WOOL WEEK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 110, 9 April 1932, Page 6

WOOL WEEK.

A “Wool week” is being held in the principal cities of the Dominion as part of an Empire wide movement to make people w’ool conscious and to realise the importance of this great pastoral industry. The habit of holding demonstration periods in which people are urged to give their support to some deserving - cause has been worthily encouraged, and “Wool Week,” by educating people to wear woollen goods in preference to other fibres, at once commends itself. This industry has been sorely stricken by the depression. Two decades ago its value in exports amounted to £6,500,000 in round figures; the peak year was 1919 with £19,560,000. Thereafter there was a substantial fall, but the value of wool exports rose again, reaching £17,740,000 in 1925 and £16,080,000 in 1928. In 1929 the amount wa5'£15,360,000, but in 1930 it fell to £7,664,000, a decline of nearly 50 per cent. The flocks in the country to-day total 30,000,000. It is the duty of the people to do what they can to help . the industry, and the most practical way is to further the use of w’ool. In an address at Wellington this week, on the subject, Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Industries and Commerce, made reference to the low prices ruling for wool and the need to encourage the people to use more of the fibre for their requirements. Were the people, he said, to pay strict attention to this matter they could develop the wool industry to a considerable extent, and benefit all sections of the community by providing work for many now urgently in need of it. The average price of wool per pound in the past three seasons has been 14.99 d, 8.59 d, and 5.66 d. This year’s average has not been determined, but the trend of prices does not suggest that the figure will reach last year’s. Referring to this low level, Mr Masters said the pastoralists could be encouraged by a keener demand for woollen manufactures, and this would mean a good deal to New Zealand. He could not sufficiently stress the importance of the subject. Another point made by MiMasters was the need for advertising- to stimulate the demand for woollen goods. “Wool Week should invest the people of this country with a full realisation oi the great advantage the industry is to them in normal, years and that by increasing their use of its manufactures now they are not only helping it in seriously adverse times, but are benefiting themselves.