REHABILITATION OF INDUSTRY IN GERMANY

Chronicle (Levin), 15 April 1947, Page 7

REHABILITATION OF INDUSTRY IN GERMANY

Press Assn.

iy Telegraph j

-Coxiijright

Keceivcd Monday, 7 p.m. LONDOX, April 14. Mr. F. S. Artliur, general manager oi Hint-ed Kingdom-Dominiou Wooi Dis posals Linuted, who reccntly visitcd Germany to investigate the eapacity o± Germak industry to use wool iD the British, American and Kussian zones, leavcs London shortly for Moseow to discuss the supi)ly of wool both to Russia and the Bussian zone in Gerniany. His visit is being made following a cordial invitation by the Kussian authorities whom he met in Berlin. He expects to be back in London by the end of April. Mr/Arthur met British and American authorities in Berlin." He also talked with representatives of the German wool and textile industry who formed liie comrnittce established by tlie com trol commission to eoordinate .tlie poiicy oi" using Gommonwealth wool in jGermaii mills. ' ' During the 1945 and 194(5 season, '' said Mr. Artliur, " approximately 170,000 bales of wool were supplied to Ihe Biitlsh zone out of the 4 oint Or ganisation's stocks. The -bulk thereoi was Xew Zealand erossbred and some of it is still being processed into cloth t'or internul use in Germany. "The whole question of future sup plics and the full use of German woui textile machinery, is still under con sideratiou but the general intention is that imports into Germany shall b» pai(i for by export. Xo arrangememt has vct been made for the purchase of wo-. .'or this purpose by the Joiut Orgauisa lion. In the meantime Germatj iiiachinery is being used on ti conunis sion basis by Uniteil Kingdom iirms an supplies under this scheme will souc. start moving into Germany for combing .iito tops, and spinning into yarn an.wcii\ing cloth. The ultimate producL will be export ed to all avaiiable mar kets. "This arrangemont ltas also been ex tended to the use of spinning tnacliin cry in the ILussian zone. "Tlie whole scheme marks an ad vancement in the rehabilitation of th. Gcnnan wool industry and expunsion j. tlie use of wool there. Prewar Ger many was a substautial user of Xea Zealand erossbred. Ahout 45 per cen. >f hcr total woul impbrts were cross bred and it is expected that the rc ipening of the industry will !>e a usefu outlet for Xew Zealand." Mr. Artliur remarked that the whob po.ution was conqilicatcd by the diviiion of Germany into zones and wliilo lliere had been some simpliJieation ihe result of the fusion of the AngloAmcrican zones, the iron curtain was only being lifted slowly on the Kussian zone. "iiowever," added Mr. Artliur, ' l had an inieresting talk with the Kussiaus in Berlin and I found tliev wero anxious to revive this important •ection of the textile industry in their zone. The bulk of its eapacity is ;ni nni ng, which means that combing .ill mostly rccpiire lo be done iu the British zone wherc, fortuuatcly, the ilant. a.t Blumenthal, near Brenten, probalily the Jargest in the world, was iractieally undamaged by , bonibing. Phe industry has been praetically ^tandiiig still since Ghristmas owing to lic freczing up of the cauals and coniequcnt, dislocation of transport which ircventcd the movement of coal to the liills. A higli priorit.v, however, is liow being given to ihe supply of coal to the uills in all zones." Commcnting on Berlin, Mr. Artliur •aid he found thc destruction indeseribible. 11c uskcd thc Kussians whai iluns llicy had for rcbuililin'g it. Tliey liruggcd their shoulders aud said the most practical suggcstipn tliev had iccii was that Ihe rcmaining buildings houhi be razed to the ground and a ncw Berlin built on the rubble. This would raisc Ihe level of the city !>v two •letres becausc it would be impossible o cart the ruins away.