“WORTH A FORTUNE”

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 50, 23 November 1926, Page 8

“WORTH A FORTUNE”

REMOVAL OF BRAND STAINS FROM WOOL

REPORTED DISCOVERY BY DUNEDIN CHEMIST

Dominion Special.

Dunedin, November 22.

Quite recently the Agricultural Department asked the Mosgiel Woollen Company and Messrs. Ross and Glendining to report as to their experience in regard to wool for manufacture that was badly stained with brands. Those companies acted as requested. Their reports showed amongst other things that 4 per cent, of the wool that comes out of the scouring machines has to be marked down . in price in consequence of the staining, which has hitherto proved ineradicable.

These reports were read by a Dunedin industrial chemist, who for the present asks that his name be not published. He thought it strange that so much wool should be wasted, seeing that there are so many good chemists in England and Germany. He interviewed the managing director of the local mills, who at once displayed keen interest in the matter and took him to the mills, where a bundle of the worst stained greasy

■’•ool was picked for him to try with. The next day he took the wool back and it was quite white. He was then given a parcel of scoured wool and the same day he removed the brands from it also. The manager of a lending wool agency was next seen and on being shown the results of the test he expressed the belief that the chemist had struck a discovery worth a fortune. The chemist wns interviewed this morning. He, of course, retains his discovery as his own secret. He is surprised at his own success and has not vet made up his mind what step to take next. He says that he has also made a branding naint that will stand atmospheric conditions and vet be removable at the mills. Tt looks verv like as if New Zealand is about to introduce to the wool world a benefit. the value of which is almost incalculable.