ARTIFICIAL SILK.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1929, Page 7

ARTIFICIAL SILK.

PROGRESS OF INDUSTRY

RAPID EXPANSION AT HOME. (United Press Association.—ByJElcctrii Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British OlHcial Wireless.) RUG MY, January 22. The remarkable progress made in the colour and texture of artificial siP is apparent at an exhibition of British artificial silk goods which is being held at Olympia. Sir Robert llorne, in opening the exhibition, referred to the rapid strides made by the British branch of the. non industry. He pointed but that in 1900 the whole production in the world was only 1000 metric tons. In 1910 that figure had risen to 8000, in 1920 it was 25,000, and to-day it was 154,000 metrictons.

Ten years ago Great Britain was fourth in the list of countries producing artificial si lie, hut to-day it .was second only to the United States, an enormously bigger country, with three times the population. Ju 1925 this country was producing only 24,O0O,(X)O pounds weglit of artificial silk, but ltl 1928 it produced 52,000,000 pounds weight, Britain was to-day not only supplying her own needs, but was also sending enough artificial silk products abroad to produce, on the balance, an extra revenue of £7,000,000. The material produced had improved immensely in quality, colour and design.