POPULARISING WOOL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 7 April 1934, Page 4

POPULARISING WOOL

PUBLICITY INQUIRY MISS JIOWEY’S REPORT Miss G. A'. Howcy. secretary of “Wool Publicity (N.Z.),” Las completed lier vi'vy comprehensive report of live mouths’ personal investigation and interviews with high authorities in Great Britain and France, and is convinced that “because it is nobody’s business to give wool a good starteven where science lias done its bit towards bringing up the standard of litncss —it has staggered lazily along in the rear of other materials. Then, perhaps, some fashion journal or designer says: ‘Poor old wool! It has all the qualities, but nobody seems to recognise them under the glare of its more silky assoeiates, and in any ease Mademoiselle has worn that silk coat too long. Guess we’ll put a few shillings into ,this and also let my manufacturer friend, John Brown, know, so he can got well in at the start and give little “Willie Wool” a good shove. Of course, we will appeal to the patriotism of a few women’s institutes, also reminding them that wool is the “soverign among textiles” and the “country’s backbone,” and that thev should be more patriotic.” “And so the craze spreads—anil John Brown, who has (he sense to ha\e friends in the world of fashion-creation lids his purse once more—until his fashion friends warn him ‘that madam has worn her woolly coat too long and he had better put’in a silk stripe in diet meantime,’ as a compromise.

WOMEN’S WEAR

“Of course, I do not think that women’s apparel makes a tremendous difference in the general consumption, but I find that when the craze is for wool iii clothes it follows in fumisliin«’S also. And, therefore, the point rsT just how long is it going to be dictated to by the few who are in the know who benefit by the fluctuations? “I can now only depend on the support of the, people who were able to see clearly the advisability of directed Imperial co-operative effort, through the medium of a strong central body, to put this through in the wav they think best, and, for these supporters, I am assured I have most of the strongest men in the industry in Bradford, Scotland, and the West of EngThc chairman of Wool Publicity (N.Z.), Mr L. R. C. Macfarlanc, .in his comments upon Miss Ilowcy s 1 eport considers that it has convinced him that “to-day there is greater need than ever for some form of organisation to permanently stimulate research and publicity in the wool industry. “The British Empire grows the hulk of the world’s best wool, hut the processing of the product is slowly but surely”drifting to foreign countries. “Some form of Empire organisation appears to he essential. “The New Zealand wool publicity committee realised from the start that the funds at its disposal, if spent solely in New r Zealand, would do little to better the financial position of wool men. Efforts were made locally to augment these funds, but without success.” Mr Macfarlanc, after referring to the decision to send Miss Howey to Great Britain to. get in touch with the leaders of the industry, there and encourage them to start some movement that would be for the benefit of the industry, states that her report and recent cables to the Govermpent clearly shows the great value of her work, and it appears that the industry at Home is ready with the slightest encouragement to launch an Empire wool scheme.

“Through the organisation of wool publicity (lie. continues) we have placed New Zealand in the position of being expected to now give another definite lead by bringing in legislation to levy growers so as to establish a fund with which to maintain research and finance propaganda and research for seeking new uses and improving the marketing of the raw and manufactured article.

“Why should the cost of research on wool come out of the general taxpayer’s pocket? “Wool publicity appears now to have fully justified its existence in getting tiffs Empire movement so well established, at least in theory, and it remains now for farmers’ organise ations in New Zealand to carry out the fulfilment of the idea.