GREATER USE OF WOOL

Southland Times, Issue 23646, 22 October 1938, Page 19

GREATER USE OF WOOL

Secretariat’s First Year TASK TO OVERCOME HOSTILITY WIDENING FIELD FOR MEMBERS LONDON, September 17. A year has passed since the International Wool Secretariat was established in London with the objective of co-ordinating research and engaging in publicity for the greater development of wool. Reviewing the secretariats “achievements and difficulties” during that period, The Yorkshire Post says.— “The project began inauspiciously. Before it had got its ‘second wind wool prices fell with an alarming speed from 15.9 d per lb to 12.5 d. The industry’ was depressed and almost despondent. Upon this prospect the three members of tiie secretariat—Dr Clunies Ross (Australia), Mr F. S. Arthur (New Zealand), and Mr du Plessis (South Af™a)— looked with courage, but not a little doubt APPARENT HOSTILITY “Their first duty was to make themselves known to the wool textile industrialists of the West Riding and Scotland, to assess the position of rese arch, and to discover the extent and the character of any resistance .to the advancement of wool. They encountered at tiie beginning a critical attitude toward their work which, while not unfriendly, was a little daunting. They found, on reflection, that apparent hostility really coated a lively interest on the part ot those who had not hitherto considered that wool needed modem aids to sucCe “ After a year they have not altogether avoided criticism, and it is evident that they will never reach such a tranquil condition. But the critics are no longer retarding; they inspire. Many who firmly opposed the whole conception of the secretariat are now among its firm supporters. There are others who remain either cold or antagonistic, but even these are not unaware that the secretariat is making progress. “The three assiduous pioneers have visited many countries in Europe m preparing their graphs of wool prospects. They have built up. a structure of tested information on British ana Continental conditions which is an integral part of the new enterprise. The growth of synthetic fibres in competition'With wool has been uncomfortably established. Data on this aspect have demonstrated beyond douk: that the institution of the secretariat was vital and timely if wool textiles were to keep their place in the scheme of human apparel. , , , “Some manufacturers have been met who declared that as wool could be mixed with fibre and made into" saleable cloth they were quite content with the position. Others have remembered the proud heritage’of the wool textile industry in this country and. are determined to pursue research in order to find how wool can be adapted to the sometimes frivolous taste of the wearer, especially—it must be recognized—the woman wearer. FASHION DESIGNERS CONSULTED “Therefore, by a sort of logical progression, tiie secretariat entered into association with the fashion designer, the sb’list, the wholesaler and retailer. Again they received a generous flow, of critical advice, which was digested with good grace, because it was seen that the interest of the manipulator of fabrics was the direct route to the interest of the wearer. “There was a host of questions to discuss and decide. Will the average woman buy a frock because it is of wool or because she just likes it? The answer is that she should both like the frock and feel that the fact that it is of wool is an extra inducement to buy it. The earnest members of the Wool Secretariat now found themselves involved in an unexpected world of strange terms and weird colours. It is not the least of their achievements that now they not only know the language of the coutourier, but can utilize the characteristics of fashion to the advantage of wool. “They can listen gravely as stylists and designers expound their ideas, and those that are practical they approve. Last week they were in Paris to discuss with creators of fashion styles the question of lingerie. As an outcome they have been assured that wool is possible in a field from which it had mainly departed. Fabrics are going to be made of so delicate a texture, and so exquisite in all other essential respects, that wool will be emboldened to deliver a challenge to all other materials so employed. This will be made in due course, and the result will be informative.”