SYNTHETIC FABRICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 5

SYNTHETIC FABRICS

CHALLENGE TO WOOL INDUSTRY (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON. Aug. 13. The threat to the wool industry of the Dominion through the competition offering in the manufacture of synthetic fibres overseas would have to be faced, said Mr F. Langstone (Govt., Waimarino) when the estimates were being discussed in the House of Representatives to-day. He urged that a close check should be kept of the trend of developments of rayon and similar materials as' substitutes for woollen garments. If the extensive woollen industry of the Dominion was to be saved, then ways and means of meeting the competition from other fibres would have to be found. Mr Langstone said. The country couid not change its economy overnight, and .in the threat to the wool industry we might lose our economic foundation. It might even be necessary to find ways of bridging-the gap by financial help. New Zealand produced large quantities of wool and used locally only about 3 or 4 per cent. There was probably about £500.000,000 invested in the sheep industry—in farms, stock, freezing works and woollen mills—and that was too huge a structure and commitment to be complacent about. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr D. G. Sullivan, said he agreed with Mr -Langstone’s observations. Much valuable research work was being done by the department and success was attending its efforts. In exploring the unshrinkable processing of wool, for example, research had proved that the life of woollen garments could be extended from 50 t' 150 pgf cent, by the new processes.