RAYON AND WOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22465, 8 July 1936, Page 9

RAYON AND WOOL

AID TO CONSUMPTION USE FOR BLENDING PURPOSE I ' NO SUBSTITUTE IN ANY SENSE Tho view that rayon and staple fibre are aids to the use of wool rather than enemies of it is advanced by the Textile Mercury and Argus, of Bradford. Staple fibre is not intended as a wool substitute in any sense of the term, tho journal states. The purpose is to supply a useful supplement to wool and to create novelty effects which would not be obtainable with wool alone. It lias already been found that people with skins so sensitive that they cannot wear even the finest wool underwear are quite comfortable in materials in which a certain percentage of rayon has been blended with the wool. In the hosiery trade, materials have been produced containing 50 per cent of wool and 50 per cent of staple fibre with highly satisfactory results from the wearing and warmth standpoints Jll men's worsted fabrics, it is not considered that a greater quantity than 25 to 30 per cent of staple fibre can be mixed with wool. If the use of the artificial fibre in conjunction with the sheep's staple makes the goods produced more attractive and cheaper, its effect is more likely to stimulate the use of wool than to reduce the quantity of it consumed. So far in the woollen piece goods trado no great progress has been made in blending wool and the artificial fibre.

If wool became too dear, the quantity of staple fibre used in textiles might be increased in order to keep selling figures within specified limits. In that respect, a possible check exists to wool prices, hut over-dear wool has always administered a check to consumption. In Germany and Italy, the use of wool has decreased from monetary necessity, but in tho countries which can finance imports, such as Great Britain and the United States, and where large quantities of rayon have been produced for years, as much wool as ever has been consumed. Japan threatens to displace wool with the artificial fibre, but that development may or may not occur. The general fact remains that the world's dip has been used, in spite of an everincreasing output of rayon, and more wool is grown than prior to 1914. The following figures show the world's production of rayon at periods of the past 40 years:—

181)0 .. .. 1,350,0001b, 1013 .. .. 27,000,0001b. 11)23 .. 07,000,0001b. 1020 . . . . 442,000,0001b 1035 . . . . 072,455,0001b

The increase has been phenomenal, but no evidence to date shows that the world's wool supply is exceeding the demand for it. RISE IN BUTTER NEW ZEALAND AT 112/CHEESE ALSO HIGHER A further rise lias occurred in London prices for butter. New Zealand is quoted at Ills to 112s per cwt., a gain of 3s since the end of last week. Cheos«is selling about Is per cwt. higher at 60s for white and 59s 6d for coloured, according to a cablegram dated July 6 received by Joseph Nathan and Company, Limited, from Trengrouse and Nathan, Limited. The advance in butter has brought forward buyers into the market and Is 2d per lb., f.0.b., equal to 116s per cwt. London, is being offered. However, | factories are not inclined to do business. Advances to factories against consign- . ment in July have been fixed at 101 d per lb. for butter and 5Jd for cheese, which are the highest rates for some years. They compare with B]d and 4d respectively advanced in July, 1935. DAIRY INDUSTRY RUAWAI COMPANY'S YEAR FALL IN PRODUCTION [BY TELEGRAM —OWN. CORRESPONDENT] DARGAVILLE, Tuesday The 22nd annual report of the H uawai Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, states that the output of 1539 tons shows a decrease of 196 tons compared with that of the previous season, representing 11.29 per cent. The decreased output was greatly attributable to the abnormal conditions during the spring, together with the destruction caused by the caterpillar pest. The average grading points for the season were 94.18 per cent, a decrease of 0.02 on the previous season. Owing to the difficult circumstances no show butter had been manufactured during the season. After providing for depreciation a balance of £27,252 was available for distribution. A 3 per cent dividend on share capital would absorb £516 and the balance, £26,736, representing a net payment of 12.196 d, would be paid out as" follows: —October and November, lAd; September, 2d; December and January, 2^d; February and May, 3d; March and April, 3Jd. The payments are based on average grade over the year and do not include cream collection. In the trading department there was a marked increase in turnover. During the year £2398 had been refunded by way of discounts on shareholders' purchases. QUOTATIONS FOR WHEAT LONDON AND LIVERPOOL FUTURES IN CHICAGO LONDON, July 6 Wheat. —Cargoes are firm, but parcels are irregular. Futures. —London: July, 29s Bid a quarter; November, 30s 2.Jd. Liverpool: July, 6s 4&d «■ cental; October, 6s s£d"; December, 6s 4-gd. CHICAGO, July 6 Wheat. —July. 1 dollar 5g cents a bushel; September, 1 dollar 6i cents: December, 1 dollar 7% cents. HIDE MARKET EASIER ADVANCE IN TALLOW The market for hides was easier at the fortnightly sale held by Auckland brokers yesterday. There was very little export do> mund, duo to disturbed conditions overseas. Sheopskins were unchanged, while tallow sold at higher rates. Prices for best grades were:— Hides.—Ox (abattoirs), heavy to (>%d per lb; medium, (i%d to (I I ,ad; light, 5 1 /sd to (id; ox (country butchers), heavy, Gd to (}%d; medium. 5%d to Od; light, ~>VA to 5%d; cow (abattoirs), s'/ad to 5 s / 8 d; cow (country butchers;, fld to 5%d; farmers', all weights. S'/jd to 4V£d; yearlings (abattoirs), heavy, 7d to 7'/id; medium, to light, » l / 2 d to lO'/ad; second grade, oVjd to (id, faulty and cut, 4d to s'/id; calfskins, 31b to slb, 12'/ad to 13d; (ilb to 81b, 1:5(1 to 13'.ad; 01 b to 101b (abattoirs), lOVad to lid; seconds and cut, lOVid to llVid; slippy., 4'/ad to oy 2 d. Salted Sheepskins.—Half to three-quarter wool, large, 5s 5d to (is each; medium to largo. 4s 9d to 5s 3d; quarter to half-wool, 2s 10(1 to Is; faulty, 2s to 2s Od; bare to quarter-woo', faulty and small, Is to Is Od. Dry Sheepskins.-—Three-quarter to fullwool." medium to fine crossbred, Sd to per lb-, coarse crossbred, 7%d to 8d; damaged and faulty, Od to (id; half-wool, medium to fine crossbred, Sd to 8 1 ,-id; coarso crossbred, 7°/ id damaged and faulty, 4V,d to (id; bare to quarter-wools, sound, 7d to 7Y t d-, damaged and faulty, 3y a d to Id.

Tallow. —Good quality, 18s to 10s per cwt; second grade, 15s 6d to 16s 6d; third grade, 12s to 14s.