WHAT IS FLANNEL?

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 112, 29 January 1918, Page 3

WHAT IS FLANNEL?

REVELATION ABOUT "ARTIFICIAL SILK." A deputation representing woollen manufacturers, warehousemen, the Master Drapers' Association, and retail storekeepers waited on Mr. Agar Wynne, State Attorney-General, recently, states the Melbourne "Age," to discuss with him the effect of the prosecutions which have taken place recently in reference to the sale of articles as flannel which in reality contained only a very small proportion of wool. The object was to come to some arrangement with the Crown Law Department for the substitution of some name other than "flannel" under whioh such manufactures could be sold without rendering the vendors liable to prosecution. It was pointed out by members of tlio deputation that very little flannel was made that was absolutely pure wool. It was necessary to have a certain proportion of cotton to prevent the material from shrinking. They quoted as an authority a professor of textile industries with the view of showing that 'what was known as "Union flannel" was composed of wool and cotton yarns ir. different ratios. Flannel was a manufactured article. If it were branded "pure wool," but was not wool, tliat would he a fraud on the public; but the material in question was not, so branded. The trade desired to know in what position it stood, and under what conditions business in this mixed commodity could be legally carried on. ' The Attorney-General: The provision of the law is that there must not be any false trade description. To soli as flannel an article that contained only tlireo per cent, of wool and 97 per cent, of cotton, is, in my opinion, a fraud on the public. A of the deputation: The bulk of the silk now being sold ia artificial. We cannot keep it in 6tock more than a certain time, because it crumbles away into a powder like ash from a cigar. The Attorney-General: In the authorities you have handed to me examples are given of tlio blending of wool and cotton yarns showing 50 per cent., 60 nor cent., and 75 per cent, of wool. That may possibly bo properly regarded as "flannel," but if I went into a shop; and, asking for flannel, w r as given some stuff 'with onlv three ner cent, of w : ool in it, I should think I had been "taken down." A member of the deputation stated that lie 'understood that tlio "flannel" which had formed the subject of a recent prosecution was imported into Australia as flannel, and duty was paid on it as such., The Attorney-General said that what the trade had to do was to give such a name to the manufactured article as would preyent the public being deceived. As long as the purchaser understood he was buying an article composed mainly of cotton . and not of wool, that would be suffigient. " The name f 'TJnion flannel", was suggested by the deputation; _ but Mr. Wynne favoured a description which woukl'fihow that the material was_ a "flannel admixture." The deputation finally tentatively approved of the use of the word "mixture"; but it was intimated that a legal adviser would be consulted before any trade description was definitely adopted by the trade, and the Attorney-General's Department would he communicated with as to whether it would approve of the same.