SUPPLIES OF WOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23488, 27 October 1939, Page 15

SUPPLIES OF WOOL

ALLIES' AMPLE STOCKS PRODUCTION OF DOMINIONS Natural wool plays a most important part in modern warfare, its complete substitution by synthetic fibres not yet being satisfactory. It is interesting, therefore, to learn from the most recent statistics that the British Empire has command of the bulk of the world's wool supplies. During the last season, 1938-39, the Dominion produced 327.7 million pounds of greasy wool, the Commonwealth 1015 million pounds, England' and Wales 107 million pounds, and Canada 19 million pounds. Besides this grand total of greasy wool from main Empire suppliers, the South African clip is likely also to find its way during the coming season to Great Britain, and, should they be needed, further supplies arc available to the Allies from South American countries .which now produce an appreciable quantity. Taking Australian estimates as a basis, it is demonstrated that 68 per cent of the combined Commonwealth and Dominion wool clip consisted of Merino wool, and 32 per cent of crossbred. This shows, a slight increase of crossbred proportion during tho past season.