FINER WOOLS WANTED

Chronicle (Levin), 9 June 1948, Page 7

FINER WOOLS WANTED

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Talks I11 Britain On N.Z. Types

Copyright)

Received Tueaday, 7 p.m. LONDON, June 8. Criticism of burr in New Zealand wool, regret at tlie virtual impossibility of securing sufficient supplies of tho Dominion's finer types of wool, and satisfaction that the London saies are now receiving a greater measure oi support, were' some of the points made by members of the Yorkshire wool trade in candid informal discussions at Leeds with Mr. Jameson, chairman of the - New Zealand Wool Board, Mr. W. Horrobin, deputy-chairinan, and Mr. r. G. Lund, New Zealand's representative on the International Wool Secretariat- All sides of .the Yorkshire wool mdustry were represented, including Mr. Walter Ward, chairman of the Bricish ' wool rederation, Mr. F. Haigh, chairman of the Wool and Textile Delegation, and Professor J. B. Speakman, head of the textile industry department at Leeds University. New Zealand wool, it wfis agreed, had regained its liigh prewar stan'dard but several speakers commented on the appearance of burr and asked whether it could be eiiminated or cliecked. Wliere buyers could once give an assurance to manufacturers that New Zealand wool was f ree from burr, they now had to be most careful before eomniitting themselves. Grass seed, it was stated, was also complained of and in some respeets it -was worse tlian burr: There was general comment on the lack of New Zealand fine Merino wool today compared with prewar days. One manufacturer remarked that for cercain purposes, it was the best in the world and that he was willing to pay one sl'.iliing a pound more for it than t'or other types of Merino. ' ' There stili is," and likely to be for some time, a considerable demand and use for the finer types of New Zealand wool," he said. "It will always command relatively nigher prices than those from Australia or anywhere else and I think it worthy of some consideration.' ' Many speakers weleomed the reappearance of New Zealand wool at Ihe London wool saies. "If you can eueourage supplies it will be to the manufacturers' advantage," was oue comment. "Wool in London is far more valuable than it is in New Zealand loday. London is the most important spot market not only for Britain but also for the Gontinent. " Another request was that there should be a uarrower classilicatiou of modium crossbred types.. There was a tendency nowadays for New Zealand oll'eriugs to range from. 4(5 's , ^0 50 's. This meaut vjial. manufacturers often had to buy a ■vider range of types than they re(uired. , "We have to take wool we ion 't want in order to get the wool we ueed, " one remarked.. With the shortage of wool suitable for paper felts, nore attention to sorting would be an .uh antage. It w,as also remarked that there had been a f'alling off in the "get lp" of slipe woqj. i Apother speaker remarked that Ghere was now ap inadequate supply of ohe longer and stronger types of New Zealand wool. He regretted this -and ob'served that there was a "tremendous scope" for these. types in the manufactuxe of carpets and furnishings. An increase would be weleomed. A , request was made for coarse, strong, sappy-to-the-t-ip types. Their supply had been halved but tbey were most useful for the manufacture of felts and here again an ixicreased supply would be weleomed. A word of praise was forthcoming for New Zealand fine crossbreds. Ready use was found for the 52 to 54 t.v|>es in the production of underwear,. socks and pullovers. In this respect, it was observed that the wool trade was now passing through a plmse where Merino wool was very fasliionable. This was due to various econoinlc reasons and to the effects of rationing and coupons, but it was felt there would undoubted!y be a sustained demand for the finer types of crossbreds. This led Professor Speakman to remark that every kind of wool had its uses. The chief difficulty cSnfronting the grower was that he never - knew wlien the demand for a particular type would arise. The professor wondered whether market research might bo of some assistanee in producing certain types of wool to meet the probable demand. Another suggestion was that the Brilish Wool Federation might form a committee to gatlier comment 011 New Zealand wool. This could be forwarded to growers through the Secretariat and could be uiutually beneiicial. • Speakers also - expressed tlieir high regard for the work of the Secretariat and for the generous support given by New Zealand wool growers to the work of research.