PUBLICITY FOR WOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22351, 24 February 1936, Page 5

PUBLICITY FOR WOOL

MOVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA GROWTH OF RAYON INDUSTRY UNITED STATES' EXPERIENCE At a recent conference between representatives of the Graziers' > Federal Council of Australia and the Australian Woolgrowers* Council, it was decided to recommend that a publicity and research fund for wool be established bv means of a compulsory levy, with legislative authority, and that the levy be imposed at the rate of not more than Is a bale in any one year. A sub-committee which considered the question of publicity for -wool reported that the phenomenal growth of the rayon industry, the manufacture expanding from 5,000,0001b. in 1902 to 795,355,0001b. in 1934, is one of the reasons for the displacement of wool, silk and cotton in certain sections of the trade. The perfecting of wool substitute manufacture on the Continent of Europe is already influencing British manufacturing interests to participate in such production, and it is considered that unless adequate steps are taken in the direction of wool publicity it is quite possible that the use of wool in the near future may be seriously prejudiced. As far as Germany is concerned the new production is one which has arisen to a great extent from necessity, owing to the financial and economic conditions of the country, and not because of any particular desire to do without wool. That the demand for woollen goods has been stimulated by a publicity campaign in the United States is claimed by Associated Woollen Industries. In recent years the demand for wool in America has been steadily decreasing, and the use of competitive substitutes has been increasing. A comparison with other fibres shows that cotton has practically held its place in consumption, as compared with the total textile fibres used, ranging from 201b. to 301b. a head. Wool has shown a decline from about to 21b. a head. The consumption of silk has increased nearly threefold, although it now averages only about but rayon, starting from scratch in 1920, has now almost equalled the consumption of wool, being about ljlb. Whereas the average adult in the United States used eight yards of woollen material in 1910, the amount had dropped to four yards in 1930. A statement in regard to publicity indicates that wool has been outbalanced by 11 to 1, it being stated that the advertising expenditure for the various fibres has been as follows: For cotton (15 years), 4,222,000 dollars; silk (15 years), 3,232.000 dollars; rayon (10 years), 1,528,000 dollars; and wool (15 years), 872,000 dollars. It is claimed that, as a result of recent advertising, the consumption of wool for the first seven months of 1935 showed an increase of 72 per cent, compared with the corresponding period in 1934. The members of the sub-committee state that "irrespective of what may be the cause, we are convinced that the concern evidenced in the United States in regard to the serious decline in the per capita wool consumption of that country warrants the most serious attention of those connected with the Australian wool industry. If there is justification for concern in the United States, where almost the total production of wool is consumed internally, surely the decline must be even more serious to Australia, with a home consumption of not more than 9 per cent of its wool production." WANGANUI WOOL SALE OFFERING OF 30,896 BALES FIRM MARKET EXPECTED [by telegbaph —owx correspondent] ■WANGANUI, Sunday A slight appreciation in values on th« last Wanganui sale is expected, at th< offering to-morrow, when a total o 30,896 bales will be submitted, in 333S lots. The wool to be offered may be des cribed as a good representative Wanga nui selection, comprising a fair quantity of medium crossbred with a few supei clips. There is a good proportion o lambs wool and scouring lots. Bradford may be relied upon to lif most of the offering, being a big con sumer of crossbred wool, but the Con tinent has been active at Wanganu sales of late, and at the last auctioi lifted about 10,000 bales. German: should be in the market, but, of course the extent of Continental participatioi i is dependent on buying orders to hand Japan is likely to take good brigh • skirted lots and America crutchings am low crossbreds for the, carpet trade. The average price a bale at the las Wanganui sale was £l2 17s 6d, bu somewhere round about the £l3 marl is being expected to-morrow. This wil mean about £390,000 to be distributee on prompt date, which is March 9 next Unfortunately, there is some bacl country wool which is held up indefin itely owing to road access being cu off as a result of the recent flood, bu the quantity is not large, as most o the wool from this class of country i in the store by the end of January.