POST-WAR TRADE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 7, 4 October 1943, Page 3

POST-WAR TRADE

Australian Woollen Industry The Australian woollen mills -will be among the most’ favourably situated when the war finishes, state Winehcombe Carson, Ltd., Sydney woolbrokers. They have been working at full pressure and have sufficient new labour to provide workers for double and treble shift operations. When the need for service equipment diminishes they should find a great demand’ for their products from shops and warehouses needing restocking, _ demobilized men and women wanting civilian apparel, and a public whose wardrobes have been depleted by wartime rationing. Their immediate post-war activity is, therefore, likely to be a more or less simple “switch” from Government to civilian produetion. It, however, is also possible that gradually if will be essential to undertake appreciable machinery . overhauls and renewals as “wear and tear” must hare been considerable with the much extended hours of working which have prevailed during the past four years. Textile machinery makers in Great Britain, the United .States and on the Continent are likely to find plenty of demand for their output in post-war years in replacing worn machines in factories and in providing them for establishments which have suffered war damage. Of the British Empire woollen manufacturing countries, Great Britain is the least favourably situated for a quick full resumption of civilian trade. During immediate post-war years ample demaud should exist for mill products, but a large part of Yorkshire’s mill bauds has been dispersed into other industries, some mills closed down, machinery dismantled and the buildings used for storage. In addition. witb the establishments only running to 50 per cent, of capacity, very little new labour Ims been trained to become skilful operatives, ’rime will be required to get (lie mill industry back to full working.

Despite the difficulties which may attend a resumption of mill working in some countries, large quantities of wool are likely to be wanted. With a reduced world clip, chiefly on the Continent and probably in Russia, newly-grown wool and ilccumulatcd stocks should gradually find users.