WOOL BENEFITS FROM CHALLENGE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 9

WOOL BENEFITS FROM CHALLENGE

The challenge of cheap synthetic fibres was perhaps the best thing that had ever happened to wool, Mr W. G. Bowen, field director of the Wool Board, told a farmers’ meeting in North Canterbury last week.

“It has made world wool interests from growing, through manufacturing to selling, rise up from slumbers and project their fibre to the people of the world. Across 21 countries scientists in laboratories, fashion designers, promoters, publicity experts, economists and administrators, in all languages and in all climates, are working for the future of wool as I give this talk. Their calibre matches the quality of the fibre and their combined force exceeds any one synthetic concern. “Every pound of wool produced has been used, and world stocks are at a low level (there is almost a world shortage at present). “I do not consider that I look into a crystal ball when I predict a confident future for wool. I am sure that every pound that is grown will be wanted and used by the ever growing world population. The price will have to be competitive with other fibres and will no doubt rise and fall with general economic conditions. Our marketing system may have to be altered to give a more stable quote price. Still, we have a fibre with great qualities and great fashion interest

“So long as we direct our effort and enthusiasm to the task of quality production and presentation, overall development and promotion, wool will always command a premium over its competitors,” said Mr Bowen. Mr Bowen said that woolgrowers were combining in the world battle of the fibres. Their main opposition was the synthetic man-made fibres that had already made great inroads into the world fibre market. Not only were people everywhere buying synthetics readily—they were becoming more and more syntheticminded in the modern world of science and test-tubes.

Cotton, silk and to some extent wool had suffered as a result Such great synthetic concerns as Imperial Chemical Industries and Du Pont staffed by energetic commercial brains, were healthy and vigorous opponents. They provided 5 per cent of gross earnings for scientific development and direct promotion. Last year in the United States alone 80m dollars had been spent in this field. Synthetic patents had run out and production had increased rapidly and huge world stocks of synthetic fibres had resulted in drastic price cuts. In the last two years there had been reductions of 15 to 20 per cent

How was wool faring? On the face of it very well. It was more than holding its own. Wool had more combined qualities than any one synthetic fibre. Some synthetics had one desirable quality but fell down in others, and the overall natural quality of wool put it away out in front of other fibres.