WOOL SURPLUS IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24912, 27 June 1946, Page 5

WOOL SURPLUS IN N.Z.

EARLIER ABSORPTION EXPECTED BRITISH INDUSTRY’S PROSPECTS (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON. June 26. “There is every prospect that the accumulated wool surplus in New Zealand will be absorbed by British woollen mills in less than the 10 to 12 years originally estimated when the situation was last surveyed,” said 'Mr N. R. Jameson, one of the two New Zealand representatives on the International Wool Secretariat, who has just returned to London from Leeds, Bradford, and Huddersfield. “I would

say that prospects for the British wool industry can be viewed with optimism,” he added. , Mr Jameson said the chief problems of the British manufacturing industry were labour and fuel. The reabsorption of labour was proceeding satisfactorily, and the labour force would probably reach pre-war strength in about a year’s time but the fuel situation, he understood, was giving cause for anxiety. It was unlikely that there would be any revolutionary changes in British weaving plant, for it was considered that the methods and machinery which had given Britain her pre-eminent position among wool manufacturing countries would still I continue to produce the best article. Woollen manufacturing was not a process which could be too much speeded up, otherwise the quality of the product would suffer. “All the firms making replacement plant are fully booked up for two or three years ahead, but the problem of changing to peace-time production is not so complex in the woollen industry as in many others,” said Mr Jameson. “I think it will take about two years to overtake the present cloth shortage in Britain, but the improvement will be progressive. On the research side good progress is also being made in spite of the fact that the war delayed the proposed extensions to the Wool industries research laboratories at Torridon. These extensions are beginning almost immediately. There is undoubtedly a tremendous Pent-up demand for woollen goods,” said Mr Jameson. “Prospects for the mdustry appear assured for some time to come. The shipping situation is improving, and it is now estimated that the Continental demand will increase more quickly than had been anticipated, at least as far as Belgium eno France are concerned. Another encouraging factor is the steady demand from the United States, which, is continuing to purchase wool fully up to pre-war consumption. It had been expected that American wool purchases would decrease after the war, but there is no indication of this at the moment.” Mr Jameson, with Mr H. J. Wardell, arrived in London early in May to attend the conference of the International Wool Secretariat. Later the *wo New Zealand delegates conferred Jith the newly-established United Jvihgdom-Dominions Wool Disposals Organisation before visiting manufacand research centres in the north. They will leave by Sunderland - nymg-boat for Sydney on July 4 and expect to arriv e in the Dominion on July 13 after conferring en route with members of the Australian Wool B Board.