BRITISH WOOL TRADE

Grey River Argus, 28 April 1943, Page 2

BRITISH WOOL TRADE

« Problems Ahead CONTROL AFTER WAR CERTAIN. (Rec. 8.15) LONDON, April 26. “The Times” Bradford correspondent states: The British wool trade interests are planning to form a wool textile reconstruction committee to study post-war problems in association with the Board of Trade. All sections of the trade will be represented, including trade unions. Rt. Hon. Mr. Dalton, for the Government has welcomed this as realistic. The industry should inspect the factories and learn the wool trade problems. Mr. Dalton has told leaders in the wool textile industry of some lines on which the Government hoped to avoid a post-war rush and a' subsequent slump, with the result that the industry can begin to build on foundations. He suggested that the wool industry was an example of control at its best. There' had been no profiteering, fancy prices, or speculation in the handling of the raw materials. Producers ha'd received a fair return. Everyone was reconciled to a continuance of the control after the war for at least three years, and perhaps for a longer period.” The correspondent adds: “Bradford is studying- carefully plans of the Australian, New Zealand and South African Woo] growers’ Associations for the regulating of production and of marketing. Bradford fully appreciates the South African Wool Marketing Committee’s view that an early revision to the pre-war auction sales will be impracticable and inadvisable. The Bradford interests also are of opinion that the marketing of and distribution of wool will need national and international controls, especially because wool must compete with the enormous advance in the production of synthetic fibres which are relatively cheap. Mr. Dalton warned the industry that after the war they would be called on to help to increase substantially Britain’s commercial exports of wool textile goods, and also to export to newly freed.regions in Europe. The correspondent says: “The ■Wartime accumulations of wool in the United States, which mainly, come from Australia, in returning transports, and also in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America will probably total millions of bales before the end of war. The disposal of this wool after the war, and also of the new clips, will be a big problem. But Europe will be hungry for wool, and also Japan. The question will be as to who gets it, and on.what terms. Bradford’s wool textile works before the war numbered 250,000. Two thirds of these were diverted to the fighting services and war factories. The Bradford industry will not be able to meet postwar demands unless it gets its workers back ouickly. It must plan now how to attract again and to retain the women who formerly were employed in weaving and spinning. The industry already ha's nrovided canteens, rest centres, and welfare work " clinics. There is a belief in some quarters that the Bradford industry will need to increase its mechanical efficiency to a point flowing the workers shorter hours of labour.”