WOOL AND FIBRE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1940, Page 6

WOOL AND FIBRE

DISTURBING FIGURES

LONDON, April 28

The use of staple fibre as a substitute for wool is growing to such an extent that it is feared tuat it will threaten serious consequences for Australia and New Zealand alter the war. The international Wool Secretariat recently provided the trade with the most disturbing figures. For instance, total world production ol' staple fibre in 1930 equalled the total scoured wool production for the whole of Australia. New Zealand. South Africa, the Argentine, and Uruguay for 1939. United Kingdom production and United States consumption of staple fibre both doubled last year.

Jt is certain that the war has increased the use of artificial wool many times over. Italy, Japan, and Holland have intensified the production of substitutes. Business letters from Sweden say that Germauy has now entirely eliminated wool from fabrics which are supposed to be semi-wool when ordered by foreign buyers. One big American mill is even producing blankets containing 65 per cent, staple fibre.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the position is the development of artificial Wool sales in the United Kingdom, where powerful combines, notably Courtauids, are pushing its production most energetically. Tailors all over the United Kingdom are being bombarded with most attractive samples of suitings containing as much as 90 per cent, staple fibre. It is understood' that the Wool Control’s policy regarding issue prices and the release of supplies to neutrals has been clarified to the satisfaction of the Australian and New Zealand representatives. Shipments from Australia and Now Zealand are apparently coming at a remarkably high rate. New Zealand House, in a statement, points out that the high prices reported to have been received by South African growers can be explained largely by the fact , that South’ African prices’ are qjmted oh a clean, not a greasy basis. “Australian and New Zealand farmers have fared quite well under the United Kingdom bulk purchase.” Decisive' steps have been taken to speed un the wool trade with an export drive of an unprecedented' scale.