Amount Of Woollen Cloth Declines

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 1

Amount Of Woollen Cloth Declines

In 1954 the availability of woven woollen cloth in New Zealand was 5.5 square yards a person; it was now 2.9 square yards a person —a decline of 47 per cent a person, said the chairman of the meat and wool section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers (Mr W. N. Dunlop).

“In view of the various statements in the newspapers about the attitude of Federated Farmers to wool, I believe it would be appropriate to clarify the farmers’ position,” said Mr Dunlop. “New Zealand is the second largest exporter of wool in the world and about one-third of our overseas exchange is earned by wool. “Wool use in New Zealand is declining. In 1954 New Zealand imported 7 million yards of woollen piece-goods. By 1957 this had been cut to 5.4 million square yards. In 1960 it was down to 4 million and in 1963 to 3 million yards. It is now cut to 2m yards. ! “During this period local } production has risen by only 1.5 million square yards while

the population has risen by about 500,000. The availability of woven woollen cloth in 1954 was 5.5 square yards a person. It is now 2.9—a reduction of 47 per cent a person.

“It is obvious, therefore, that many imported wool fabrics have been withdrawn from the market while supplies of substitute or alternative materials have not been restricted. This has naturally reduced consumption of wool. “We support the New Zealand woollen mills in a desire to promote the use of wool, but believe that the national interest is best served by tariff protection. I We do not believe that other fibres should enjoy an advanitage over our national product," said Mr Dunlop.