ITALIAN TEXTILE TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21258, 11 August 1932, Page 16

ITALIAN TEXTILE TRADE

EFFECT OF CHEAP WOOL

A few years ngo the manufacture of synthetic textile materials was one of the most flourishing industries in Italy. It Still is an industry of importance, but more recently, owing to the low values of raw wool, the manufacture of woollen goods has made impressive progress in that country. For the period of six months ended March last the imports of wool to Italy were 40 per cent, more than the imports for the six months ended March 31, 1931. There was a period of inactivity among Italian manufacturers immediately following the departure of Great Britain from tho gold standard, but tho Italian textilo trade has since revived to some extent, and the. popularity of woollen goods there is increasing. According to the latest reports, the hosiery spinners are welt employed, and a good demand has sot in for worsted yarns, due to the vogue for sports costumes. Stocks of raw material in the hands of rnillowners arc relatively low, owing to the general tendency during the depression to purchase merely for immediate requirements. It is encouraging to know that, woollen textiles arc gaining ground in the Italian markets. Italy is now one'of tho principal wool-using countries of tbe world, and this season sho is running close to Belgium as an importer of wool from Australia.