MR FORBES AT TORRIDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22629, 22 July 1935, Page 16

MR FORBES AT TORRIDON

USES FOR NEW ZEALAND WOOL IMPORTANT EXPERIMENTS NON-SHRINKING AND BLEACHING (From Ode Own Correspondent.) (Bt Air Mail.) LONDON, June 28. Wherever the New Zealand Prime Minister and Mrs Forbes have been during their stay in London, and during their brief but very useful visits to provincial manufacturing centres, they have been extremely popular. They set out in the right spirit to be interested in all that they were to see and they have seen a great deal. At the same time, Mr Forbes has been able to put New Zealand's views regarding Empire trade before a number of business men. He has spoken on numerous occasions, and what he has said has obtained wide publicity. Everywhere he went he was entertained by the Lord Mayor. The visit to the research station at Torridon interested Mr Forbes greatly, for at the present time research is going on in connection with wool, and if the various processes in the course of investigation arc successful it will mean that a great deal more New Zealand wool can be absorbed.

Investigations in regard to non-shrink-ing and to bleaching processes are of the utmost importance. In regard to the experiments in non-shrinking of woven wool, one phase concerns coat linings. In the past it was found that the wool linings either shrank or ballooned, so substitutes have long taken the place of wool for linings. The non-shrinking process will, it is hoped, restore wool for this purpose. The process of complete non-shrinking is not yet perfected and a certain amount of caution must meanwhile be exercised in accepting its success. It is being tested in regard to socks, underwear, and other woollen garments.

The bleaching process, again if successful, will be a great boon to sportsmen who need white flannel trousers and shirts, for the goal aimed at is that white flannel will not become definitely cream when it is introduced to the wash tub.

Another process seen by Mr Forbes was where wool is used in the production of moquettc, a fabric that is in ever-growing demand for upholstery in theatres and kinemas. New Zealand wool of the crossbred type, being curly, is particularly suitable for this material, and it is hoped that more of it will be used in this connection. Material, too, for motor upholstery is in increasing demand, and again investigations are being made to see if more New Zealand wool could not here be used. In the instances above indicated it Is anticipated that 100,000 bales of New Zealand wool could be absorbed. TOP-MAKING PLANT.

In Bradford Mr and Mrs Forbes saw one of the most up-to-date top-making plants in the city—an enterprise that has been built up since the war. It belongs to Cooper, Trivett and Co., Ltd. Mr A. E. Cooper is a New Zealander who served in the N.Z.E.F. and who was called to Whitehall during the war as an expert in wool. Later, the partnership with Mr W. Trivett came about, and one of the most .successful top-mak-ing businesses has grown up. Mr Arthur Sims is a member of the firm. Mr Forbes was, on a morning visit, given a brief outline of its history, and he expressed delight at hearing the story of such enterprise by New Zealanders in England. Mr Sims will be in the Dominion again shortly.