ARTIFICIAL WOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 9

ARTIFICIAL WOOL

GERMAN DEVELOPMENT possibilities Discussed QUALITY AND PRICE The development of the synthetic wool styled wollstra is discussed in a circular issued by the Bank of. New South Wales. Wollstra, says the article is a German woollen mixture material, consisting usually of 50 per cent vistra and 50 pejfeeent pure wool. Yistra is a fibre derived; from the wood pulp of pine and beech trees. It is of fine, smooth texture, but straight, weak brittle and inelastic. It would appear that wollstra of present standard cannot be a serious competitor with pure wool. Vistra garments may be soft, washable and "fast" of colour, but they tend to stretch badly either when washed, or even when worn. The properties of vistra resemble those of cotton. For instance, wollstra materials aiford less protection against cold than woollen goods and they crease and tend to wear baggy. For these reasons they are not likely to capture the market for men's suitings,, Their main advantage is in price alone, and this is not appreciable at the present low prices for wool. But German spinners have not turned to this " substitute " through considerations of price alone, the article adds. Drastic restrictions in their wool imports, owing to the serious economic straits of their country, have dictated this course. Inability to import anything like the quantity .of wool re3uired is the chief reason for the introudtion of poor quality materials. But it does not seem likely that the nation will submit to wearing poor quality clothing when its financial and economic position has improved sufficiently to enable the purchase of the best materials. It is also noteworthy that the wood from which vistra is made has largely to be imported into Germany, and consequently is subject to exchange difficulties similar to those encountered by wool. Unless the country's foreign exchange position markedly improves, then any Considerable expansion in Germany's output of vistra in the near future is not to be expected. While wollstra seems assured of a definite place in the woollen industry, the article concludes, the fact of greatest importance for wool-producing countries is that wollstra is decidedly inferior to the pure woollen product. Any advantage is in price alone and at present this is not great. PAPER INDUSTRY PROGRESS IN AUSTRALIA Steps being taken to develop the wood-pulping industry in Australia were described by Mr. H. W. Marshall, secretary of Australian Paper Manufacturers, Limited, in evidence before the Tariff Board. Mr. Marshall said the company was investigating the possibilities of utilising the thinnings from extensive pine forests in the southeastern portion of South Australia. The company was also interested in the prospects in other States for the pulping of hardwoods for the manufacture of paper products, and had already spent £12,470 on surveys. At present the whole of the kraft pulp requirements of the Australian and New Zealand kraft paper mills were supplied by Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden and Finland. A programme involving the addition of two * largo machine units to the company's present plant, representing; an expenditure of £500,000, had been agreed to for the mills in Victoria and at Botany, j At the Botany mill £90,000 had just been spent on a high-pressure boiler and turbine.

BRADFORD TOPS ' V. ;J . ■ J A FIRMER TENDENCY LONDON, June 20 The Bradford tops market is firm and prices are t«?n ling higher as the result of the strength of the Australian ' market. Following are to-day's prices and those of recent weeks:— May 30 June 6 June IS June 20 Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. d d d d Seventies .. 29 29 29% 30 Sixty-fours . . 27Va 27% 28 28 Sixties -. 26 215 26% 27 Fifty-sixes .. 16% 18% " 18% 18 3 £ Fifties ... 14 It 14 14% Forty-sixes .. 11 11 11 11% Forties .. 10 10 " 10 10% '