RAYON INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 225, 21 September 1940, Page 5

RAYON INDUSTRY.

DIFFICULTIES IN BRITAIN. The cessation of supplies of wood pulp from Scandinavia, though it has added to the difficulties of ihe rayon industry has not proved as serious a handicap as might hevc been leared, since there were good stocks on hand at the outbreak of war and good supplies were being obtained from Canada, says the "Economist." Though there are shortages of certain chemicals irom time to time, which are likely to cause delays, it does not appear at present as though these will ever become sufficiently serious to cripple the industry. Great progress is being made in the use of staple fibre in Britain, and in the worsted industry. in particular, it is being used, not as a substitute. but as a constituent in the production of a new textile having distinctive features of its own and offered at a very attractive price. Prices of rayon altogether, have, indeed, been kept as low as was commensurate with the increased cost of production. An increase of threepence per pound i in rayon prices to take effect in September has ; been announced, but coupled with this is the announcement that cheaper yarns are to be available lor the export trade, and a request that users will co-operate with producers through a Central Rayon Committee. During the last three months there has been a complete change in the position of the industry. As the cut of 25 per cent in the home trade in cotton from last year's level was accompanied by a corresponding cut in rayon, it is now feared that the later decision to cut cotton by 75 per cent may foreshadow a cut of 75 per cent in the home trade in rayon. As this industry has hitherto produced mainly for the home market, the prospect is viewed by rayon manufacturers with anxiety. At the same time, however, they havr clearly made great progress with the development of the export trade.