THE PRICE OF WOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 14

THE PRICE OF WOOL.

BRADFORD EXPERT’S ADVICE TO GROWERS.

AUCKLAND. July 30.

“ I should recommend New Zealand growers to increase the production of wool, and if conditions permit go in for finer types of wool, because modern fashion demands the use of finer wools,” sail Mr Herbert Mortimer, chairman of directors and managing director of Messrs H. J. Mortimer, Ltd., of Binley, near Bradford, who arrived from Sydney to-day by the Aorangi accompanied by his wife and daughter. Mr Mortimer will spend a month in New Zealand. Mr Mortimer said that the depression at Bradford was passing, and he viewed the future with confidence. Each year since 1922 had seen an improvement. “ I see ho reason why the prjces realised for wool last season should not at least be. maintained during the coming season,” said Mr Mortimer. “ Since I left England I notice that prices have dropped, due no doubt to economic factors governing world-wide trade. The principal factor, however, is the old one of supply and demand, and we find that the demand now exceeds the supply.” Dealing with artificial silk and its relation to the prosperity of the woollen manufacturing industry, Mr Mortimer said that while artificial silk had proved eminently suitable for undergarments, «t had not yet proved serviceable for

outer garments. He believed that artificial silk would become complementary to rather than competitive with wool Mr Mortimer said that New Zealand and Australian wool would command bigger prices if the growers used an allwool or a paper lined bale. One of the principal difficulties they had to contend with was that the beard of the jute on the present bales became pressed into the wool, and it was impossible to separate this during the process of combing, spinning, and weaving. This meant that they had to wait until after the cloth had been dyed. The jute did not take the dye, and several girls had to be employed picking out the jute.