OUTLOOK FOR WOOL.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17787, 12 August 1929, Page 7

OUTLOOK FOR WOOL.

ARTIFICIAL SILK. A SERIOUS RIVAL. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (MistidiMn pivs? Association.) LONDON, August 10. A writer in the Yorkshire Post makes interesting remarks regarding the increasing competition of artificial fibres .with wool. After quoting a statement by Mr Tout, president of the Australian Graziers’ Association, that he does not think there is any danger of Australia losing the proud position of having the greatest wool markets of the world, the writer saya: —"After reading a technical paper dealing with the future of artificial fibres, it is felt that Australia’s pride in her superiority in the wool markets is in serious danger of being undermined by the rapid advance of tiie manufacture of artificial fibre. It is a disturbing fact for Australia that the world production of artificial silk alone is now reputed to be equal to the ■clean-scoured content of the whole Australian clip.”

Referring to the statement in Dalgety’s Review of the effect of tiie craze for artificial silk, which it is stated will probably last for some time, hut sooner or later a revulsion of feeling will come, the Yorkshire Post says those in the artificial silk world do not view the question from this angle. Scientists are determined to produce an artificial fibre which in appearance, durability, heat-retaining and other properties, shall rival wool, with the added advantage of a greater range of colour and more fascinating shades than wool lias yet yielded. It will be a pity if, in the contest for superiority in Hie world's markets, the importance of Hie advance of artificial fibres is under-estimated by the wool-producers and wool users.