WOOL SUBSTITUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 12 January 1926, Page 5

WOOL SUBSTITUTE

AN ARTIFICIAL PRODUCT REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ITALY IB.v Eltctrle Telegraph.—Copyright.l .Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Jan. 11. The Yorkshire Post's special representative sent to Turin chiefly to investigate- artificial wool production, sketches a. remarkabiy intense industrial development in northern Italy. Factories are springing up rapidly on the plains of Piedmont and Lombardy. Production is increasing at an astonishing rate. Em plovers arid employees alike are showing tireless enterprise and industry. The correspondent adds that the most conspicuous example of the new spirit in Italy is the development of the artificial silk industry, earned out in twelve factories. lie points out that the. industry is employing cheap labour, but thu proprietors are providing housing, which it is intended will ultimately be sufficient for 40,000 operatives. The housing includes fiats at nominal rents for families, while lads and girls are housed and fed free in largo picturesquely situated hostels. The factories control hundreds of miles of electrified railways for the carriage of workers and goods throughout the area. The. eonvspondenl says Turin, Milan and Bologna have the cheapest hydroelectric power available. Artificial wool, known ns “Sniafil,” was discovered by Snia Viscosa three months age*. A Yorkshire woollen manufacturer recently here went away convinced it will revolutionize the Bradford trade. He sent a. quantity to be worked up in Yorkshire, for it is equally adaptable to wool or cotton machinery. The correspondent is sending a quantity of YSnN.lil" to Bradford in order that the trade may see cloths made therefrom, or ■■Sniafil" and wool blended. Signor Gualino. president of Stiia Viscosa, says lie is positive tlie new fibre will not injure the wool growing industry in Australia or other countries. ‘‘•We have seen that artificial silk hrA not injured the silk trade —indeed it has assisted the latter’s expansion. Similarly 1 believe ‘’Sniafil" will help the development of the natural wool industry. It is true clothes made with n percentage of "Snintil" will he cheapened, for “Sniafil" is only half the price of wool. Cheaper clothes will increase tlie demand for clothing. Probably what is lost on the sale of all-wool will he made up by men and women demanding a larger supply of clothing. “Sniafil” can be blended with wool, cotton or silk, to the extent of 85 per cent, and give an infinite variety of materials and prices. Yorkshire need not fear “Sniafil.” It is a little less warm than wool, but of higher tensile strength and better lustre. Its filaments are so mixed as to facilitate dyeing. A "Sniafil” factory will shortly he established in the North of England.”