THE WOOL INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17229, 8 April 1930, Page 11

THE WOOL INDUSTRY

MR. DEVEREUX’S MISSION

CO-ORDINATION WITH S. AFRICA

.MELBOURNE. March 21

An opinion that the trend of fashion was ('hanging' in favor of woollen fabrics was. expressed yesterday by Mr. W. P. Devcreux, former vicechairman of the Development and Migration Commission, who left in (lie Demosthenes for South Africa and England, lie was recently appointed to act abroad by the Wool (4rowers' Council and the < iraziers' I’edeial Council of Australia. Before bis departure Mr. Ilevereux stated that, in view of the serious position of the wool industry, the Commonwealth Government had made his services available to the graziers’ organisations to act as their representative in Europe, with headquarters in London. Whilst in South Africa he would confer with wool growers’ and V oolbrokevs ’ organisations with a view to establishing friendly relations with corresponding bodies in Australia in file realisation of their respective wool clips. There had been considerable developments in the pastoral industry in Month Africa of recent years not only bv way of improvement in the breeding of sheep and quality of wool, but also in the size ol flocks. The South African wool clip, which' now closely approached ;],iii)i),fl(Hl bait's, was almost entirely line merino, and a much move important factor than was I lie case in former years. Some eo-ordiuatml method oi‘ marketing was essential in the interests of both South Africa and A list ralia.

DECREASED PURCHASING ROW KR

Possibly the big falling off in the purchasing power of consuming countries in Europe, due to financial stringency, was the most prominent of causes of the drop in wool prices. The rapid increase in production mid use of urtilicin.l silk and other textile jibres, as well as the. trend of fashion towards materials of attractive appearance, had also in some measure contributed to a lessened demand for wool. During ,the last ton years the sheep population of the world had also showil very substantial increase. lu both Great Britain and Germany the textile-manufacturing industries had made heavy losses of capital, and temporarily, at any rate, their operations were handicapped. With a good season promising, it was reasonable to expect another good clip, and it was essential, both in the interests of the graziers and the whole Commonwealth, that this clip should also be marketed with the utmost care and full knowledge of the situation in Europe. With this object, it had been decided to send a representative abroad to gather the fullest information, ailii report upon such matters as stocks of both raw and semi-manu-factured wool, trend of fashions, and the financial position and lmying powers in consuming countries. Other matters such ns (dose contact with the' London and Cotitiubntnl wool markets would receive his attention.

Mr. Devereux pointed out that much essential information could be obtained only by establishing tho friendliest personal relations with manufacturers and others on the other side of the world. It would be his object to ascertain their difficulties, and co-oper-ate in finding remedies. Considerable research work into wool manufacture had heeii commenced at the Research Institute at Leeds, in conjunction with the Empire Marketing Board and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. On behalf of the graziers, ho would do all in liis power to assist ih applying in h commercial manner the results of their investigations, which, it was hoped, would result in producing woollen materials that Would in an increased manner prove more attractive to consumers. Other matters to engage his attention would be hninml nutrition, publicity and developments in the meat trade.