demand for civilian clothing,' and the official warning has been given that supplies of men’s clothing available for ordinary civilian home trade are likely to be reduced in 1946. This demobilisation provision could not be made during the war, as it would have impeded the war effort. It is characteristic of the national need that the home market will lie affected but not the export.