ARTIFICIAL WOOL

Southland Times, Issue 22453, 13 December 1934, Page 7

ARTIFICIAL WOOL

GERMAN PRODUCT THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOLSTRA EXPORT THREATENED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 11.5 pan.) Sydney, December 12. The German Consul-General, Dr Asmis, addressing the Millions Club today warned Australian woolgrowers that the manufacture of woolstra, or artificial wool, in Germany was likely to become a very big thing. He anticipated that in the near future woolstra would be exported in competition with natural wool on such a scale as to prove disastrous to primary production. Woolstra was a mixture of vistra fibres made from beech, wood pulp and wool, and although it had certain disadvantages compared with natural wool, the majority of the German people would wear it and were actually wearing it. He received a cablegram on Saturday from Berlin saying that the cost price of woolstra was now 30 to 40 per cent, below the price of scoured wool in Germany. Dr Asmis advocated an adjustment of the trade balance between Germany and Australia as a means of regaining Germany’s custom for Australian wool, of which in the last few years the purchases by Germany were in the vicinity of 600,000 bales. Germany would not accept credits even if they were offered her. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates was among the guests who heard the address. Sir Henry Gullett, Minister in Charge of Trade Treaties, expresses the opinion that the failure of German and Italian buyers to operate in the Australian wool market is seriously depressing wool prices. The Ministry is now exploring the possibility of increasing German credit in Australia to enable Germany to take more Australian goods. _____