THE WOOL TRADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 230, 27 August 1938, Page 5

THE WOOL TRADE.

RAW MATERIAL SUPPLIES. ARTIFICIAL FIBRE. Per Press'Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 2G. A review of the work being undertaken by South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand in wool research was given to the Electoral Committee of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, at its meeting at Wellington to-day. in a report from Mr H. M. Christie, M.P., chairman of the New Zealand Wool Publicity Committee. Mr Christie, who has just returned from a visit to England, referred to the work of the Biternational' Wool Secretariat in London, on which each country is represented by one member. There is also an advisory committee, consisting of two representatives each of Australia, South Africa and New; Zealand. He said there was the same suspicion of the secretariat when it started in London, particularly from Yorkshire, whoso wool interests were largely dominated by the ..topmakers. who were apprehensive that the organisation represented interests which wished to push up ra.w material prices. After discussions, those suspicions' had been removed; and the topmakers were now favourably disposed toward the secretariat and were readily extending

help. The work of the secretariat nnist ultimately resiilt in bringing all branches of the industry closer together and assist in retaining for wool the very,high.place it had always occupied as a .textile fibre. .

"The-most serious and' immediate danger'to the wool industry has arisen to the disorganisation of international trade, and particularly to the policies of several countries. This is very marked in the case of Germany, Italy and Japan." said Mr Christie. "Their difficulty in obtaining supplies of raw material has resulted in an urge for replacement by artificial substitutes, and intensive scientific research is, being undertaken for their improvement. Following the building up of these industries, there is a tendency to impose restrictions on natural fibres for the protection of the artificial fibres. "The urge for, the replacement of wool in Germany seems to have been somewhat lessened by the GermanSouth African trade agreement, under which Germanv has undertaken to pur-

chase £3.500.000 worth of wool, during 1937-38. I was informed by the South African representatives that the agreement is to be widened. The New Zea-land-German agreement may act in the same way, and prominent Australian wool producers are strongly in favour of an Australian-German agreement being arranged. "If Germany does not re-export, wool in any form,/ except in place of the present expo'rt of artificial fibre, such trade would not seriously affect British woollen manufacturers, but a careful study of".its results .on-, the business of other British manufacturers is essential, as such trade agreements must increase imoorts to the wool-producing Dominions frorhthe country with whom such an agreement is made. "Economic conditions are.largely the cause of the urge to manufacture substitute fihres for wool. I feci sure that any wool producer, who has investigated the manufacture of Staple fibre and zcllwoolc must-be perturbed by its rapid expansion' and the -improvement, in. the Quality of the fibre. It seems clear, however, that the people' manufacturing it, are doing so because,of the difficulty hi obtaining supplies of raw materials, and in some cases owing to violent, price fluctuations.. The artificial fibre can be worked on ordinary wool manufacturing' machinery. It' miist bi> remembered that these substitute's are comparable to clean, scoured wool. They are 100 per cent, even in count and staple, and contain no foreign matter, such as jute, flax, iibre or; other detrimental matter, not uncommonly found in natural ' wool,'' added -. Mr Christie. -'"■-■