THE WOOLLEN INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 75, 22 December 1920, Page 7

THE WOOLLEN INDUSTRY

SCHEME FOE DEVELOPMENT 'IN AU'STJRALIA. Tho bifr scheme propounded by the Australian Bureau of Commerce and Industry Cor the development and expansion of tho woollen manufacturing: industry was considered at a conference held in idle Athenaeum Hall, Melbourne. About fifty delegates attended, including manufacturers and pastornlists from''all the States, while the employees in the woollen industry were also represented. The scheme put forward by the Bureau of Commerce' and 'Industry has as its ultimate obiect the manufacture locally of practically tho whole of the wool clip into woollen and worsted goods. The immediate objective is Olie manufacture in Australia of textile machinery and woollens and worsteds sufficient for the country's requirements. To give effect to this, proposal it is being urged thai* a company should be formed in each State to treat about one-third of the average wool clip of Australia. It is estimated that a capital of 01X1,000 would be required for the proposed companies.. Tho general opinion expressed at the conforenco was that it would not bo possiblo or advisable to launch the vcniWo in its entirety at 'the present time. At tho eamc time it wag iirge<l that immediate steps should be taken to provide for the expansion of the woollen manufacturing industry on sound commercial lines. The Prime Minister, who presided oyer the conference, stressed tho necessity of providing in Australia employment for both capital and labour. In almost e.vcrf department of industry before tho war Australia was handicapped i.n many respects in eompettiion with tho world, owing to the higlwr wages paid i>o Australian workmen. But now for all practical purposes the Australian workman received no higher wago than dill the workmen of those Western countries that competed Against Australia, and his -output would compare very favourably with (he.output of workmen of other countries. Thus in considering how far they could extend the treatment of Australia's raw material, they knew thoy could start) on as favourable a basis from the standard of labour as any country, with the knowledge that they had an abundance of raw material. It was a grave reflection on Australia tha'( although it was producing the best wool in the world,. an- almost infinitesimal -amount of it was being treated in the country, and the rest being sent overseas, only k> be brought back again when made up intV) the manufactured article. During tho year which ended on June 30, 1919, Australia imported in certain classes of woollen goods articles of the wilue of iH,000,000. In order to manufacture successfully in Australia they must luivo up tn date and economical methods of manufacture, and iheir overhead charges must not be excessive. The Government was prepared to help manufacturers to obtain the machinery they required. The Government believed it was vital tha:l it should do everything in its pbwer to provido employment for capital and labour in th,e times that were coming. They were going to be very difficult times, biui he believed thoy could be met, al! right if they displayed counts? and and judgment. If they were to manufacture in Australia all tho woollen goods required for local consumption it would abssffb only a small portion of the wool clip, and would not destroy Australia's market for wool overseas. The Government would do all it could to hdp such a scheme. •After discussion, it was resolved:— "Thai: this meeting cordially endorses tho proposal of the Prime Minister i'o inaugurate propaganda for the purpose of largely increasing woollen and worsted mnnufaetuips in Australia." It was decided that, the present. Stale committees -authorised under tho scheme should carry on, and that the Bureau of Commerce and Industry r should constitute a central council, composed of Stivto representatives, inaugurate the campaign of propaganda t ti-.it bad been agreed upon.