KAPOC VERSUS WOOL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 194, 12 May 1921, Page 5

KAPOC VERSUS WOOL

Sir,—"Colonial-Born's” letter. _in today’s Dominion, is to the point, and should certainly receive attention. Where I was born, kapoc was unknown, and all beds, even those of tho peasant class, contained wool. They were therefore wholesome, clean, and lasting. Once a, year men, whose business it was to clean beds, called on householders for that purpose, mattresses were opened up, the wool exposed to the air and thoroughly beaten in the open in a folding wooden platform, on trestles, which was specially used for the purpose. The ticking also received attention, and in this way not only were dust and dirt eliminated, but the beds became as good as new, and decidedly pleasant to sleep on. With kapoc, as "Colonial-Born'’ remarks, the beds in time become bags of unwholesome dust, and, as they seldom receive the attention due to them from a hygienic point of View in this part of the world, most of us probably sleep on a nest of microbes.

Permit me also to remark that whereas here beds, many of them of very doubtful origin, are freely sold in th® auction marts, such, a thing was prohibited where I was born. By all means let those who want it have wool for their beds, and perhaps, Mr. Editor, you will find time to ventilate the matter in the interest of those who prefer our colonial wool to imported kapoe.—l am, etc-.,. SCOTTY. . May 9, 1921.

Sir, —In support of my statement that it would be better and cheaper to use wool, I enclose an advertisement, in which the reduced 1 prices of kapoc bedding range as follows (at a good shop:, 3ft. (single), loose beds, 325. 6d. to 57*. 6d.; the weight of kapoc, from 01 to 151 b.; 4ft. 6in. (double), loose beds, 655.. to 975. 6d.; weight of kapoc, 141 b. to 22|1b.; pillows, from -4<s. lid. to Ss, 6dBordered and buttoned' mattresses are, of course, much more expensive. Kapoc has been 2s. 6d., but is now from Is. to Is, 3d. Coarse halfbred wool is quoted <i» selling in London at from sd. to 6M. (i.e., tho kind wanted). Here, without the expense of freight, etc., but with the cost of scouring l added, surely we should get it for less than the price of kapoc ; and feel beside that we were casing the congestion.—l am, etc , COLONIAL-BORN.