RAYON INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 9

RAYON INDUSTRY

BRITISH EXPANSION NEW STAPLE FIBRE IMPORTANCE OF PROCESS The growth of the English rnvon yarn business and tho problems attaching to the new industry were dealt with by Mr. Samuel Courtauld, chairman of directors of Courtaulds, Limited, in his annual address to shareholders in.London last month. Ho pointed out that there had been an increase according to official statistics of about 22£ per cent in tho production of rayon last year. In spite of the growth of production, however, profits in the rayon-yarn branch had expanded by only 12i per cent. Selling, he explained, became more difficult toward the end of the year, when there were some signs of weakness leading to an increase in stocks. He pointed out also that in the building up of any big enterprise there was aWvays an interval -before the increase in productive capacity was reflected in profits. Eveu this year no behefit was likely to be derived from the company's new yarn factory at Preston. The company had a considerable disappointment last year in regard to its weaving department. Competition was mote severe than ever before, both in weaving and in dyeing, and Mr. Courtauld ventured the opinion that there was as much surplus equipment in the weaving and dyeing trade as there was in cotton spinning. Mr. Courtauld dealt fully with tho company's latest venture, namely, the production of rayon staple fibre. This consists of rayon filaments supplied in very short lengths for spinning into twisted yarn—similar in construction to cotton oi - worsted yarns—on cotton or worsted spinning machinery. A factory to produce this product had been constructed in North Wales, with a capacity of 20,000,0001b. a year. Lancashire cotton spinners could use the fibre on their existing machinery, but it was also expected to use it with wool. » World production of staple fibre last year increased by 200 per cent to 943,000,0001b., of which it was estimated that the United States came first Vith 257,000,0001b., Japan second with 224,000,0001b. and Great Britain third with 111,000,0001b. The percentage of principal textile fibres produced in the world in 1935 was:—Cotton, 53,8; wool, 15.4; jute, 10.5; hemp, 7.9; flax, 7.2; rayon yarn, 4.1; staple fibre, 0.7; silk, 0.4. Although there was a considerable increase in the production of rayon in the United States, the American subsidiary profits were 10 per cent iess than in J934. On the other hand, the Canadian subsidiary had a good year. Mr. Courtauld described Japanese competition as a danger to the whole textile industry of Europe and possibly of America also. QUOTATIONS FOR WHEAT LONDON AND LIVERPOOL FUTURES IN CHICAGO LONDON, April 20 Cargoes are firm and dearer and parcels ar9 higher. Futures: —London: May, 29s Id a quarter; November, 29s 2d. Liverpool: May, 6s ljd a cental; July, 6s 3d; October, 6s 3£d. CHICAGO, April 20 Wheat. —May» 991 cents a bushel; July, 921 cents; September, 90J cents. LARGE WHEAT CARGOES VICTORIAN SHIPMENTS PURCHASES BY JAPAN Wheat shipments from Victoria last month totalling 2,046,501 centals, valued at ±622,860, were the largest in any month since March, 1932, when 4,046,426 centals were sent. The increase in the figures reflects the large amount of business transacted in the British market in February and March, home millers and Chinese and Japanese interests operating freely in Australian grain. The bulk of la t st month's shipments was despatched to Japan, that country taking 1,285,440 centals, worth £392,424. Other destinations included French West Africa; (for orders) 364,364 centals, the United Kingdom 263,385 centals, and China 110,657 centals. In February last 1.068,496 cfentals were exported, and in March last year 400,565 centals. LONDON MARKETS TALLOW CONTINUES QUIET The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated April 18, 1936, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London: — Tallow. —The market continues quiet, with values nominally unchanged. Tho tendency is easier. Hemp.—Tho manila market is quiet but steady at the decline. Value "K" tirade for April-Tune shipment, £'2o 10s. The sisal market is quiet and slightly easier. April-Juno and May-July shipments valued at £26 15s. The New Zealand market is quiet and nominally unchanged. No first-hand sales are reported. Stocks in London are 129 tons, against 30 tons at tho same time last year. Fruit. —The Rangitiki is discharging fruit in good condition. The market is still slow, but there is a sign of improvement. Tliq following are the market values of sound-conditoned fruit of tho varieties mentioned, the range of prices generally representing the difference between the several grades and/or counts. Variable-condi-tioned fruit of similar varieties are proportionately less in value. Apples: Cox's Orange, 9s to 15s; Jonathan, Js 6d to 12s; Ballarat, Ribston Pippin and Worcester Pearmain, 8s to 10s; Lord Wolseley, 8s 6d to 9s 6d; Alfriston, London Pippin, Gravenstein and Willie Sharp, 7s to 9s. Pears: Cornice, 10s to 13s; 1 rays, 9s to 10s; Beurre liosc, 10s to 12s; Conference, 9a to lis; Louise Bon Jersey, Js to 10s; Beurre Clairgeau, 8s to 9s. BUTTER-FAT PAYMENT WHANGAREI DAIRY COMPANY [by telegraph—own correspondent] WHANGAREI, Tuesday Tho Whangarei Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, yesterday made an advance payment to suppliers for March butter-fat "at tho rate of 9d per lb. superfine and BJd per lb. standard. This will absorb tho sum of £20,663, as against £18.805 for tho corresponding month of last year, when tho advance was at the rate of Bid and 8d per lb. respectively. The output for tho season to the end of March was 2454 tons of butter, as compared with 2519 tons for the same period of last year. The decrease of 95 tons is accounted for by the manager, Mr. W. H. Millington, as being duo to tho very poor spring. The output since Christmas, states Mr. Millington, has been very satisfactory and the company is manufacturing more butter now than at tho same time last year.